FAA Private Pilot Helicopter (PRH)RegulationsMedium
A private pilot with 250 hours total flight time works part-time for a helicopter dealership. The dealership asks the pilot to fly a prospective buyer on a sales demonstration flight and pays the pilot for the flight. According to 14 CFR 61.113(d), is this legal?
- AYes, but only if the flight is also sponsored by a charitable organization
- BNo, only commercial pilots may be compensated for demonstration flights
- CNo, private pilots may never accept compensation under any circumstances
- DYes, because a private pilot with at least 200 hours of logged flight time may act as PIC of an aircraft sales demonstration flight for compensation
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Yes, because a private pilot with at least 200 hours of logged flight time may act as PIC of an aircraft sales demonstration flight for compensation
14 CFR 61.113(d) allows a private pilot to act as PIC of an aircraft used in a sales demonstration flight if that pilot has logged at least 200 hours of flight time. Since this pilot has 250 hours, the flight is legal.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Charitable sponsorship is a separate exception under 91.146, unrelated to sales demonstration flights.
- B. This exception specifically applies to private pilots meeting the hour requirement, not just commercial pilots.
- C. 61.113 contains several exceptions allowing limited compensation for private pilots.
Sales Demonstration Flight Exception
14 CFR 61.113(d) permits a private pilot with at least 200 hours logged flight time to act as PIC for compensation on an aircraft sales demonstration flight.
- Minimum 200 hours total flight time required
- Applies specifically to sales demonstration flights
- One of several narrow exceptions to the general no-compensation rule in 61.113(a)
Memory trick: '200 hours to show it off' — enough experience to sell the aircraft in flight.