You can legally share some of the expenses of a flight with passengers while you’re exercising Private Pilot privileges—but you need to be careful. We review what the FAA permits, and why you should avoid the temptation to accept more than your fair share.

• How to determine if a specific flight is reimbursable.
• Why the FAA cares if passengers pay Private Pilots.
• What “common purpose” is, and why it matters.
• What “holding out” is and how to avoid it.
• What you can and cannot do to accommodate passengers.
• Who can pay the pro rata expenses and what can be shared.

What can you do with a Commercial Pilot certificate without a Part 135 or Part 121 operating certificate? Some really interesting flying—if you take the time to understand the regs. We help you make sense of the details.

• What defines a commercial operation, and why it is important.
• When charter without an FAA operator certificate is likely to be enforced.
• Why the FAA cares what Commercial Pilots charge for.
• How to know whether a Part 135 (or similar) certificate is required.
• Why focusing on “common carriage” versus “holding out” can get you in trouble.
• What “operational control” means, and why you should care.

Your logbook is full of memories—but it’s also your ticket to a new certificate, a new rating, and a painless ramp check. Learn what time is loggable (you might be short-changing yourself), how to log it correctly, and how to avoid trouble years from now.

• Which times you should be logging, and when they start and stop.
• Using electronic logbooks (legally) to track your time.
• When to log solo, cross-country, PIC and training time.
• When you can log instrument time and approaches.
• What sim time you can log…and how to properly log it.
• What you must do if you ever lose your logbook.

When you’re unsure about the continued safety of a flight, don’t waste precious time pondering the legal repercussions—ask for help. We cover how to declare an emergency, and what to do if you get a phone call from the FAA.

• What to do if you’re unsure that your plight is really an emergency.
• What you should include with your emergency declaration to ATC.
• What ATC does when you declare an emergency.
• What happens if ATC declares an emergency for you.
• What you should do if someone wants you to make a report.
• What follow-up you can expect with the local FSDO.

You’ve messed up and survived to tell the tale. Now what? Here’s what you should do next, and what you should say (and not say) to the NTSB, your insurance company, and the FAA—as well as when to call a lawyer.

• What you have to tell the NTSB and when.
• What your duty is to preserve the wreckage.
• What you should do from an insurance perspective.
• What to do if ATC gives you a phone number to call.
• What you should do after that call to improve your situation.
• What actions the FAA is likely to take and what you can do.

There are lots of good reasons to have insurance, but if you don’t understand the details, then you could end up with a financial loss and a big headache. We dive into what (and who) is covered by different types of policies.

• Why you need to pay close attention to your insurance application.
• What things are covered by aviation insurance and what things (usually) aren’t.
• How to wade through the confusing language to understand your coverage.
• Who can fly your aircraft and the best way to add others to your policy.
• How to ensure your LLC-owned aircraft is properly insured.
• What “subrogation” is and how it can lead to a claim denial.

We review the steps to take when you discover something’s broken, or there’s an Airworthiness Directive or Service Bulletin for your airplane. We also cover overhauls, 100-hour inspections, modifications, and preventive maintenance.

• When you can placard an instrument as INOP and go flying.
• What happens if you fly without complying with an Airworthiness Directive (AD).
• How Service Bulletins (SBs) are different from ADs.
• In-flight failures and malfunctions — can you legally keep flying?
• Mounting cameras on the exterior of an aircraft: what the regulations say.
• What constitutes major alterations and the FAA Form 337 process.

An FAA ramp inspection is a pilot’s worst fear. Confidence in the face of a ramp inspection comes from understanding what triggered it, what the inspector is looking for, and what your options are if discrepancies are found.

• The most common reasons for ramp inspections and what triggers them.
• The best way to submit to a ramp inspection (or not).
• Operational vs. Airworthiness inspections and who performs each.
• How each inspection works and why knowing the process can help you.
• The biggest mistakes you can make during an FAA inspection.
• Inspection outcomes and what you can do about them.

Signing a rental agreement gives you access to one or more airplanes, but will you actually read it? It’s worth the time—when you know what to look for. We cover what a rental agreement includes, and why you want your own renter’s insurance.

• The problem with most rental agreements and what you should know.
• How rental rules can change after you sign, leaving you exposed.
• How insurance works with a rental agreement.
• How subrogation can still surprise you as a renter.
• What a waiver of liability covers, and when it is enforceable (and not).
• What you are responsible for if you damage an aircraft you are renting.

Buying or selling a used aircraft can be one of the most expensive, high-risk deals you’ll ever make. It’s good to know exactly what you’re getting into. We explore the entire purchase process from start to finish.

• When a formal purchase agreement is a must.
• What to look for when the owner/seller is an LLC.
• What the agreement should say about the inspection.
• What protection or warranty there is with a used aircraft.
• Why everyone is (rightfully) so uptight about the title.
• You bought it, but can you fly it home? Maybe not.

Organizations limit your personal liability and provide flexibility. But they come with administrative hassles and an expense. We outline the pros and cons of different types of organizations, and when it makes sense to operate as a non-profit.

• When it’s worth forming an organization to own an airplane.
• Why everyone shouldn’t use an organization for ownership.
• When an organization doesn’t provide liability protection.
• Setting up the right corporate structure for your organization.
• What you must do to keep your liability limited.
• Why you should use a lawyer to set up your organization.

As a GA pilot, you should be aware of the different types of taxes that may apply to your flying activities. We give you an overview of what you might encounter, tips on how to comply, and ways to (maybe) reduce what you owe.

• What use tax is and how it’s different from sales tax.
• When your state is likely to come looking for you and how they know. 
• Taxes you should factor in when you are buying or selling an aircraft.
• If/when registering in another state can help with taxes.
• What are the useful exemptions from sales and use tax.
• How aircraft expenses may be deducted from your income tax.

If you don’t pay your bills (or the previous owner didn’t), you could find yourself dealing with an annoying administrative hassle—or watching your airplane get locked up or repossessed. We cover the things you must do before you buy (or sell) an aircraft.

• The reasons someone could put a lien on your aircraft.
• How to know if your aircraft is subject to a lien.
• How a lien can follow an aircraft for years.
• How/why your mechanic can put a lien on your aircraft.
• How to prevent a lien from delaying a buy/sell transaction.
• How to fight a lien on your aircraft, step-by-step.

Individual instructors rarely get sued, but it can happen. We look at what claims could be made against you, and what you can do to increase your chances of settling out of court—or winning if you’re sued.

• Why individual flight instructors may get sued.
• What the basis is for instructor liability.
• What educational malpractice is and why you should care.
• What happens if you can’t get a case dismissed or settled.
• Simple ways an instructor can minimize liability.
• How CFI insurance can help cover liability.

Offering flight time to a charity, non-profit, or community cause is a great way to promote general aviation and raise funds—but there are some limitations. We review the rules, the required paperwork, and what’s reimbursable.

• What specific restrictions apply to charity flights.
• What types of charity organizations and events qualify.
• What paperwork must be filed to run a charity event.
• Why the FAA limits the number of charity events an organization or pilot can participate in.
• Which of your expenses the sponsoring organization can reimburse.