Legal Interpretations
Meyerhoff 1993
Summary
The Question
Which flight costs may a private pilot share with a passenger under the expense-sharing rule of 14 CFR 61.118(b)?
Background
An aircraft owner asked about sharing the costs of a trip to Los Angeles with an acquaintance, including fuel, oil, ramp or tie-down fees, insurance, maintenance, hangar rent, and engine replacement.
The FAA’s Interpretation
Only costs the flight itself creates. Under 14 CFR 61.118(b), shareable expenses are those that would not have been incurred without the flight, such as fuel, oil, and destination ramp or tie-down fees, shared equally. The owner could be reimbursed 50 percent of fuel and oil costs while the acquaintance was aboard, and any Los Angeles ramp or tie-down fees, but not insurance, maintenance, hangar rent, or engine replacement costs.
- Requester
- Meyerhoff
- Issued
- June 30, 1993
- Subject
- Pilot Certification & Privileges
Regulations Cited
- 14 CFR 61.118
Page 1
June 30 , 1993
Mr . Pau l Meye r ho f f I I .
Re : FAR 61 . 1 1 8
Dear Mr . Meyerho f f :
Th i s is in r esponse t o your le t ter of June 25 , 1 993 requesti ng t he FAA ' s position on the shari ng of fl ight expenses by pri vate pilots . Section 61.118(b) o f t he Federal Aviat i on Regul at i ons s t ates that " a pri va t e pilot may share t he operati ng expenses o f a fli g ht with his passengers ."
The costs whi c h may be s ha r ed inc l udes onl y t hose expenses t hat wou l d not have been i ncurr ed i f t he f l i ght d i d not take place ; for example , f ue l and o i l consumed on the fl ight and r amp or tie - down f ees at the destination ai r port . These expenses wou l d exclude such items as i nsurance , ma i ntenance or othe r capita l costs . To be in ful l compl i ance with the r egulation , the cos t s must be s h ared equall y between the pr i vate pilot and h i s or he r passengers .
In the case o f you r tr i p to Los Angeles , you may be re imbursed f or fifty pe r cent (50%) o f t he cos t s i ncurred for f ue l and o i l while your acquaintance was actual l y fly i ng i n your ai r cra f t with you , and any ramp or t i e - down f ees at Los Ange l es . However , t he other costs about which you inqu i red such as insur ance , ma i ntenance , hangar rent and engi ne r epl acement costs cannot be re i mbur sed .
Si ncere l y ,
GEORGE L. THOMPSON
Ass i s t ant Chi e f Counsel
By : PETER R. LAYL I N At to r ney
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.