FAA vs. Airpooler: unfriendly skies.

• Author: Doherty, Brian
• Position: Citings - Federal Aviation Administration on ridesharing in private aviation - Brief article

Since 2013, a company called Airpooler has tried to bring the rideshare model to private aviation, providing a Web interface to connect private pilots with potential passengers who might be going their way and be willing to help defray flight costs.

In May, the company asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) whether this model ran afoul of its regulations in any way. The agency answered in August that, alas, pilots using Airpooler "would be holding out to transport persons or property from place to place for compensation or hire," and that this was forbidden. The FAA's somewhat confusing letter seemed to offer some possibility for a loophole if pilot and passenger had a "common purpose" for traveling and it wasn't just about cost-sharing.

According to...