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Common Carriage

As a commercial pilot, you can offer your pilot services to anyone and be compensated for it, so long as you are not the airplane's operator.

A common carrier is a person OR organization that will "hold itself out" to the public, or to a segment of the public.

  • Common carriers are required to operate under Parts 121 or 135.
  • There are four elements in defining a common carrier:
    1. a holding out of a willingness to
    2. transport persons or property
    3. from place to place
    4. for compensation.
  • This "holding out" make a person a common carrier and can be done in many ways, including:
    • Advertizing your services as a pilot
    • Showing a willingness to offer your services to anyone

Private carriers may conduct operations under part 125 or 91.