CAP 1590 (guidance), para 23 explains why private licence holders can share costs:
Cost sharing flights are private flights and therefore may be conducted by a pilot holding a private (non-commercial) licence.
For UK national private pilot's licences, ANO 2016 Schedule 8 Part 1 Chapter 1 para 3 sets an "excepted flights condition": the holder "may only fly on a public transport or commercial operations flight if it is a flight of the type mentioned in article 6(4a)" of the Air Operations Regulation, which includes cost-shared flights. Para 4 covers paid instruction and examining, which need the right instructor or examiner authorisation.
A PPL holder may not accept from any passenger more than an equal share of the direct costs; anything more takes the flight outside the cost-sharing exception. On board, the cost sharing limit of six people applies, alongside any limits of the aircraft and your ratings, and the recent experience rule.
For licence-by-licence limits, see cost sharing by licence.
Source: CAP 1590 (guidance), para 23; ANO 2016, Sch. 8 Pt 1 Ch 1 paras 3-4
Read more in our guides
- Cost sharing on a PPL, LAPL or NPPL How UK cost-sharing rules apply to PPL, LAPL(A) and NPPL(A) holders: passenger limits, aircraft mass, microlights, recency and why there's no minimum hours.
- Can a private pilot charge passengers? A UK private pilot can't make a profit, but passengers can pay up to an equal share of the direct costs. Here's how the split works, with an example.
- Six-person limit: lower caps for LAPL, NPPL and microlights A cost-sharing flight can carry no more than six people including the pilot. LAPL(A) and NPPL(A) are limited to four, microlights to two. Here is how it works.
Related terms
Back to the glossary. Definitions summarise the legislation and CAA guidance and are not legal advice.