FAR 91.146 — Charitable Event Flights
FAR 91.146 explains the rules for passenger-carrying flights benefiting charity, nonprofit, or community events — limits, pilot requirements, and notifications.
In Plain English
FAR 91.146 lets you fly paying passengers to raise money for a charitable, nonprofit, or community event without holding a Part 119 air carrier certificate or meeting Part 120 drug and alcohol testing rules — but only if you stay inside a tight set of limits.
Key operational requirements:
- Nonstop flights that begin and end at the same airport, within a 25-statute-mile radius.
- Operated from a public airport (or FAA-approved location) in day VFR only.
- Aircraft has a standard airworthiness certificate, max 30 seats (excluding crew) and 7,500 lb payload.
- No aerobatics or formation flights.
- Reimbursement to the operator can't exceed the pro rata cost of owning, operating, and maintaining the aircraft for that flight.
- The beneficiary is not in the air transportation business.
- A private pilot acting as PIC must have at least 500 hours.
- Flights comply with Part 136 Subpart A safety rules and avoid national parks unless a letter of agreement is in place.
Event limits: up to 4 charitable/nonprofit events per year (3 days max each) and 1 community event per year. Pilots and sponsors are capped at 4 events per calendar year, and sponsors must notify the responsible Flight Standards office at least 7 days in advance with pilot and event documentation.
This matters because it carves out a narrow, well-controlled exception — fly outside these limits and you're operating illegally as an unauthorized air carrier.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.146§ 91.146 Passenger-carrying flights for the benefit of a charitable, nonprofit, or community event.
(a)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
means an event that raises funds for the benefit of a charitable organization recognized by the Department of the Treasury whose donors may deduct contributions under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Section 170).
means an event that raises funds for the benefit of any local or community cause that is not a charitable event or non-profit event.
means an event that raises funds for the benefit of a non-profit organization recognized under State or Federal law, as long as one of the organization's purposes is the promotion of aviation safety.
(b) Passenger-carrying flights in airplanes, powered-lift, or rotorcraft for the benefit of a charitable, nonprofit, or community event identified in paragraph (c) of this section are not subject to the certification requirements of part 119 of this chapter or the drug and alcohol testing requirements in part 120 of this chapter, provided the following conditions are satisfied and the limitations in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section are not exceeded:
(1) The flight is nonstop and begins and ends at the same airport and is conducted within a 25-statute mile radius of that airport;
(2) The flight is conducted from a public airport that is adequate for the aircraft used, or from another location the FAA approves for the operation;
(3) The aircraft has a maximum of 30 seats, excluding each crewmember seat, and a maximum payload capacity of 7,500 pounds;
(4) The flight is not an aerobatic or a formation flight;
(5) Each aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate, is airworthy, and is operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of subpart E of this part;
(6) Each flight is made during day VFR conditions;
(7) Reimbursement of the operator of the aircraft is limited to that portion of the passenger payment for the flight that does not exceed the pro rata cost of owning, operating, and maintaining the aircraft for that flight, which may include fuel, oil, airport expenditures, and rental fees;
(8) The beneficiary of the funds raised is not in the business of transportation by air;
(9) A private pilot acting as pilot in command has at least 500 hours of flight time;
(10) Each flight is conducted in accordance with the safety provisions of part 136, subpart A of this chapter; and
(11) Flights are not conducted over a national park, unit of a national park, or abutting tribal lands, unless the operator has secured a letter of agreement from the FAA, as specified under subpart B of part 136 of this chapter, and is operating in accordance with that agreement during the flights.
(c) (1) Passenger-carrying flights or series of flights are limited to a total of four charitable events or non-profit events per year, with no event lasting more than three consecutive days.
(2) Passenger-carrying flights or series of flights are limited to one community event per year, with no event lasting more than three consecutive days.
(d) Pilots and sponsors of events described in this section are limited to no more than 4 events per calendar year.
(e) At least seven days before the event, each sponsor of an event described in this section must furnish to the responsible Flight Standards office for the area where the event is scheduled:
(1) A signed letter detailing the name of the sponsor, the purpose of the event, the date and time of the event, the location of the event, all prior events under this section participated in by the sponsor in the current calendar year;
(2) A photocopy of each pilot in command's pilot certificate, medical certificate, and logbook entries that show the pilot is current in accordance with §§ 61.56 and 61.57 of this chapter and that any private pilot has at least 500 hours of flight time; and
(3) A signed statement from each pilot that lists all prior events under this section in which the pilot has participated during the current calendar year.
[Docket FAA-1998-4521, 72 FR 6910, Feb. 13, 2007, as amended by Amdt. 91-308, 74 FR 32804, July 9, 2009; Docket FAA-2018-0119, Amdt. 91-350, 83 FR 9171, Mar. 5, 2018; Docket FAA-2022-1563, Amdt. 91-370, 88 FR 48087, July 26, 2023]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Under what conditions can you fly paying passengers for a charity event without a Part 119 certificate?
Per FAR 91.146, the flight must be nonstop within a 25 SM radius of the departure airport, in day VFR, in an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate, max 30 seats and 7,500 lb payload, with no aerobatics or formation flying, and reimbursement limited to pro rata operating cost.
Q2What are the pilot experience and currency requirements for conducting these flights?
FAR 91.146(b)(9) requires a private pilot acting as PIC to have at least 500 hours of flight time, and the sponsor must submit copies of the pilot's certificates and logbook entries showing currency under FAR 61.56 and 61.57.
Q3How many charity or community events can a pilot or sponsor participate in each year, and what advance notice is required?
Under FAR 91.146(c) and (d), pilots and sponsors are limited to no more than 4 events per calendar year — up to 4 charitable/nonprofit and 1 community event — and the sponsor must notify the responsible Flight Standards office at least 7 days before the event.
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Related Sections in Part 91