Pilotpip

I agree with schoolio. The feds could very easily argue this point and win. If you're an FO it's likely you don't have your ATP yet. You're required to log any time that goes towards currency, or a rating. Because you are working towards this ATP they could easily say that the hours alone are compensation due to the fact that they are being applied for a rating.

de727ups

Don't bother digging it up. I've seen it. I've also seen how this plays out in real life. Don't ask, Don't tell. I don't see it as big a deal as some folks try to make it out to be. I knew a management pilot at UPS that flew for that Sky Warriors air combat operation. Was he compensated? I don't know. Guess it doesn't matter under the interp you're digging up. He did it for years and nobody bothered him.

skycowboy

Why can't the world just work the way I want it too? I mean, really, is that too much to ask?

Pilotpip

Don't get me wrong, I know a ton of 121 guys that are DPEs, instructors, etc. However most of them are at the point in their career where they can bid lines that dont' fly much so the hours issue never really comes into play.

WEACLRS

When a DPE functions as an examiner, the flight time is not considered a commercial activity by the FAA and is exempted. He/she is just an observer and not a required crew member.

Every part 121 airline I'm aware of has a policy reserving the federal regulated maximum hours, whether it's yearly, monthly, eight hours between rest...etc, for the company. It changes an little depending on whether the operations are domestic, flag, supplemental, part 135, etc., but under domestic regulations (14 CFR Part 121.471) it's 1000 hours annually, 100 hours in any calendar month, 30 hours in any 7 consecutive days, and eight hours between rest periods.

I know some guys say "don't ask, don't tell". But as the previous poster suggested, what happens when you have an incident, or when (I observed this) an FAA inspector conducts a ramp check of a flight instructor, discovers he is an airline pilot, and further discovers he is in violation of 121.471. It's not worth it.

Most airlines have a policy which requires you to ask your chief pilot if you can fly outside the company, such as for instruction. This permission is routinely given, especially if you have some seniority, because the company knows they probably won't max out your commercial hours.