Information and guidance on the circumstances under which the direct costs of a private flight may be shared between up to six occupants (including the pilot) of an aircraft.
Amendments to the rules relating to cost sharing flights come into force on 1st October 2025.
Passenger information
Cost sharing flights are flights shared by private individuals. The 'cost-shared' part is in reference to the costs of the specific flight which can be shared only between the pilot and others onboard the aircraft. These costs are the 'direct costs' which are the costs directly incurred in relation to a specific flight (e.g. fuel, airfield charges, rental fee for an aircraft). There can be no element of profit for the pilot as these flights are not commercial, and if profit is suspected then the flight might be operating outside of the regulations and therefore be illegal. The contribution towards the direct costs of the flight by the pilot must not be less than the total direct cost divided equally by the number of people on board.
The safety and conduct of any flight including cost-shared flights is the responsibility of the pilot in command of the aircraft. The pilot must conduct the flight in accordance with the applicable regulation for non-commercial flights with light aircraft by private pilots. It is also the pilot’s responsibility to ensure the flight is appropriately insured, although passengers may want to check that any personal life, accident and/or health insurance they have is valid for non-commercial flights.
Passengers should be made aware that the pilot may amend or cancel the flight for any reason, including at short notice and that their proportion of the costs must be shared by the pilot. If the flight does not take place, then no remuneration (money or exchange of gifts) should be exchanged between the pilot and passengers.
Passengers are not taking part in a commercial flight but in a leisure flight with a private pilot. The pilot has a duty not to undertake flight if the conditions are not suitable.
Passenger declaration form
From the 1st October 2025, a Passenger Declaration Form must be provided by the Pilot in Command of the flight and as a minimum contain the following information:
- Date of Flight
- Aircraft Type and Registration
- Departure and Arrival information
- Passenger information on the differences and associated risks between Commercial Air Transport (CAT) and flights under the cost sharing regulations
- Passenger Name(s), contact details and passenger signature or other means of indicating acceptance of cost sharing flight
The Passenger Declaration Form can be a paper or electronic record, provided it contains the minimum information prescribed by the CAA. A template form is available for use here.
A Passenger Declaration Form must be kept for each passenger undertaking a cost sharing flight in which they must confirm that they understand the flight is not being operated as a commercial air transport or public transport flight. This form must be completed prior to flight, retained by the pilot/operator for 6 months from the date of the flight and is to be produced when requested by an Authorised Person.
Safety standards
Commercial aviation in large passenger carrying aircraft has now achieved exceptional safety standards, a standard that would be unachievable by lighter sport, recreational and personal transport aircraft. The safety of non-commercial light aircraft is more comparable to other recreational activities than the much higher standard achieved in commercial aviation.
It is recommended that any promotion of cost-sharing, and conversations with pilots providing flights, should inform potential passengers, of the safety levels of General Aviation flights with light aircraft as compared to those of commercial flying.
Is it legal?
Regulation states that pilots are allowed to share flights as long as the aircraft does not carry more than five passengers in addition to the pilot. Furthermore, costs can only be shared, pilots are not allowed to make any profit on the flight. Because cost shared flights remain private, the pilot does not need a commercial pilot’s licence to share the cost with passengers.
If you have concerns over the legality of any flight that have or are going to take place refer to our webpage for reporting safety concerns.
Pilot information
Flying with strangers opens new potential issues ranging from security and personal safety to insurance implications. To help pilots understand the pros and cons of cost-sharing with strangers we have produced CAP1590 -- a short guide to the cost sharing regulations.
Ultimately, the clear intention of the cost-sharing rules is to allow pilots to fly more - building skills and experience - while sharing their passion for aviation with others. Providing passengers and pilots understand and stick to the rules, then that intention can become a reality.
Regulations permit cost sharing as follows:
- No more than six persons (including the pilot) are permitted on a cost sharing flight.
- The flight is a cost-shared flight by private individuals. Cost sharing flights cannot form part of a business activity through an organisation.
- From the 1st October, the contribution towards the direct costs of the flight by the pilot must not be less than the total direct cost divided equally by the number of people on board.
- The cost-sharing arrangements apply to any other-than complex motor-powered Part 21 aircraft.
- Cost-sharing is also permitted in non-Part 21 (Annex I of the Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139) aircraft registered in the UK.
Direct costs mean the costs directly incurred in relation to a flight (e.g. fuel, airfield charges, rental fee for an aircraft). There can be no element of profit.
Annual costs cannot be included in the cost sharing arrangement. These are the cost of keeping, maintaining, insuring and operating the aircraft over a period of one calendar year (including items like club membership fees for renters).
Advertising
Cost sharing flights are private flights and therefore may be conducted by a pilot holding a private (non-commercial) licence. As these flights are shared by private individuals, they should not be advertised as an offering of a flight to any destination and time at the determination of a passenger.
The advertising of cost sharing flights is permitted under the cost sharing rules subject to certain conditions. The advertisement or promotion must be placed by the pilot intending to operate the flight.
From the 1st October 2025, advertisements of cost sharing flights must include:
- the start and end locations of the flight;
- the date when the pilot is available to conduct the flight;
- a statement that the flight is a private arrangement and not necessarily conducted at a level of safety equivalent to that of Commercial Air Transport flights.
- the licence type held by the pilot;
- the class of medical certificate or medical declaration, held by the pilot
- the total number of hours flown by the pilot; and
- the total number of hours flown by the pilot in the advertised aircraft type in the three months prior to the advertisement being placed.
The promotion of cost sharing flights can include the use of online ‘flight sharing’ platforms. Where cost shared flights are arranged through online platforms the CAA recommends the use of only websites that have signed up to the UK Cost Sharing Charter. Platforms that have signed up to this Charter support the provision of appropriate information to both pilots and passengers and help to ensure that cost-sharing flights are conducted safely and within the scope of the regulation.