"150flivver" wrote in message
...
I seem to recall being told the FAA had exempted towing gliders from
the need for a commercial license as long as no monetary compensation
is received by the private pilot tow pilot. Is this still true or is
flight time alone considered compensation as it is in the rest of the
powered flight realm?

There have been many discussions in this area, Google will bring up a lot.

Pvt Pilot Privileges, 61.113
(a) Except for (b) and (g), no person who holds a Pvt cert may act as PIC
for compensation
(b) May act as PIC for compensation if (1) flight is incidental to the
business and (2) do not carry passengers.
(g) Pvt pilot who meets requirements of 61.69 may act as PIC towing a
glider.

The business is giving glider rides, not tow plane rides.
I am looking for the FAA reference where they consider log book entries
under 61.113 to not be compensation, but no $$ can be exchanged. They used
to say just logging the time was compensation but the changed the wording in
(b) and (g) above so you can log the time.

On the other hand.. you could tow all you want.. and as long as you don't
count that time towards another rating requirements, it would not matter.

Burt Compton would be a great source.

BT