New Charity and Sightseeing Regulations

On May 4, 10:28 am, Larry Dighera wrote:
Let me see if I've got this right. It's okay to carry sick or injured
passengers without the pilot meeting the drug testing and minimum
hours requirements. But those conducting short sightseeing flights
are no longer able to get a waiver for drug testing, and must now have
500 hours instead of the former 200 hour minimum. So the public at
large is better protected, but the sick and injured are not?

NEW AOPA PUBLICATION OUTLINES RULES FOR SIGHTSEEING FLIGHTS

If you conduct sightseeing flights, whether for charity or for profit,
new FAA rules
(http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...26airtour.html)
affect you. AOPA has updated its "Charity Flying Safety Brief
(http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/SB05.pdf)," posted free online,
to reflect those changes. For example, flight schools that give
sightseeing rides under the Part 91 25-mile exception must now apply
for a "Letter of Authorization" from the FAA and show proof that they
have an FAA-approved anti-drug and alcohol program. Private pilots who
conduct sightseeing flights to raise funds for charity now must have a
minimum total flight time of 500 hours, up from 200. However, the rule
changes don't affect all forms of charitable flying. Volunteer private
pilots still may transport a sick or injured person and take a
charitable tax deduction for their expenses, says the Air Care
Alliance (http://www.aircareall.org/news.htm)....ll.html#195117

I assume there was a massive number of accidents on these sightseeing
flights where the pilot was found to be on drugs??
I assume that, like 135, the drug testing of the pilot is just the
begining. All the A&Ps, IA, the avioincs tech, the FBO manager who
arranges the maintenance, etc must ALL be on drug testing programs.

-Robert