Fee-paying passengers

Only commercial air transport operators holding a valid air operator certificate and air operator licence are allowed to transport fee paying passengers in Iceland.

There are three exemptions from this rule:

 

1. Flight training

Flight training organisations (ATOs/DTOs) and flight instructors are entitled to receive a fee for flight training towards the issue or maintenance of pilot licences. Provided that the training falls under the privileges of the training organisation or flight instructor in question.

2. Cost-sharing

Cost-sharing is allowed in general aviation subject to the following conditions:

• Only the direct costs of the flight may be shared. Direct costs means the costs directly incurred in relation to a flight, e.g. fuel, airport fees or rental fee for the aircraft. Recurring costs such as maintenance cost, insurance fees etc. cannot be shared.
• The direct cost of the flight must be shared between all of the occupants of the aircraft, including the pilot.
• There may not be more than six occupants, including the pilot, on board the aircraft.

3. Introductory flights

Flight training organisations or organisations created with the aim of promoting aerial sport or leisure aviation may accept fees for introductory flights subject to the following conditions:

• The aircraft is operated by the organisation on the basis of ownership or dry lease.
• The flight does not generate profits distributed outside of the organisation.
• Flights involving non-members of the organisation represent only a marginal activity of the organisation.

Flight safety level and insurance

Commercial air transport is one of the safest means of transport available. Commercial air transport operators are subject to stringent oversight mechanisms and detailed regulatory provisions regarding crew proficiency and continuous airworthiness.

General aviation operations are subject to much less stringent safety requirements and the safety level of general aviation is not comparable with the very high safety level of commercial air transport. Insurance protection under commercial air transport is also generally more extensive than in general aviation.

The Icelandic transport authority recommends that pilots involved in the above mentioned forms of operations inform their passengers of the different levels of safety between general aviation and commercial air transport and inform them about the insurance protection on the flight.