Flying on Business

Much of general aviation activity in piston-powered airplanes is for recreation-the proverbial $100 hamburger ($1000?) on nice sunny weekends. Still, there are many general aviation pilots who fly-using the technical phrase-for the furtherance of business. Were not talking banner tows, flight instruction, skydiving, or true commercial endeavors. Furtherance of business denotes those operations that are only incidental to that business or employment. (14 CFR 61.113)

dboyd

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

General aviation flights for business purposes carry a significantly higher fatal accident rate (33%) compared to GA as a whole (15%), often driven by scheduling pressures and "get-there-itis."
Despite pilots typically being experienced and instrument-rated, common accident factors include poor instrument proficiency, deliberate violation of regulations (e.g., flying into severe weather or without currency), and fatigue from business commitments.
To enhance safety, pilots should maintain proficiency beyond minimums, respect the insidious effects of fatigue, avoid over-reliance on advanced cockpit technology to overcome dangerous conditions, and prioritize safety by being willing to delay or seek alternative transport.

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Much of general aviation activity in piston-powered airplanes is for recreation—the proverbial $100 hamburger ($1000?) on nice sunny weekends. Still, there are many general aviation pilots who fly—using the technical phrase—”for the furtherance of business.” We’re not talking banner tows, flight instruction, skydiving, or true commercial endeavors. “Furtherance of business” denotes those operations that are only “incidental to that business or employment.” (14 CFR 61.113)

A typical example is using your bird to travel to a business meeting. According to the 2016 annual general aviation survey conducted by the FAA, one in five piston-powered aircraft flights are for such a mission.