Commercial & Private

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Commercial Aviation is the part of civil aviation (both general aviation and scheduled airline service) that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo. In most countries, a flight may be operated for money only if it meets three criteria:

There are some exceptions — for example, a flight instructor is normally allowed to fly for money in a private aircraft owned by the student — but the above requirements hold for most flights where money changes hands.

Typically, a commercial certificate or registration requires higher standards than a private one. For example, a commercial pilot may have to demonstrate more maneuvers to a higher standard, and may need to pass more frequent medical examinations. A commercially registered plane may require more frequent or more extensive maintenance.

It is the purpose of the flight, not the type of aircraft or pilot, that determines whether the flight is commercial. For example, a two-seat Cessna 150 towing a banner for money would be a commercial flight, while a large jet flown by its owners for a private vacation would not be, even if the pilots were commercially certificated and the jet were commercially registered.

PRIVATE AVIATION

Private Aviation is the part of civil aviation that does not include flying for hire. In most countries, private flights are always general aviation flights, but the opposite is not true: many general aviation flights (such as banner towing, charter, crop dusting, and others) are commercial in that the pilot is hired and paid. Many private pilots fly for their own enjoyment, or to share the joys and convenience of general aviation with friends and family.

In private flight the pilot is not paid, and all aircraft operating expenses are generally paid by the pilot. In some countries such as the United States, aircraft operating expenses for a flight may optionally be divided with any passengers up to a pro rata amount.  For example, if aircraft operating expenses total $120 for a flight with pilot and three passengers, each of the three passengers could pay not more than $30 (one fourth) of the expenses with the remainder paid by the pilot.

In many countries, private aviation operates to less strict standards than commercial aviation. For example, in Canada and the United States, aircraft owners are allowed to perform basic maintenance tasks (such as oil or tire changes) on their own privately-registered aircraft, but only licensed mechanics may perform those tasks on commercially-registered aircraft.

AEROBATIC FLYING

Private pilots normally are not required to demonstrate the same level of proficiency on their flight tests and take fewer and less rigorous medical examinations, than are required for Commercial pilots who are paid for operating an aircraft. The majority of active pilots hold a Private Pilot license.

It is the purpose of the flight, not the aircraft or pilot, that determines whether the flight is private.  For example, if a commercially-licensed pilot flies a commercially-registered plane to visit a friend or attend a business meeting, most countries would consider this to be a private flight. Conversely, a private pilot could legally fly a multi-engine complex aircraft carrying six passengers for non-commercial purposes (no compensation paid to the pilot, and a pro rata or larger portion of the aircraft operating expenses paid by the pilot). Some particularly skillful aerobatic "stunt pilots" hold a private license, paying their own expenses and earning no income from this very challenging flying.

Source: Wikipedia