"ktbr" wrote in message
...
Well you are splitting some very fine hairs Todd.

Not at all.

I'm not
sure your argument (or the FARs you quoted) would withstand
the situation of someone taxiing around a controlled airport
where you need a clearance to taxi.

Not that it would need to, since no inspector would consider even bringing
it up as an issue. But should it happen, the argument would hold up just
fine.

It would seem to me that
you would have to be PIC in order to accept the clearance
and thus would be the "sole manipulator of the controls" etc.

There is no requirement for a person accepting a clearance from ATC to be a
pilot. More to the point, on a controller airfield many types of vehicles
share the taxiways and even runways besides aircraft, and clearly the
operators of those vehicles are not required to be pilots.

Providing the aircraft is being operated not in flight, without the intent
of flight, there is no requirement for the operator to be a pilot.
Non-pilots may and do operate airplanes, even in controlled areas on an
airport, all the time.

I can't believe there was any intent by FAA to make it entirely
permissable for any unlicensed person to be taxiing around
airports with impugnity.

Your incredulity is irrelevant.

Pete