The reference would be FAR 61.113, I think. You can see that at
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text.... 1.1.2.5.1.8
One critical thing you may be missing, from your post, is that the
prohibition is against carrying persons _or property_ for compensation
or hire. There are a lot of exceptions, including acting as a tow
pilot. The reg is contradictory on this point, and I haven't heard of
what I would consider to be an adequate precedent to settle this
matter. It says you can't fly for money, but you can be a tow pilot.
Can you get paid for being a tow pilot? Other than this one area, the
regs seam pretty clear.

Ed

wrote:
Does a pilot have to have a commercial rating to participate in a
venture in which he/she is *not* carrying paying passengers?

Any recent precedents?

~ted/2NO