I am trying to locate a local pilot or two in the South San Francisco Bay
Area who makes frequent business trips to the Concord Buchanan airport that
is about 20 minutes flight time away. At the hours I would need to travel
to a business meeting near the Buchanan airport the freeway traffic is like
a parking lot and it can take two hours to drive 50 miles on freeway. I'm
hoping if I can hook up with a business person who has a regular commute I
can save time. I looked at air charter, and to fly just a Cessna 206 for
less than one hour round trip flight time the charter company was quoting me
$600-to-$700. Considering the 206 rents for under $200/hour and the pilots
typically bill out at $50/hour for waiting time, that seems very very high.
It's over what I can afford.

Of course I would be willing to offset any pilot's expenses, but as I
understand it the FAA has strict rules about being compensated by a
passenger for a flight, and what might look innocent might to the FAA
constitute a commercial flight that requires a charter license. So my
question is what am I legally allowed by the FAA to ask for, when posting
on - say - an airport bulletin board for the pilot? Do I have to ask for a
free flight? Am I forbidden from stating that I would compensate any
expense?

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W