PVT PLT OF A BEECH 35 WITH AN INSTRUCTOR PLT OPERATED ACFT ON A XCOUNTRY DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT WHILE CARRYING CARGO IN AIR COMMERCE IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH FAR PART 135 PLT CREW MEMBER QUALIFICATIONS.

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I AM A PVT PLT; LICENSED TO FLY SINGLE ENG LAND AIRPLANES. I HAVE SIGN-OFFS TO FLY THE C152 AND C172. I HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME IN A C182; A C182TR; A PIPER WARRIOR; AND THE BEECHCRAFT BONANZA. CURRENTLY; I AM PURSUING MY INST RATING AT THE LCL FBO; AND I AM ATTEMPTING TO AUGMENT MY XCOUNTRY TIME AND EXPERIENCE. JUL/THU/01 I TOOK A XCOUNTRY FLT OF APPROX 460 MI IN A BEECHCRAFT BONANZA (BE35) UNDER THE DIRECTION OF AN INSTRUCTOR. AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED UNDER THE INSTRUCTOR'S NAME AND THE FLT COMMENCED. THE FLT WAS UNREMARKABLE. UPON RETURN; BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE A SIGNOFF FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE; COMPLEX AIRPLANES; THE TIME WAS LOGGED AS DUAL INSTRUCTION ONLY. PRIOR TO THE FLT; WE WERE ASKED TO TAKE BOXES CONTAINING ALUMINUM PARTS WITH A TOTAL WT OF 175 LBS TO A MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER. NEITHER THE INSTRUCTOR NOR I WERE COMPENSATED FOR THE FLT. HOWEVER; I HAVE LEARNED THAT CARRYING THESE BOXES MAY HAVE PUT US INTO A PART 135 OP. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT I DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY CONTEMPLATE THE IDEA OF 'FOR COMPENSATION AND HIRE;' AS THE GENERAL RULE THAT WAS TAUGHT IS THAT YOU CANNOT ACCEPT COMPENSATION FOR A FLT; ONLY THAT YOU MAY SHARE EXPENSES ON AN EQUAL BASIS. IT WOULD ALSO APPEAR THAT MY DESIRE TO TAKE THE FLT DID NOT ALLOW ME TO ADEQUATELY REVIEW ALL OF THE FACTS IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. THE CLICHE RINGS TRUE -- HINDSIGHT IS 20/20. NOW WITH SEVERAL DAYS TO REFLECT UPON THE FLT; AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR A SIMILAR TRIP; WHICH WAS DENIED; THIS TYPE OF FLT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE FLT WAS UNREMARKABLE WITH NO SAFETY ISSUES; THE ALUMINUM PARTS ESSENTIALLY WERE NOTHING MORE THAN A FACTOR IN WT AND BAL; AND THE FACT THAT THIS FLT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE REGARDLESS OF THE PARTS DOES NOT ENTIRELY RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF THE POTENTIAL IMPROPER FLT. FORTUNATELY; THE FLT HAS RESULTED IN A TREMENDOUS LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE FARS IN MORE DETAIL; AND I HAVE CONSULTED WITH FELLOW PLTS AND EXPERTS IN THE FIELD; IN ORDER TO ENHANCE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ACCEPTABLE PRACTICES.