The regulatory framework around the use of Wingly
INFO: This article describes the legal framework for EASA and CAA countries. The CAA published an individual regulation, which is applicable as of October 2025. While most of the regulation was copied, there are however some important changes, which will be mentioned below.
Carry passengers
Let's start our legal journey in the EU regulation 1178/2011, that is regulating the licensing of pilots. In the Annex I (Part-FCL) FCL.060 we can find the following rules to take passengers with you:
“A pilot shall not operate an aircraft [...] to carry passengers [...] unless he or she has carried out, in the preceding 90 days, at least 3 take-offs, approaches and landings as a pilot flying in an aircraft of the same type or class or an FFS representing that type or class.”
For all pilots using Wingly it is of course necessary to fulfill these requirements.
Sharing costs
Next stop on our journey is article 6 in the EU regulation 965/2012, which contains the rules for sharing your costs with passengers. In paragraph 4 a you can find the following:
(a) cost-shared flights by private individuals, on the condition that the direct cost is shared by all the occupants of the aircraft, pilot included and the number of persons sharing the direct costs is limited to six;”
The most important point here is the fact, that for Cost Sharing Flights Annex VII the standard rules for non commercial operation apply as long as the following condition are met:
Non - Complex - Aircraft
The term "non-complex" is defined in Annex I in the already mentioned EU regulation 965/2012. For Wingly pilot it is important that:
An aircraft:
A helicopter:
- may NOT weight more than 3175 kg (MTOM)
- may NOT have more than 9 seats (however, max. 6 pers. on board incl. pilot)
- may NOT require two pilots
Privat individuals
A privat individual is a natural person who is not acting as an operator and is not engaged in a commercial activity related to the flight.
Direct costs
We end our journey with the term "direct costs" which is further explained in the GM2 (guidance material) within the Easy Access Rules regarding article 6.4a(a) as:
“Cost directly incurred in relation to a flight, e.g. fuel, airfield charges, rental fee for an aircraft.”
"Direct costs" are therefore:
- Rental costs
- Fuel costs
- Other direct consumable costs
- Costs for landing, handling, parking and other air navigation charges
- Other equipment rental costs
These EU requirements have been confirmed by all national authorities as applicable to flights conducted via Wingly and Wingly has signed the Charter for Cost Sharing Flights of the EASA and the CAA. Pilots have now been using Wingly in numerous European countries for over 10 years.
INFO: The CAA published an individual regulation, which is applicable as of October 2025.
- Cost-sharing is now clearly recognised and regulated in the UK under the new UK CAA regulation
- The regulation provides legal clarity for platforms like Wingly
- It focuses on transparency, safety and preventing abuse
Important changes
- The CAA now requires pilots to record their recent flying experience over the last 3 months. To comply with this new requirement, Wingly quickly released an update to enter your 3-month flying experience in your Wingly account
- A passenger declaration form must be signed by all passengers before the flight. Here is our Wingly Passenger Declaration Form that you should keep 6 months after a flight
- The updated regulation now makes equal cost-sharing mandatory between the pilot and all passengers. As this is already the basic idea of Wingly, pilots can just continue to use Wingly as usual
If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at tower@wingly.io. We are available from Monday to Friday.