It is the policy of the Volunteer Pilots Association that the aircraft owners/renters choose their own co-pilots. Co-pilots may be chosen from among the list of VPA members. If however, you have someone else in mind, please let us know, and we will send them a VPA application. Any pilot who flies with you must be registered with the VPA.

If you expect your co-pilots to share the cost of the flight, tell them so immediately upon contact. Do not wait until you are in the air to bring up the subject. The VPA considers the owner/renter responsible for all costs associated with the flight. You may, by prior arrangement, share the expenses if the co-pilot is willing.

You must also agree before takeoff who will fly the aircraft and who will log flight time. It may not be fair to the co-pilots to ask them to share the expenses but not allow them to fly the aircraft and log flight time. It is reasonable to insist that you do all the takeoffs and landings. The choice is yours, but you must make it clear well ahead of time.

If your co-pilot is a flight instructor, you may, under some circumstances, each log flight time. You may wish to ask the CFI to endorse your logbook, but make sure ahead of time that there is an agreement, and ask if there will be a charge for the signoff. Any agreement will be strictly between the owner/renter and does not involve the VPA.

We encourage you to have a co-pilot for every flight, and our guidelines require one for all night flights and for all IFR flights. From personal experience, we have found that a third pilot on those longer late-night flights (Organ type) comes in handy. The "third seat" pilot can monitor the flight, watch for traffic, keep the others awake, or possibly take a nap on the outbound leg of the mission and then fly right seat on the return leg. We feel that the "third seat" pilot offers some margin of safety and gets a greater number of people involved in the program. If you call for the third pilot, make sure that everyone understands that there will be a third pilot, and make it clear who will be flying right seat. You will find that some people will not mind flying "third seat" while others may not wish to do so.

At the time a pilot files an application with the VPA, we receive a copy of the medical certificate and the logbook entries. We cannot, however, guarantee that a pilot is FAA current at any given time. It will be your responsibility to ask necessary questions of your co-pilot. These questions may include the following:

• Do you have a current medical?
• When was your last bi-annual?
• Are you instrument current?
• Have you flown the type of aircraft being used?

Do not wait until you get a VPA call (which could be midnight or later for Organ flights), and then start to shop for a co-pilot! We encourage you to call a number of potential co-pilots and acquaint them with your requirements if flying a mission with you. You may even wish to consider an introductory meeting or get-acquainted flight.

Do not be afraid to communicate your wishes. It is far better to talk things over and agree well ahead of time than to have a misunderstanding later.

As a potential co-pilot, you may be called upon to assist with a VPA flight. It is a Volunteer Pilots Association policy to allow the aircraft owners/renters to choose their own co-pilots. We have encouraged the aircraft owner/renter to call you ahead of time, make an introduction, describe the aircraft, and let you know what is expected of you as a co-pilot.

Remember that anytime you fly in another person's aircraft, you are a guest and should act accordingly. You and the owner/renter should come to an agreement before takeoff as to who will fly the plane, who will navigate, who will do the radio work, and whether or not you will be expected to share in the expenses of the flight. Although the VPA considers that the owners/renters are responsible for the expenses, they may request that you share some portion of those finances. If you are not willing to share the expenses when requested, you should respectfully decline the flight. If you are a CFI, you may be asked to sign the owner's/renter's logbook. Make it clear "up front" if you will charge for any endorsements and what you are willing to sign. These subjects and others are better agreed upon well before the flight begins.

In most cases, you may not be able to log flight time. You must have a clear understanding with the owner/renter as to who will fly the aircraft. We find it convenient, especially on the longer, late-night flights, to have a third pilot go on the mission. This "third seat" pilot can generally help monitor the flight, watch for traffic, handle charts, or may just take a nap on the outbound leg of the trip and then possibly fly "right seat" on the return leg. We feel that the "third seat" pilot lends a margin of safety to the mission, and it gets more people involved in our volunteer program.

We have asked that the owner/renter communicate with the potential co-pilots well in advance of any mission. Do not hesitate to honestly communicate with the owner/renter about what you will be willing to do and what you do not care to do.