Pilot developing carpooling service for air travel

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Monday, December 29, 2014
A Florida pilot says he's developing a carpooling service for air travel.
A Florida pilot says he's developing a carpooling service for air travel.
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Flying private may not just be for the rich and the famous anymore. A Florida pilot says he's developing a carpooling service for air travel.

Like Uber and Lyft, the business would bring together pilots and passengers through an easy-to-use app called Airlyft.

The developer thinks the idea of affordable private air travel could really take off, but the practice is currently banned by the Federal Aviation Administration for safety reasons.

"If you have a problem in the air, it's not like driving in a car. You can't pull off to the side of the road and call another car to pick you up," pilot Will Smith said.

While Airlyft's CEO argues that pilots will be background checked and certified by their company, other pilots say self-regulation could lead to major oversights in medical checks on pilots and maintenance requirements.