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How many elements define a common carrier in FAA Advisory Circular 120-12A?

Four: holding out, carrying persons or property, from place to place, for compensation.

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  1. Two
  2. Four ✔
  3. Six

Why: The AC says there are four elements: a holding out of a willingness to transport persons or property from place to place for compensation. How the holding out is done does not matter.

Huh, didn't know that: Free rides can still be common carriage if a nominal charge counts as compensation.

The dad joke
Why did the four elements go to the airport? They wanted to be well carried.
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References

Answer: Four. The AC says there are four elements: a holding out of a willingness to transport persons or property from place to place for compensation. How the holding out is done does not matter.

  1. FAA AC 120-12A Private Carriage Versus Common Carriage of Persons or Property www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2020/May/AC_120-12A.pdf
    There are four elements in defining a common carrier
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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