Actually, the airplane is certified as well as the pilots (crew). The LOA is issued to the operator (not necessarily the owner) of the aircraft and on the RVSM Ops Manual it lists the pilots that are certified. The operator that has the RVSM LOA must make sure the crew that flies the airplane has the appropriate certificates including the required RVSM training and needs to update the manual accordingly (something that could be overlooked).

Agree, the Plane has a certification. That used to be good enough, but now each operator has to have the RVSM cert. and the pilots. It's part of annual recurrent. They've made it very difficult for the occasional leasee. In my case, we dry leased for a year. Took over two months to get FSDO approval for the RVSM and minimum equipment list. Reviewing the terms of the dry lease was part of that.

Not sure how I wandered off on the tangent with the RVSM cert.
So your LLC IS your RE business or does the LLC provide transportation to that part of the company?

It was pretty confusing to me until I worked through it.

Our LLC owns the C90 and is pretty much a pass through entity for flight activities. I lease the Citation through it also. Provides some liability protection as you know, although, limited with me at the controls. I can transfer ownership amounts without changing the ownership entity. My advisers continue to recommend I not fly because I have assets at risk. We do carry 25M smooth insurance. All my flights in the jets have been personal. I have conducted a few business flights in the C90 but we don't depreciate it. We just deduct direct business related expenses like hotels, cars, etc. We may deduct fuel for that part of the trip. I'm really not sure. I give that to our accountant. I do select the co-pilot, and get him approved by the owner and insurer in the jets; so, I control dispatch and crew.

Probably a simpler operation than a business that is actually trying to pay for the costs of operating a plane with a lot of other considerations.

FL390 today over a large line of thunderstorms. Really making a mess of Denver. We were Scottsdale to Bismarck.

So it would seem that if the owner of the LLC (that only holds the aircraft - no other business activities) is willing, he could just sell you a (very) small part of the LLC and avoid all this. Probably should have an ownership agreement but it wouldn't have to go through the FAA for approval or have a separate RVSM cert. You would only have to list the pilots on the existing RVSM cert.

Happy to explain what we did. Buying into any existing entity opens other doors, including possibly liability issues. Time to consult with someone qualified.

I know MP will make fun of my resolution and dirty windscreen but this is what it's like when you are on top of an Airbus chemtrail perp.

Yes, I agree. Thank you Dave.

Yup, you'd think someone flying up that high would take the time to clean the frigging windows and buy a better camera..........the crap I gotta put up with.

Flew the Citation V up at FL410 out on one leg of a trip and back at FL430. The best part was to watch airliners pass well below.

Yup, you'd think someone flying up that high would take the time to clean the frigging windows and buy a better camera..........the crap I gotta put up with.

Mark, it is obvious to me that you are having way too much fun. Cruising along in the clear above the weather, watching airliners go by, female co-pilot, northern lights...

Way to go!

And reporting a smooth ride while they clutter up the frequency looking for smooth air...

OK, so your jet flying is all personal. If you ever wanted to use the jet for reimbursed business flying, you may have to use a different structure to stay clear of the 'flight department company' issue.