Cars are forgiving, the sky is NOT. If as many people flew small planes as people drive it would not be as safe in terms of fatalities. It is true when you compare apples to oranges driving is more dangerous; but if you want to even get close to a fair comparison you would compare jets to buses and you'd compare fatalities and injuries separately... since car accidents are far less likely to result in fatalities.
Actually, the odds are about identical to riding a motorcycle. Driver or a passenger. I've never had an accident on my motorcycle nor my airplanes. It is a great idea to watch how a pilot flies before you fly with them. A good reference will do as well. I never take someone up on bad days and I try to avoid it if I think it will be even a bit rough. Good flight. When you run into trouble is with people that don't fly that often or people that skimp on maintenance. I always keep my aircraft in good repair. Reduces what I call excitement.
The FAA has strong rules about flying others around and the FAA never changes the regulations, they only add, never remove. The exchange of money at all for any connected reason is going to cause trouble.
Ok, don't comment on things you know nothing about. Paying for your portion of the cost for gas is actually in the regulations and it is allowed. http://www.faa.gov/news/safety... In the past decade they allowed light sport aircraft where you don't even have to have a pilots license. Just a drivers license. Right now it is looking like you won't need a 3rd class medical any longer for aircraft under 7500 lbs. There are other examples I can give. Not to say the FAA is all a bowl of cherries. They aren't. As with most things they generally do a good job though I have read of cases of some real scum bucket FAA people. I haven't had a problem. I also follow the rules. That could have something to do with it.
Besides, if you thought the taxi lobby was a problem for ride sharing; you'd never even dare to mess with the airline industrial complex (which is so heavily subsidized, it is more of a scam than a market.)
This is funny. GA pilots like me are never going to be a threat to those guys. Sure, I can take up to 3 people in my Bonanza. Big deal. I generally don't fly if there is bad weather, nor that often. They also don't service where I go. They can't. The airports simply can't support them. On the other hand I can go wherever they can go, just not as fast. Even JFK. Some places I can fly the nearest commercial airport is at least a couple of hours or so away. Some places even more driving time.
Sure, if I had access to something like this, I'd love it. I need to keep the aircraft flying and right now I take up friends when I do that. Often I'm alone enjoying the incredible view. Really is a wonderful place that we live in, that most people don't get to see. I'd think it is great to give someone that needs a lift a ride.