A flight with a friend is not, by itself, a tourism service

Private tandem and the rules in force from 30 October 2026

The official 2026 amendment (Službeni list CG 156/2026) entered into force on 30 October 2026. Under amended Article 3, passenger flying is subject to the competency assessment described in Article 7. Article 11a requires at least 25 passenger flights in the preceding 12 months to use passenger-flight privileges, or the prescribed practical proficiency check if that recency condition is unmet; other specified breaks or competency concerns also require a check. Article 6 addresses a valid medical certificate and a contract of liability insurance covering damage to third parties and passengers as prescribed by law.

A flight being unpaid, private, NVO-organised or commercial does not by itself waive pilot, passenger, insurance, airspace or launch-site requirements. The document does not prove any individual’s actual competence or insurance. This dated source addendum is not a full editorial review and is not permission to carry a passenger.

Flying with a friend: the private tandem scenario

A licensed tandem pilot and a friend visiting Montenegro intend to fly. Nobody sells a seat, nobody publishes availability, there is no service contract. Those facts suggest a possible private arrangement; they do not establish its legal classification without checking the full operation, including any organizer, payment or other benefit.

The passenger’s tourist status or a point-to-point route does not by itself make the flight a tourism service. Conversely, friendship and absence of an advertised seat do not prove that tourism or other operational obligations are absent.

Tandem-pilot duties remain

The amended paraglider rulebook distinguishes a tandem pilot and retains pilot, medical, passenger, and T-authorization requirements. The private character changes the commercial analysis. It does not remove tandem qualification or safety.

The off-aerodrome approval question is maintained separately in the take-off and landing outside an aerodrome guide. It is not used here to classify a tandem as private or commercial.

The facts behind a private arrangement

These indicators may be relevant, but are not a statutory exemption or an exhaustive test:

• no seat price, flight fee, donation-for-flight, or other compensation;
• no public advertising and no open invitation for passengers;
• no service contract and no promise of availability;
• no organizer assigning a pilot and direction as an offering;
• no recurrent schedule designed to supply passenger flights.

Friendship, a private arrangement, or a flight from one place to another is not enough by itself. Conversely, calling a payment a “gift” does not close the question either.

Airspace, land and weather still apply

T authorization, documents, equipment, passenger briefing, and current weather judgement are still required. The flight must fit current airspace rules, and the pilot must have the right to use the launch and landing. See the off-aerodrome guide: those are separate checks.

Source review 30 August 2026. A disputed payment or organization structure is not decided here. If a third party, NVO, tourism provider, or recurrent group enters the facts, move to the matching case and, where needed, ask the authority for a current view.