"for hire" in 91.205(c)(4) and 91.409(b)

[ackattacker]

the traffic watch operators that carry a reporter along with them, do they need a 100 hr? They aren't giving instruction, and I know of at least one operator that doesn't do 100 hrs, is there something that I am missing that makes this ok?

If the company owns the aircraft it is not being operated for hire. A corporation is really no different legally from an individual person... the company is operating the aircraft in furtherance of its own business, and not carrying passengers for hire. The reporter is a passenger, but not "for hire" if the reporter works for the traffic watch company.

The situation might be different if the reporter works for a different company. i.e., if ABC news contracts with TrafficWatch Inc. to provide traffic services, and puts their own ABC news reporter in the right seat, then the argument might be made that the reporter is a paying passenger and TrafficWatch Inc. is running a private carriage commercial operation.