Working Radios for a Pilot
 

I understand as student pilot I am limited to only flying with my CFI or as a solo pilot within my endorsements. However, if I go flying with a friend and stay hands off controls, am I allowed to work the comms?

Yes.
There’s no regulation that states that passengers can’t do that.
There’s no regulation that states that you ( as a passenger) can’t manipulate the controls.
If there was then 1000’s of dads, moms, uncles, aunts, brothers or sisters would be in violation.
You as a student pilot cannot act as PIC carrying passengers.
But you can fly sure.
Just got liability reasons I wouldn’t let you do the landing in a rental airplane as only licensed pilots that have completed the checkout requirements may do that.
Absolutely go fly with friends and help them and learn from them!
That’s what flying is about, enjoy and share.

Thank you, this is what I was thinking and could not find anything in the FAR/AIM. Appreciate your reply and insight.

Mind you, you can’t log the time ;)
But if you have friends that fly by all means....learn and learn and learn.

Roger that, hoping to get some g1000 experience in today :)

Yes you can fly all you want with friends. They are still PIC, and responsible, and you cannot log it unless the friend is a CFI.

As others have said, nothing illegal about working the radios during Part 91 flights, though there have been multiple accident/incidents where a pilot passenger working the radios was discovered to be a factor. At least one of those resulted in a written/formal FAA opinion, that didn't fair well for the PIC.

Links and further evidence for that statement buddy.

I am old, recently retired, and not that computer savvy... I might be able to find the opinion, though haven't a clue on how to post a link, nor really care to learn at this point. However my statement is very true. I could probably find it on the internet, though you could just as easily. As I recall this was about ten years ago and I think dealt with an accident with a C210. The Feds said it didn't take two people to fly the airplane, Etc. We've all done it, though after reading this report from the FAA, it made me think twice about letting someone else work the radios.

The FAA search engine is notoriously bad so unless you have a keyword to search for that’s hopeless.
And I’m still sceptical.
Can’t find anything that would be radio operations related:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/dblist.php?AcType=C210&sorteer=datekey&page=10