Doesn't it strike you as a little strange that you're the only person holding this view on a forum full of very experienced pilots (not classing myself as one!)?
And here comes the "authority principle", which is worth less than used toilet paper when confronted with legal issues. I wonder, when will the "ad hominems" start?
You're all making stuff up to suit your ideas. The law does not distinguish between "flying straight and level" or any other phase of flight. It also does not distinguish between "flying solo" or "flying next to bloody Charles Lindbergh".
The law clearly states that you cannot act as pilot of an aircraft without holding the appropriate license. Manipulating the flight controls is acting as pilot, it doesn't matter whether you're just "flying straight and level" or "competing at the world's aerobatic championship", whomever is flying the plane is the pilot, period.
I'm really outta hear.
P.S. The worst bull**** I ever heard often came from "very experience pilots", BTW.
