Strange post there, CSU.. .. .The more I think about this, the more I am convinced that it is totally wrong.. .. .I reiterate that I have nothing against schemes that provide sponsorship with the ultimate aim of a full, normal contract at the end of it. Nor am I opposed to having what used to be called Pilot's Assistants on the flight deck of an aircraft requiring only one crew member. However, as a non-required member of the crew, I do not see how any hours flown in such a capacity can be logged.. .. .Now to the crux of the matter - having pilots pay to fly your aircraft.. .. .The contractual, legal considerations are horrific. If both the crew AND the passengers are paying, who is legally your customer? If a paying pilot were not to get what he saw as sufficient flying, could he sue you? Quite probably. If he is not technically an employee but a customer, what form of insurance cover does he have? Is he covered by employers' liability schemes, or standard passenger compensation schemes or public liability insurance? Either of the latter will probably be thoroughly inadequate.. .. .I don't particularly care that you may say a "normally-employed" F/O is receiving training. Pilots learn every flight they do, whether a normal roster day, a checkride with a Training Captain, or in the Sim. That is not an adequate measure of the matter. However, if the primary purpose of the flight is public transport, then the pilots should be paid, and receive all the protection, insurance etc. etc. implicit by a standard employer/employee relationship.. .. .Anything else should be illegal.. .. .And to all low-hour pilots out there stuck in the old experience Catch 22, I sympathise, as I am sure all other pilots do. But we've all been there. You need patience. But don't screw your colleagues by trying to climb over their backs, encouraging unscrupulous employers, and degrading the profession, making yourself and your colleagues prostitutes into the bargain.. . . . <small>[ 18 March 2002, 01:13: Message edited by: HugMonster ]</small>