Originally Posted by
treadigraph
I note the BBC report seems to omit the word "instructor" which would rather spoil the image they are perhaps trying to convey of idiot amateur pilots letting their friends have a go.
That said, I'm surprised that a nascent helicopter pilot would be allowed to try hovering quite so early - is that normal?
It's normal for "trial lessons" or "experience flights" which are effectively pleasure flights with a shot of the controls rather than actual lessons as part of a syllabus.
They are often given as gifts to people who have no real expectation of going any further with the training.
But since they are "lessons" rather than pleasure flights they can be operated by flying schools rather than AOCs.
Trial lessons are a huge part of the economics of many flying schools and giving the "student" a good experience that they tell their friends about is very heavily emphasised.