InTheAir
I cannot see a legal basis for it, but as a measure to improve both his logged hours and his income, I cannot fault him
We could have the same debate about charging for brakes-off to brakes-on versus airborne time only, or whether a "club" fly-out in a four-seater should be for the benefit of three PPL
students who then of course need to have an instructor in the P2 seat, all the way round so the instructor gets paid for all 3 legs.
I know this sounds terribly cynical but this is what my last CFI told me he does and why.
To be fair, it must be difficult to know what to do if the pilots involved have currency so low that they are only just hanging onto their PPLs. Would an examiner sign off someone like that without a flight? I think he can. But that is every 2 years, nothing to do with a club checkout.