I think the comment that started off this whole topic needs re-wording -
"The aircraft is based at abc which is unlicensed and when conducting training flights it operates to and from another airfield - DEF (which is the airfield notified to the CAA as the base field for RTF purposes) which is a licensed airfield. The student meets the instructor at abc and completes the pre-flight briefing before the instructor positions the aircraft to DEF. After completion of the flight at DEF, the instructor positions the aircraft back to abc."
Important points regarding the above -
The student is simply a passenger on the positioning flights but this does not prevent them "manipulating the controls".
Two landings are required at the second field to start and end the training flight.
However, most importantly of all and at times overlooked - no circuit training is permitted at the unlicensed field.
The only thing I can assume is that this is a very quiet group/club operation where the extra expense of all those positioning flights and extra landing fees is less than the cost of basing the organisation at the licensed airfield (even if it is only from morning to night).
Regards,
DFC
PS - The JARs don't require a licensed airfield for training - they simply require that the field meets certain minimum appropriate standards. The UK CAA't method of checking suitability is simply to limit training to licensed airfields.
Perhaps the CAA needs a new muddy cow path inspection team - M-COP-IT.