Yeah well I used to think exactly the same thing. If it wasn't under AOC it was fine. Then I thought that if it was under 5,700kgs it was fine to fly whenever you like.
Then somebody showed me the line in the ANO that runs along the lines that a pilot flying for commerical gain shallt not exceed 100hrs in every 28 day period... etc etc.
Now - my boss is all for driving us hard. A fellow instructor has just done, wait for it, 110hrs in the last 21 days. He is now off work waiting for hours to drop off before he comes back. We ALL keep our hours under 100. I had 99.1 last month.
The owner/boss goes along with this and the rule is that if we want/need to go over we have to get a medical chit saying we can do so for the month by a CAA doc.
Its a grey area I admit. I am confused myself however after taking many counsels on this I am convinced that should you have a prang or something on hour 112 that month they will hang you out to dry. It ain't wortht he risk.
Besides - qaulity of teaching suffers as does safety.
And if that doesn't worry you just imagine how much of a plonker you are going to look in that final interview with Big Airlines when they spot your monthly averages "Oh yes, I'm very professional in flying and believe safety should never be compromised" - "Oh really, then how do you explain how you practically had to pay Council Tax on your residential C150 during 1999 when you evidently flew more in a week than is averaged by one of our pilots in two months?!?! Hmmm???"
Not going to look good is it?
Stay safe,
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