Hours
If in the event of an accident, which requried an in depth investigation, and it was found that the hours recorded within a log book were false then the insurance would be invalid. This would have huge repercussions for all involved including the pilot concerned and the employer. With the new 'sue / counter sue' everyone and everybody policy the eventual pay out would have to be from the pilot even if it was not his fault in the accident / incident and these people do not stop at money they will take everything.
The insurance issues are opening up a massive can of worms at the moment and play a huge role in deciding now whether pilots are empoyed or freelance - especially if the freelance pilots operate their own company such as 'freelance helicopter pilot ltd'. Apparently (not first hand) but as an employee of your own ltd company you must have employers liability insurance and beacuse of the problems identified above with the sue / counter sue policy this is becoming more and more difficult the last quote I heard for a freelance pilot for employers liability was in excess of £20,000.00 which would put a stop to most of our ideas of becoming regular working freelance pilots.
I could be entirely wrong however someone I know very well has just had this thrown at him. All of you freelance guys out there, it is really worth checking on your insurance criteria as I am quite sure this is something which is going to become a real headache for those who operate 'freelance helicopter pilot ltd.'