Actually the norm for a check flight maybe that the pilot is question is not current and would certainly benefit from the wisdom of an instructor.
The cases I refer to where I would insist on being PIC is when I am made to do a checkout on a type I am totally current on for "insurance" purposes.
For example, I fly 400hrs per year own a 152 and 172XP, fly a Twin on a regular basis and have a JAA IR-SPA-ME (instrument rating) and turn up to a club and want to rent a 152 for an hour to go sight seeing and am told I must do a 1h checkout with an Instructor. Fair enough if they want to see me fly I have nothing to hide. But there is no way I will allow the Instructor to be pilot in command.
And to be fair I have not actually had any Instructor disagree with me on one of these flights yet! I dont' actually even need the hours, it is just a matter of principle!!!
Last edited by S-Works; 5th July 2006 at 11:25.