llanfairpg
Thanks. At least someone else understands this all the same way I do. I brought this same subject up some years ago - maybe 4 or so. Personally I would not instruct at one of these clubs since I researched it and come to the same answers as yourself.
Yes the CAA are currently pondering a proposal to allow instruction (other than microlight and other such categories which already have these 'privileges') from unlicenced aerodromes.
I didnt raise this issue about Popham but another airfield at the time. I am still at a loss to see how the CAA lets this go on - yet is quite happy to hammer us in every other way possible.
The answer I got at the time was the 'ferry flight' is FREE - the instructor is allowed the benefit in kind of the time - but possibly questions over tax liability for time on this flight if unpaid?..I dont know. If they claim the cost of the fuel/time etc is factored into the instrcution only flight then they have still charged you for the ferry and that requires an AOC.
I have NO IDEA how these organisations managed to get their RF status without the CAA checking that the a/d used was licenced - differences training etc etc perhaps - but surely when the first ab-initio application hit the CAA it should have sent the waves rolling out and the alarm bells ringing...apparrently not. Yet, in TrainingCom we get advice about why the CAA oft refuses night quals is because of incorrect logging of flights...If the student only logs the licenced A/D portion maybe the CAA didnt notice..but it still beggars belief.
Even if they only 'instruct' between licenced a/d the ferry flight is still illegal if the student pays at all. And any 'instructing' on the instructors log book would be a mis-declaration as they were not entitled to instruct on the ferry flight.
Its an absolute mire.
Personally I think that anyone thinking about flying with any organisation that offers training from an unlicenced airfield under the current rules should just simply walk away. If any thing goes wrong - god forbid - the insurance companies can start wriggling...and then it will hit the fan - imagine the newspaper headlines...FFS it would be a field-day.