but students will still need pointers as to how they handle themselves professionally
The original hypothesis was regardng a qualified CPL, not a student. I would
hope that anyone who has gained a commercial qualification will be professional.
One of the problems with being a low time CPL is that many helicopter roles require a certain level of experience. This could be the requirement of the operator but more likely mandated by insurance companies or organisational regulations.
Therefore an operator may well feel that ferrying an aircraft is an appropriate task for a low time CPL and, if the choice is a salaried and experienced pilot performing the task (whose salary cost is a "sunk" cost) or a low time CPL, they why not give the opportunity to the low-timer. Since the operator will not want to incur any marginal cost by paying a low timer to perform the task, he requests that it is done for free whilst the experienced, salaried chap partakes further practice of Olympic tea-drinking!
I know of at least two operators who have this employment structure so it is feasible and understandable.
Cheers
Whirls