Oh, the other reason why you need to be an instructor is because we don't do passenger carrying flights - all flights, when the second seat is occupied by a non-pilot, are considered to be of an instructional/training nature.
Actually, not quite correct. All *PAYING* passengers fit in that category. There is no such thing as a paying 'joyflight' in the UK. I believe that is simply because that would then be a commercial operation, and commercial licensing, airworthiness and certification would be required. By making it an instructional flight, that is sidestepped.
If I want to take my friend, family, girl I met in the pub, etc, along with me, and they don't pay it's not an instructional flight.
Incidentally, the same is true in the power world - if passengers pay anything above an equal share of the cost, it's for reward, and you need to have a commercial license etc.
Again, the *legal* requirement is 50hrs P1, plus CFI approval (according to a year and a bit old copy of the BGA Laws and Rules book. That's not so much more onerous than PPL requirements.
Clubs may choose to mandate BI for that approval - there may be many reasons; perhaps safety related, perhaps to ensure an adequate pool of BI's to fly trial instructional flights.
There may also be insurance reasons (minimums) why you can't just take your mates up in a club 2 seater.
Where I (used to) fly in the UK did change that policy from more restrictive to the 50/approval regime.
Anyhow, gliding will give you an extra dimension to power flying, just one bit of advice earned from experience.. when doing PFL's don't tell your instructor his precious cessna glides 'like a homesick brick'.. he may be offended
