I would however get in trouble if I cost shared a sightseeing trip with an unlicensed friend and then let them fly the plane.
Don't know about your local rules but in most places for a private flight (eg cost sharing) the only person that needs a licence is the pilot in command - who is responsible for the safety of the flight. There is no requirement for the person "manipulating the controls" to have any qualification. Same applies to instructional flights. (not talking about the radio - just flying!!)
There is no requirement to hold an instructor rating to teach someone to fly. They can learn everything - but they get no credit for the training received because it is not training for a licence. It is simply a private flight. The person learning can not pay for the purpose of the flight otherwise it is public transport.
But then again exactly how am I as a Mech Eng degree qualified ATPL/FI qualified to say who would or wouldn't get a medical/license?
A person with no education or qualifications would be able to say that a blind person will never get a driving licence or a pilot licence and they would correctly predict that a blind person won't become a brain surgeon.
Last time I checked, charging someone lots of money for something that they don't need and can get no useful benefit from is termed a "rip-off".
I know what he would take on though a Flying school for refusing to allow a lesson under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 if there was no safety reason for refusing it.
That has made me laugh. I have a picture of a blind person getting driving lessons in the middle of Edinburgh because the Driving school could not refuse them under the Disability Discriminatiin Act.
I really wanted to get him up even if it was just in the back but after a discussion with his dad between us we decided it wasn't safe.
The Dad was correct. Putting the student in the back and trying to get them to fly the aircraft from there is not just unsafe it is unbelieveable that anyone would even suggest the idea.
The lengths people will go to in order to make money...........if of course the story is anything other than a poor wind-up.
