RTN11 is 100% correct. And yes, there are lots of threads on this, but it is a very confusing subject with lots of incorrect advice being given.
Let's look at the options:
a) PICUS. Absolutely not. This is reserved purely for special cases: successful flight tests, some specific cases that relate to integrated courses training towards professional licenses, and being co-pilot on a multi-pilot aircraft e.g. a B737 but acting as pilot-flying .
b) P1. There is a possiblity, when doing a club checkout, that you can be P1. It's up to the instructor whether he is happy to do this. If he does, he will act as a passenger for all legal purposes, and you will have the final say on any decisions about the flight, not him. Because of this, lots of instructors aren't happy to do this. However, in your case, this is not an option: you clearly stated in your first post that you had not flown for 90 days prior to the checkout. This makes you illegal to carry passengers - including carrying your "instructor" while you log P1 and he acts as a passenger. However, after having done 3 take-offs and 3 landings as sole manipulator of the controls (no help from the instructor), then, if the instructor wants to, he can allow you to be P1 for the rest of your checkout.
c) This only leaves the other alternative, which is that the instructor was P1, and you were PUT. This is the default situation.
If there is any doubt, it must be cleared up
before the flight. Imagine you have an engine failure, you pick one field but your instructor picks another field. This is not the time to be deciding who has the final say!!!
If you want a reference for this, it is
LASORS, Section A, Appendix B. Although this is one question which it fails to answer adequately.
FFF
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