Twizzle - I shall be interested in Starteandlevel thoughts.
You may want to look at the appendix to AIC 21 which says:
"For the purposes of this exemption (for Group training in Group owned private cat. aricraft - my comment) flying training or checking excludes instruction in flying given for the purpose of becoming qualified for the grant of a pilot's licence or the inclusion or variation of any rating in a licence ( and then goes on to specifically exempt a certificate of test or revalidation - my comment)."
I would have thought the answer was therefore - no, (because presumably now difference training is a variation of the license priviliges signified by the signed endorsement of the FI in the log book) and that was what the CAA told me when I asked the question. It seems to me this falls in the grey area - what seems to be absolutely clear is a Group owned private cat aircraft cannot be used for ab initio training, or training towards any new rating if the FI is paid for his services.
To go back to the original question it should be born in mind that the cost of changing from private to public cat is not that great these days and the more onerous maintenance requirements have now largely gone. You might therefore be able to reach an agreement with the Group to place the aircraft on the public category.
Last edited by Fuji Abound; 15th October 2002 at 11:26.