Genghis, I think you will find that we are actually in agreement. Being in command and being legal to be in command are subtly different. However I would not want to find myself arguing the point with the relevant CAA.
where does it say that in a class A aeroplane with dual controls you can't have two people, one acting as PIC and one acting as P2?
Where shall we start on that one.....
Co-pilot:
“Co-pilot” means a pilot operating other than as pilot-in-command, an aircraft for which more than one pilot is required under the list of types of aeroplanes (see Appendix 1 to JAR-FCL 1.220) or the type certification of the aircraft, or the operational regulations under which the flight is conducted, but excluding a pilot who is on board the aircraft for the sole purpose of receiving flight instruction for a licence or rating.
(v) A co-pilot acting as pilot-in- command under the supervision of the pilot-in-command on an aeroplane on which more than one pilot is required under the type certification of the aeroplane or as required by JAR–OPS provided such pilot-in-command time under supervision (see (c)(5)) is countersigned by the pilot-in-command.
I am not seeing any VLA aircraft certified to require multi pilots. If I have missed it please can show me?