Maybe this needs to be viewed in light of the groups accident record. 4 total losses in 6 years.
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...ing-group.html Pilot 1 is undertaking a check ride with Pilot 2 who in addition to being the check pilot is also head honcho of said flying group. Group rule says if your not 90 current then the check pilot will be P1 UNTIL 3 take offs and landings. Pilot 1 has no reason to suspect the arrangement is illegal after all Pilot 2 runs the flying group! All is fine and dandy until the CAA in its wisdom says NO - passengers cant log time and, therefore, you could do a hundred landings as a passenger and still not be current. SO Pilot 2 claims - er well I was only a passenger never had command. (also saves skin on insurance claim - no future accident record) Pilot 1 hung out to dry! Also rumor has it that two members of this sorry group were far from happy about the accident and the groups handling of safety and dodgy practices that they reported their concerns to the CAA - result was they were thrown out of said group by Pilot 2