In my experience 6 co-pilots is about all the BTC's nerves can take:)

Add a 'safety pilot' on the jump seat to assist the BTC with many things and you have around 7-8.

Each co will get (in my experience and hopefully:D) around 6 landings, the last a 'proper' one to a 'stop' and taxy around for the next victim to take the seat. It is a longish day when you add on any transit to and fro and refuelling etc.

Thanks, BOAC. Yes, I can imagine his nails are somewhat shorter that evening.

Out of interest: do the other cadets sit in the cabin while their contemporary flies, waiting their turn? I imagine it might be useful to experience how well (or not!) others do it?

One more (!) question: the OP said that he saw the touch-and-go circuit being flown at East Midlands Airport. That's a fairly busy airport with plenty of commercial traffic. In order to carry out these touch-and-go circuits at such airports, is it necessary to 'book a slot' with ATC? Do ATC have to find a 'quiet time' for you to do it? Or can such flights be flown with other traffic arriving and departing?

1) Yes - better not to have your mates creasing themselves up with laughter, looking over your shoulder, at your feeble attempts to land, and anyway with a jump-seat safety pilot there is nowhere else really to strap in.

2) Yes - can extend the day somewhat, but ATC at these airfields are normally pretty good and flexible. Airlines often find alternative little havens of peace with little traffic who just LURV the landing fees.