BristolScout
8th Oct 2009, 11:18
I've just completed a seminar with On-Track to revalidate my rating. This was the second occasion that I've attended and, although the presenting team were enthusiastic and professional, I'm not convinced that the format as it stands is particularly useful. Firstly, there was an awful lot which was the same as the previous occasion, slightly updated, but rather tedious to sit through again. Twenty five percent of the two days was taken up by syndicate presentations - apparently to fulfil a 'briefing' requirement' -which didn't seem to be a particularly value-added component. I appreciate that the providers are working within constraints from above, and I sense that this is where the problem lies. Additionally, it's a 'one size fits all' exercise so what is useful to the newly-qualified instructor tends to be a bit of an egg-sucking session for the experienced. For me, it was two days of low-arousal stuff, enlivened by just two gems, the update on EASA and the aeromedical lecture.
To me, there are endless possibilities for lively interchange when a large bunch of instructors get together so I'm broadly supportive of the seminar concept but I feel that the current format is wrong, mainly due to the dead hand of bureaucracy limiting the scope. My suggestion would be fewer 'death-by-Powerpoint' lectures and more small round-the-table groups discussing set topics. If they binned the syndicate presentations, it could even be reduced to a single day - a valuable consideration for cash-strapped junior instructors.
Personal grumble here. I know CAA has to be self-funding, but how can they justify £84 for revalidation when the seminar organisers do all the paperwork and sign the licence?
Full marks to On-Track, by the way, for doing a good job within the above constraints.
To me, there are endless possibilities for lively interchange when a large bunch of instructors get together so I'm broadly supportive of the seminar concept but I feel that the current format is wrong, mainly due to the dead hand of bureaucracy limiting the scope. My suggestion would be fewer 'death-by-Powerpoint' lectures and more small round-the-table groups discussing set topics. If they binned the syndicate presentations, it could even be reduced to a single day - a valuable consideration for cash-strapped junior instructors.
Personal grumble here. I know CAA has to be self-funding, but how can they justify £84 for revalidation when the seminar organisers do all the paperwork and sign the licence?
Full marks to On-Track, by the way, for doing a good job within the above constraints.