FFF it is a difficult task, but it is by no means impossible. How enthusiastic and knowledgeable is a person about GA? Did that person do a full time integrated course? Did they ever do a PPL? How long after they completed their IR did they do their FI rating? Do they know the local airfields? Have they ever helped out at a local club?
None of these will ever give you an exact answer, but they do allow you to get a picture of how comfortable that person is around light a/c.
The best way of telling however, is to have them meet a few students on a busy day and see how they get along with them. I have seen a few seemingly good FI's not cope very well when subjected to an average Q and A session from students. It can really show if somebody is willing to put up lots of daft questions and whether they actually want to be there or are just doing out of necessity.
Last edited by Say again s l o w l y; 30th October 2003 at 21:38.