Indeed parkfell, I worked under 509 and the students mentioned were long after we moved to JAR-FCL and some time after 'Standards' were disbanded. I don't think anyone fails the PT's anymore and in fact, I recall that individual sorties, and I'm sure PT's were enhanced by management following student complaints that a lower grade might affect their chances of a job. The so called 'Children of the magenta line' are not only a result of generational differences but also the way training is conducted these days in my view, and this from places with a rich legacy of quality cadet pilot training. Reputation takes years to build and seconds to destroy...