It is abundantly clear to me what should be done.
The CAA should produce a Computer Based Training course for the PPL theory.
For anyone who has seen the CBT for the ATPLs as produced by Oxford or Bristol the quality of what can be done is self evident.
It would be childs play to have progress tests and examinations conducted on a flying schools own PC under the auspices of the CFI/CGI. The syllabus itself could be issued to each student at the start of course for less than the current cost of a full set of Trevor Thoms + Confuser + RT manual.
The Syllabus could easily cover the RT course material thus eliminating the need for seperately approved instructors/examiners for that endorsement.
The CAA would be readily able to update CBT content to keep it inline with the latest rules.
It would probably turn into a profit stream in the longer run. I know it would put a few people/books out of business but the benefits would be worth it. Namely a community of PPL graduates who have all gone through a standardised, thorough groundschool, at their own pace and in a detailed interactive fashion.
Why have a system whereby often reluctant FI's are asked often without payment to provide random theory briefs to students with little more than a whiteboard some dried up pens and a small model aircraft to assist? The same brief, conducted in a studio by an expert presenter, benefitting from multimedia, would surely be far superior? Bung it on a CD ROM and its good for the next 20 years worth of UK PPL students...
Each student could be required to purchase a copy from the CAA.
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