When the supply and demand curves go wrong they often go spectacularly wrong. Back in 1990 the airlines were so short they were also offering people jobs before they had a license.
So many people wanted to do ATPLs that the CAA examiners couldn't cope with the demand for Instrument Ratings. You couldn't book a CAAFU test slot without the 170A so the procedure was to do your IR training up to test standard, get a 170A, then book a test maybe three months in the future. If you could afford it you tried to keep your hand in in the meantime.
Last edited by Alex Whittingham; 23rd June 2004 at 16:03.