Does that 9 include the 2 that work north of the border?.
And they also do CPL's as well. I remember having to do some tatical booking to avoid being given a CAA staff examiner for the CPL.
Apart from which I would imagine they are pretty expensive in the grand scope of things. They won't be on peanuts, I should imagine they have a pretty good allowance for staying current on various twin types. Would estimate that all in cost is going to be over 100k a year for each one and thats without all the office rent etc. Proberly nearer 150K with all the extras added.
So with the numbers taking the test the exam fees will struggle to cover the costs, any more than 9 it would also become very expensive (which would have to of course be passed on to the customer)
As for keeping them in house. All for it. The Initial IR is one of the few flight tests that there has never been any question about the quality of product passing it. The examiners have a pretty good reputation for being compleletly fair and judgmental. And having heard one take area ATC to task they have a very weird standing in aviation in the UK. Apart from which of the 4 i have had the pleasure of meeting they have all been very helpful nice chaps who all seem to have the pilots best interests at heart. Never a problem asking them questions and they can also be a very helpful back door into the CAA if your not getting any joy from other directions of attack.
It must be a right boring job, with heaps of paper work and politics involved.
MJ