That is true Noggin - but there's a massive difference when you've got small numbers of people on the course, and you have a full time instructor devoted to the FI flying. In more than a few places, you seem to have to wait on the CFI to finish the 10 million other more important things he's got to do and the 15 other BCPL/FI students he's got to fly with, before he can maybe squeeze in a quick flight with you once every couple of days.
Kermit - nice idea but other countries' instructor ratings certainly aren't good enough to instruct in Britain old bean - goodness gracious me, how insolent to suggest such a thing! I had 500 hours instructing on a kiwi FI ticket when I started working here (including a fair bit of CPL and advanced training), it was no use to me at all, under JAA rules I had to go and do a minimum of 16 hours of dual instructor training and another flight test before I could even get issued with a basic restricted euro FI rating (ie the equivalent of a kiwi 'c' cat under supervision). Even then, you have to do another bloody 100 hours under supervision and sign off 25 solo students just to get your old privileges back!
Apparently I need yet more dual training before I can go night instructing, even though I've got more night instructing time than anyone else in the club. Same deal with aeros, instrument training and CPL training ... and god help you if you want to teach multi engine or proper IFR
You spend 80% of your time doing ****ing JAR paperwork, the average instructor gets paid less than a Tesco's checkout girl, all the jet jobs are getting handed out to wet-behind-the-ears 200 hour teenagers ... and they wonder why there's a shortage of instructors in this country!
Rant rant rant ... rave rave ... froth froth froth ... right that's it I feel better now. (I love it really, but it's just been one of thoooose days ...)
[This message has been edited by Luke SkyToddler (edited 10 June 2001).]