FNG,
Thanyou for your reply. I don't want to get into an argument on this subject as there is no "right" answer in this matter - our opinions are equally valid.
I have considered what you have said in your replies and I would like to share with you a few thoughts,particularly on the situation at my airfield.
I work at an airfield roughly in the centre of the country. On the field there are 4 flying schools and at thoses schools there are about 20 flying instructors (some part-time, some full-time). Of those instructors, only 4 (just under a quarter) are instructing on 'grandfather rights'(GR) BCPL's so I take your point about them being in a minority.(actually, those 4 are the CFI's of the 4 schools!)
To be fair, I think my mind may be slighty poisoned towards certain GR BCPL's anyway. I know 2 of the 4 mentioned above quite well and they are ALL of the opinion that just because they have been instructing donkey's years and 1000's of hours on C152's (flying around the local area in nice weather) they deserve a full CPL. This attitude really p*ss*d me off. How arrogant of them to think that they deserve the same qualification as me when they hav'nt been near a CAA exam room or IR flight test. Not one of them has a good word to say about anyone with a CPL/ATPL. Basically, I think it boils down to jealousy !
(One of them has sat the CAA CPL exams but failed them all - so he went back to instructing and tells everyone who asks that "he never wanted to be a commercial pilot" anyway!)
I think there is also a lot of truth in the point raised earlier about GR BCPL's being more dedicated to instructing. They need to be, as they are'nt qualified to earn from any other kind of flying!
Its a funny old world. I don't want to make life difficult for anyone and I am definately not suggesting that one pilot is better than another. I accept that the remaining GR BCPL's are the survivors of the "old system" and are basically licenced and competent to do what they do.
I also think it is worth remembering that the rules have now been changed for a reason. Clearly, the powers that be have decided that instructors should have "CPL level knowledge" before being allowed to instruct - that says something. The CAA obviously think this level of knowledge is necessary to be competent instructor.
The GR BCPL's are gradually dissappearing with the implementation of the new regulations and we are slowly approaching a world where instructors have received basically the same level of training, the minimum training having been increased.
My origional posting was NOT intended to offend any GR BCPL holder's and I was definately not 'taring them with the same brush' so to speak. I have a great deal of respect for them and their efforts. Circumstances and history have seen to it that, where instructors are concerned, we seem to have one set of rules for one, and one set of rules for another, which is a little unfortunate. Having reflected on my thoughts, I accept that they have benefitted from the changes in licensing which occured 20 years ago (their GR BCPL's were granted on "transitional arrangements" and the wording in their licenses states this clearly) and I do not hold it against them. Times are changing, and these people should accept that if they want to "move on" to other things (airlines, panel examiner etc...) they will have to do the same exams and tests that the rest of us had to do. They have not, by any stretch of the imagination, earned the right to run past the hoops instead of jumping through them!
On reflection, I think my origional posting was largly triggered by a few very self-opinionated GR BCPL's who have a very arrogant and mindless idea of what makes a full CPL/ATPL and what does'nt. Is'nt it an unusual and unauthadox state of affairs when the instructors at a particular school are more qualified (and in many cases more experineced) than the CFI, as is the situation at our school. Food for thought.
Other views and thought's are eargerly awaited.
[ 01 August 2001: Message edited by: Night Rider ]
[ 01 August 2001: Message edited by: Night Rider ]
[ 01 August 2001: Message edited by: Night Rider ]