This situation has been foreseen by those of us who have been in the industry for some length of time. Forget JAA, the reasons are much more simple than that. The main reason there is currently an instructor shortage, and to a greater extent 509 instructors, is the ease of which 'youngsters' can get a licence these days and pick up an airline job. Just a few short years ago anyone starting out in avaition would serve an 'apprenticeship' as an AFI, then qualify as an FI and continue to build their experience and more importantly their airmanship. These days they pop over to the USA, getting dubious standards of training and undertaking pointless hours building exercises. It means that in a few years time every new f/o with the airlines will have a few hundred hours and no 'nouse' for real flying, and no experience of having to make real decisions unaided by having an experienced captain beside them. BA are on record as wanting 'managers' and not pilots, unfortunetly it looks like they are going to get what they desire.
I truly believe that the ONLY way for our young men and women to enter the professional world of avaition is through the instructor route. I only write this article because there are some on this forum who think they know it all after spending a couple of weeks in Florida hour building and then doing an up-grade course and landing in the right seat of a jet, they have no 'airmanship', I highlight that word so the instructors reading this know what I mean, because those young f/o's will not have a clue.
Before some loud mouth has a go at me (again), I have been down that route, I gave up the airlines to try to put something back into an industry I love, but sometimes I despair, I honestly think we are getting the wrong type of person into flying these days.
So, instructors, stand tall, be proud, after all, without you, none of these whippersnappers would be where they are now, I only wish they could see that for themselves.
I have been very busy of late, as you will no doubt be aware, there are many wannabees out there trying their hand at the IRT, I will try to contribute more, but I will not if I again get shouted down for protecting the UK flying industry, this after all was started as a UK forum, why people want to shout me down for protecting our own industry bemuses me somewhat.
Tally ho, Bournmouth is losing its appeal...
[This message has been edited by ILSNDBVOR (edited 23 July 1999).]