I cannot help but also look forward to MEL's research results into accidents involving the product of the recycled junior instructors.
But that is only one measure of our current spiralling downward training regime in Australia - a more interesting measure would be to survey the employers of the end product to ascertain just how much extra training is required to make that product safe and useful.
My experience over the years teaches me that the Grade One is the foundation stone upon which the whole castle is built. Whilst it may be approriate to have schools testing in-house for recreational pilot licences, I cannot help but think that the initial vision of the truly Independant ATO must be applied to professional licence candidates. That scheme was abandoned for economic convenience and commercial pressures. And I dont mean CASA doing it but they do appear to have abandoned the field somewhat.
That is not to say that all Grade One's are pushovers and abandon the standards they instinctively know are right - but Blind Freddy will tell you where to find an Easybeat. Most Grade One's are forthright and honest but the Easybeats tend to get the business.
In my humble view, it is far too easy to become a Grade One or CFI and therefore the cornerstone of the standard, the Grade One qualification, should return to the days when the qualification was something not easily attained and one which was accompanied by respect and a modicum of prestige.
My sixpenneth for what it is worth.