Yo Silverfish, The CAA and industry have given us an answer in the form of JAR 66.
Make all current engineers pay lots of money to convert current Section L licences (including doing the X exam for A & C guys) & lower the standard for new entrants (no orals). I for one have met a lot of complete donkeys who have passed multi choice and written exams but have failed the oral as the surveyer spotted the lack of knowledge.
I find the situation a bit worrying really.
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"Noted With Thanks"