Out of Balance,
Having flown extensively through Europe I think that some IF training
is required in your training syllabus as well. UK conditions in particular are atrocious and what you consider VFR is enough to ground most low time Aussie pilots. If you didn't have some degree of Instrument training in places like India or Indonesia as well then you simply wouldn't fly.
Australian conditions are far different. We have near perfect weather and helicopter lanes/corridors in an around primary airports. Our bad weather is better than your good weather. We have very few densely populated areas and landing areas everywhere.
What we consider to be add-ons (or Ratings) are done so to ensure that pilots remain current and/ or specialise in a certain area. Why teach sling loading to somebody that will never do it enough to keep barely current? Rather, we have pilots that do it all the time and are experts in the field. Why teach NVFR to pilots that can't fly single engine night charter? It's best to wait until they have a job that will keep their skills current before you train them in hazardous and high-risk flying.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Less BS from training schools to prospective students would be a start and better/longer CPL(H)training would improve employment prospects.</font>
Once again, increasing the minimum licence requirements will only filter out those people that can't pay for it and not those that won't make the better pilot.
To take your suggestion - make training 'better'. How would you do this?
I would like to hear from schools themselves. What are you saying that's upsetting these people?
Until Operators take responsibility for the industry and make the most of a low time pilot, rather than complaining about them, then things will remain as they are. I have embraced the opportunity to train and employ lower time pilots and this has most certainly worked to the advantage of my company. You can't tach an old dog new tricks.
I really am sorry about the ramble. This is one area I am quite passionate about.
T.
[This message has been edited by Turbine (edited 02 June 2001).]