Quality of instructors; on the way down!!!

[FlyingForFun]

This isn't a subject I have very strong thoughts on. But after reading the thread, the conclusions I've drawn are that there are a number of problems, or perceived problems. Specifically:

1. The ground exams are putting experienced private pilots off of becoming an instructor
2. There are too many people entering instruction without very much experience
3. Instructors don't get paid enough

So, my proposed solutions:

1. The CPL exams are only really useful for flying light aircraft - in most cases, instructing. So, rather than remove the requirement for CPL exams, lets change the CPL syllabus so that it is geared towards flying light aircraft
2. Increase the experience requirements. The comments on this thread suggest that the perceived lack of experience specifically relates to the fact that people come off of CPL/IR courses having never done any private flying, then teach people to be private pilots. So how about a requirement for 200 hours P1. This is deliberately higher than the requirement for either modular or integrated CPL, so once an hour-building pilot has his CPL/IR he will be required to do more P1 flying (in a private flying environment) before he can become an instructor.
3. The increased experience requirements will hopefully reduce the number of hour-builders entering the profession, and cause a short-term instructor shortage. This shortage would be dealt with by schools putting up their instructors' wages, encouraging experienced private pilots to become instructors.

Note that nowhere on here have I suggested removing the requirement for a CPL - I have, instead, suggested reducing the theoretical knowledge requirements. In fact, I would be all for removing the option for a PPL to be able to instruct.

SaS's point about there being some very good PPLs and some very poor ATPLs is absolutely true. It's all very well saying that some PPLs are good - but how do we ensure that it's only the good ones who become instructors? With the system as it stands at the moment, it is possible for someone to pass a PPL (which, lets face it, is not a test of a "good" pilot, only a test of a "safe" pilot), and then become an instructor without any real check on the quality of his flying. There is the pre-entry test before starting the instructor course, but that's a bit of a joke because it is carried out by the FIC instructor, who has a good commercial reason for passing the candidate (i.e. the candidate will not be able to train with him, and he will loose money, if the candidate fails the pre-entry test). And then there is the FI(R) test at the end of the course - but that's a test of instructing, not a test of flying. So that's why I think it's important to go through some kind of advanced training and testing, and the CPL is ideal.

FFF
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