Surely there must be some Nimrod QFIs at the UASs...
Ah, no. The beancounters have virtually killed off the UASs, so forget that one.
BFTS? Errm, no. It's BJ FTS or something silly nowadays. Can't afford to train non-FJ streamed pilots on basic trainers these days, which means that there are probably no ME QFIs on the Tucano. So forget that idea.
The days of "We're getting six volunteer pilots from Coastal Command, and from the Fleet Air Arm, sir. Five from each of the Fairy Battle squadrons and three from Army co-operation, sir." to make up critical shortages are long since gone...
Jock, me old B squadron RAFC chum, in case you hadn't noticed, the RAF's corporate control column is coming back and its rudder pedals are going to full extreme.
And you solution to all this is..........??
"Could an experienced, non-QFI, pilot do the job as an FI?" How? Who will guide him/her as to the requirements? And don't forget that ME pilots receive a fraction of the pre-OCU training they once did, so the concept of inexperienced 'FIs' teaching very inexperienced ab-initios to fly the Mighty Muncher would seem fraught with risk to me.