Ah, but if a PPL holder with SEP Class Rating achieves the relevant microlight experience to become an AFI(Microlight), then adds a CRI(SPA):
1. He/she can be paid for microlight instruction.
2. He/she can teach licence holders (e.g. NPPL (Microlight)) the conversion training needed to add SSEA Class ratings to their licences. But cannot be paid for that without being the holder of a valid CPL.
So, if a school is teaching NPPL students on something like a Eurostar, and also has a few SEP Class aeroplanes, the Microlight FI / CRI(SPA) could indeed be very useful.
Hopefully there will be a NPPL (SSEA) Rating within the next few years..... Main objectives will be the right to teach the NPPL (SSEA) syllabus for remuneration without the need to hold a CPL or to have passed the CPL ground exams. The course envisaged will probably be very similar to the JAR/FCL FI course (including the pre-entry criteria), but the theoretical knowledge required is intended to be
appropriate to light aircraft operation - so no need to know how many stewardesses are needed on a 747 or how to spot illegally moored airships....
Perhaps a way of making some money
before embarking on the CPL/IR route to the airlines?