Wish I could start off a thread as constructively as yourself Nigelh.....eh NOT!
Firstly because someone crashes a robbie it does not make them an idiot. Secondly are you saying you think that all robbie flyers are idiots? Thirdly you wish to re-write the training manual for PPL(H) and stop full down auto's to save you a non-idiot and non-robbie flyer some money?
I have renewed my insurance through Haywards and had a similar percentage increase, however, my helicopter is not used for training. Yes I know you are going to say that the increase is because I'm paying for the training ones and their mistakes but hey thats insurance. I would have to pay an extra 20% for my heli to be used in a school. So all those 20% from all the robbies in schools does go into the pot. I have also had a 10% excess of hull value added for an overspeed unless I pay another 15% on top of my premium. Again most schools will pay this 15% again adding to the pot.
I agree that there is almost an monopoly and that some sort of self administrated scheme could work and yes it could be scaled for higher time pilots( 'cause they never make mistakes do they?) and that it could be sub £500k to keep out the big boys with their IFR and autopilots.
If you have a proposal that makes some sort of sense, doesn't preclude a large percentage of the helis flying in the UK and is of course open to idiots then as whirygig says lets here it a bit more clearly and of course slowly for all us idiots out here
