Back in the good old days, when courses had about 18 Cadets and the whole thing took nearly 3 years, both college and validation failure was a rarety. At validation, safety and reliability was essential but flair could be allowed to grow.
It seems to me that with customer demand outstripping system capacity, these days, unless you are really sharp during training, you just aren't good enough. Doesn't it follow that fewer and fewer will be capable of meeting the higher and higher standard for validation?
As far as the college is concerned, I am sure the failure rates must come down to course length and fullness. It seems to me rather like trying to teach brain surgery to those who haven't done basic medicine. A thorough grasp of basics, supported by experience gained along each step of the way must surely be a better way. It is, of course, much more expensive but choices have consequences.
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