There is talk around my parts that rather like the IMC rating the BCPL may well be about to go. My excellent source (an FIE) informs me that the CAA and EASA are steadfastly at the moment sticking to the line that if you are a BCPL holder and you want to continue to be remunerated for working as an FI you will have to go to Gatwick and take the CPL writtens.
I can think of one or two experienced PPL's at my club who would make very good instructors and others who definetely would not. There is a great difference between making the decision to go flying and making the decision to go flying with a student, something not well understood by a lot of PPL's. All very good going off in your own well maintained Warrior or Arrow with full IFR kit Garmins etc on a marginal day. Very different in a knackered old Cessna with just a VOR.
The issue people like myself have is the old BCPL system enabled people to get into a position to be paid for flying without having taking any more exams then those they are to teach, and have IMC priveleges embedded for life in their license without the need to ever take an IMC renewal. The rest of us have had to pay large sums of money to get into the position to earn not alot and have to pay out each year to keep our IR's current. There are also those who of course abuse their BCPL and get remunerated for things that they should not be getting remunerated for, taking yet more money away from those of us who hold full, proper, professional pilots licenses.
Last edited by timzsta; 16th January 2008 at 19:07.