Guys,
Beagle, I thought you were against hours builders who were aiming at the airlines. If so why say this:
"As soon as they have passed, they can apply for an instructing position either full or part-time and save up for the 'fATPL' course. Which they will enter with rather more airmanship and experience than someone who has never flown before - and arrive at the airline with all that fATPL knowledge still fresh in their minds."
Make your mind up! Who do you want, hours builders or committed instructors!
Westmorland. You say:
"I have no doubt that I could pass the CPL examinations - I have passed plenty enough other exams in my time and have spent a career in high tech where one never stops learning. The money is not an issue either, in the overall scheme of things. But I have never found myself needing to learn utterly irrelevant stuff in such volume as seems to be required for the wannabe FI. It is that that I object to. My time is precious to me and I would rather spend it on things that I enjoy, such as flying."
If you are so clever do the exams. It may save embarrassment when your PPL wannabe airline pilot asks you a difficult question..... If you can't answer them perhaps you could ask a CPL qualified instructor. (who will be paid the same if he or she is instructing to PPL level). I would rather fly all the time as well but there is this thing called the long briefing I have to do which seems to help the student as well!
Shortstripper. You say:
"Why do you think an experienced PPL can't argue they're short of cash? I am, I have a poorly payed job (for what the hours I do and the qualifications I have ... so it's not exclusive to FI's) and a large family. I have managed to continue to fly for the last 20 years by various means, but I sure as hell can say that I am short of cash
Time
IS another issue despite what you say, in fact with me it's the main one. I could easily do a day of instructing a week, but it would be very difficult to find the time to attend the now compulsary ground school part of the CPL's as well as the FI course. It could be done, but it would take two years of my holiday time just for the ground exams, and that's before the FIR course!
Sorry, it was a sweeping statement to say that all PPL's with a few hours under thier belts must be loaded. I too have been scratching around for the last 20 years picking up an hour here and an hour there.
I understand it is difficult, but I completed my ground exams whilst in full time employment by correspondence course . I completed My FI(R) course whilst in full time employment on my days off and holidays. I also have kids and have had to sacrifice time with them and my wife to get where I am. I have to instruct part-time as I need a full time job outside aviation to pay the mortgage and feed the kids.
Almost time to put the violin back in it's case........ I fear those who will suffer most from Beagle's proposals are committed, weekend, CPL qualified PPL instructors.....Like me!