Human Factors
Well Frog, I do not think your a fraud or stupid. You put your arguments clearly and from an experienced footing albeit I don't agree with some of what you say.
There is a desease within much of aviation and amongst some instructors that the student is stupid. I have a friend who is a engineer specialising in concrete structures. I some times go to work with him. We have a deal. In the aeroplane he listens to me and does as I say. On construction sites I listen him and do as I'm told. Horses for courses. In the aeroplane he is not stupid for he is still the man he is. One should not confuse expertise with superioty of character.
Many of those who can afford to fly are already accomplished people in difficult and pressured jobs and they are quite capable of making serious decisions given the training but from a greater experience of the world than perhaps the instructor has in their gift. BEagle has already made the point that the IMCr allows people to train for their particular needs. They are clearly carrying out there responsibilties safely. The pilots needs are not always the same as those devised by an institution. Sadly in the UK and, I also suspect elsewhere in Europe, I don't witness much evidence to say decision making is any more of the IR course than it is for the IMCr. Too much of the IR is rehearsing pre-determined routes and other elements very likely to be undertaken for their test with its pre-determined format. The IR course is so often undertaken in much the way an actor rehearses for a performance. At the peak of training they must be at a high level of precision but it dosn't follow that this will be maintained.
I'm getting a lot of reports from airline recruiters that a large number of recruits are being chopped because their IR skills are so rusty. This has been happening for many years. A Captain friend recently told me of a 1st officer who lost it during an NDB approach. His excuse was that he has never been good at them. Presumbly he passed his IR from repitition of known procedures. I know of one airline so concerned that they now use a local IR school to vet applicants for currency/ability before they are interviewed. Give a dog a bad name ......... I don't think so. Please don't judge a few poor IMCr performances with the all.
With regard to examiners. You must understand that in the UK Examiners are now required to attend a course of training and pass an assessment in order to be appointed. Clearly from the statistics with regard to the IMCr they are carrying out their responsibilties effectively.
IR training is as likely to be undertaken in simulated conditions as the IMCr. Very few clubs will have an FNPT trainer therefore it will be normal to do all training in flight. Within the UK it will be very unique indeed not to encounter full IMC conditions for much of the training.
I would have no problem with an annual review of IMC skills although BEagle has suggested it should remain at 24/25 months as now and he gives his reasons.
The UK requires an Instructor to undertake a formal 30 hours approved course of training and pass an entry examination of knowledge or at the minimum have passed the CPL examinations. Should an instructor wish to teach applied IMC flight they must attend an addition course and again be tested. That adds up to a higher requirement than ICAO.