Whilst I do sympathise, I do still think it's the right way forward.
What saddens me is that the system was changed to force instructors to have CPL's in the first place. The old PPL FI system worked ok, so why did they change it. If nothing had been changed, nobody would be moaning or inconvenienced now. If the change back then was so necessary, then it should remain now. I do not believe it was the right decision then, so I believe bringing back PPL instructors is the correct approach now.
I'm sorry that many instructors feel aggrieved, but it is interesting to note that many CPL's who instruct, but started as PPL instructors, support the move. I know FI pay is crap, it has always been so and probably will always remain so. But then, look at farm workers, horsey girls, lab technicians, ect ect. Many professions in life are notoriously underpaid (and not just unskilled ones). It's just supply and demand. The demand for flying training is there, but at a finite cost. If it gets too expensive, people will simply stop training. At the same time, there are plenty who fly who'd like to teach, but again, if it is too expensive to get the qualifications, they will not. Those on a career path to the airlines need hours. They can hour build in the States, or get a job instructing or whatever. The poor wage is offset by the "cheap" hours they build, so they suit themselves and therefore have no cross to bear in my book. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but so is life .. accept it, or do more than simply moan to change it.
Those on a mission to become career instructors should still have a path. After all, PPL instructors will not (or rather should not) be able to teach higher than their qualification. There won't be that many multi engine IR rated PPL instructors about, so the career instructor, who goes from PPL to CPL/ME/IR should have a place. As it now stands, as an instructor needs a CPL to instruct, there are many more instructors with these higher qualifications about, therefore there is more competition for the career instructor from his/her peers. Take out the pure airline seeking CPL's from the instructor pool, and the chance of finding work for advanced training increases as there are fewer FI's with the required ratings.
I might be wrong ... but then? Funny thing is, I was flying when we had PPL instructors. Nothing much really seems to have changed in the great scale of things, but a lot of the fun seems to have left GA and transferred to the microlight fraternity who are now booming ... Why's that then?
SS