First of all, the disclaimer: I know nothing about the NPPL except what I've read on this site (mostly on this thread, but a bit on some older threads), and my opinions must not only be taken as opinions, but also in the context of my limited knowledge of the subject.
Having said that, I have to admit that I don't understand the need for two "levels" of PPL.
As far as the different standards of medical are concerned, people such as deanofs and flying snapper are either fit enough to be private pilots, or they're not - it's as simple as that. If "the authorities" determine that someone who wears a hearing aid (to use deanof as an example) is capable of flying safely, then that person should be granted a Class 2 medical.
The same goes for the flying aspects of the license. Either I need to know how to track a VOR, or I don't. If "the authorities" determine that it's perfectly safe for someone to fly around without having been trained in tracking to a beacon for 5 minutes, then why should PPL students be required to do this training? (I expect that most people would teach themselves how to use whatever nav-aids they have in their aircraft anyway, the same as people are teaching themselves to use a GPS as a backup nav-aid without any formal training.)
It's not necessarilly making things "simpler" that I have a problem with, because the criteria for passing a skills test will always be updated from time to time - sometimes making things simpler, sometimes making them more complicated. But I genuinely don't understand the need for a two-tier system. Maybe BEagle or someone else can enlighten me?
FFF
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