climbs like a dog. I totally agree. Your comments about LPC/OPC and light aircraft are spot on. They are two totally different fields of aviation.
I am still, regardless of the responses of others here, in total favour of an FI renewal flight test.
I disagree with some comments on here that instructors are monitored through sampling via the PPL Skill Test Candidate.
That system works if the instructor has done the majority of the course for the candidate, but one of the clubs I frequent as an instructor/examiner, every lesson is completed by a different instructor. I have found both the standard of progress of the student is slow, inconsistant knowledge and skill, and the student records are awful. I have tested these guys and found that it is very hard to find out "who" was teaching the wrong techniques etc.
There are some great instructors around the skies and there are some not so good ones. Skill Test sampling is just not good enough at weeding the men out from the boys. Its a good help but testing of the instructor is surely the final nail in their coffin!
Instructors want to be seen as professionals in their chosen career, so why is it they aren't all in agreement to be tested as professionals.
Mr Dobson - if your reading this.....................bring back mandatory testing!
I believe that I am still learning heaps about aviation, and therefore testing is a great way to put my money where my mouth is and I often fluff it! All very humbling!
I am hoping that one day I will walk into my LPC/OPC and treat it like water off a ducks back. I probably never will but I am sure some guys/gals do but they still have to go through the hoops. Its all part of professional aviation and hopefully stops us from getting complacent.