I can't see self sponsored speculative type ratings becoming the norm.
There would spring up a number of cheap and nasty schools with the bare minimum expertise to gain JAA approval. They would all compete on price and the quality would be minimal.
Also they would teach only generic SOP's. There is a suprising difference between airlines on how to fly even the same model aircraft ( as I am personally discovering at the moment ).
The end result would be a pretty poor one. And that would matter becuase these graduates would next stop be on the line for base training and line training with real live pax. The Line Trainers job is hard enough as it is without having to cope with someone who is low hours, has done a minimal type rating course using different SOPs.
Such graduates would require much more line training and thats more expensive and more hassle for the airline to organise than would be a proper planned type rating course run by an airlines own staff. As happens now mostly.
MCC being self sponsored and cheap and nasty is OK becuase its largely a tick in the box item for most people. Also the difference between a rubbishy MCC course and a rubbishy type rating course is that in an emergency a rubbishy type rating course could well manifest itself in a smoking hole in the ground.
This time will pass.
Recruiting is gathering a good head of steam barring Gulf War 2. Yes it will take a good year or two to start draining the pool of unemployed grads but by this time next year I reckon the good and the lucky will be getting their first jobs again.
Compare and contrast that with my views over the past nearly 12 months...
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