snarlie
Excellent handle - I can see you are working hard to live up to it. Forgive the semantics but if you abort a prof check due to poor performance then you have effectively failed the guy even if the paperwork was not completed that way. As you have 'ownership' of him it is a worthwhile gambit - unless he is earmarked for the boot.
It sounds like your experience is based on JAA and probably North Sea so forgive me once again if I point out that my assertions relate to the global workforce. The globalisation of the industry is causing a migration of many nationals into markets where their licenses may be new and this 'mix-and-match patchwork of skills is a real headache for those trying to maintain competency in their workforce.
At a guess I have taught about 200 students on various courses in 4 years and these originate from India, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, Russia, Brazil, USA, Mexico, Trinidad, South Africa, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Qatar, Oman, France, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland and UK, and probably some others I have forgotten. It's simply not possible for a flight instructor to see close-up that many people from that many places and not form an opinion of the overall well-being of the global industry. You can bury your head in the sand if you wish but I would rather speak up and at least seek a consensus about the scale of the problem. Albeit in a very unscientific way I think we may have it. The situation is either:-
a. The regulatory processes that manages pilot competency in inadequate - or
b. The processes are not being applied in the manner expected by the regulators.
If any CP out their is hiring I suggest you send the guy for a check-ride before you sign him up. At least he will be a known rather than an unknown quantity. It will be worth the costs believe me.
G.