Rustle - yes, it is remarkably similiar.
I wonder why external consultation did not generat support - does any one know what external consultation took place? Would we support revisiting these proposals?
The instructors rating is very interesting although I do not entirely understand the thinking behind it. It would seem to envisage the possibility of private pilots who have not completed a CPL (which would normally be required to instruct) would be able to qualify as an instrument instructor. The AIC does not seem to deal with precisely what the relevant ground school is, other than it must comprise 70 hours. Is it proposed that the candidate would not have to undertake any of the commercial exams.?
If my assumptions are correct that would mean a private pilot with 200 hours IMC (say), 70 hours ground school, 10 hours flight instruction, 70 hours ground school and a flight test would be able to give instrument instruction for the grant of an IMC and yet not hold an IR in his own right. Of course he might well go and get himself an IR as well!
Whatever was behind this AIC it seems to be very wide of the point so far as the private pilot is concerned and would not seem to address the shortage of instrument examiners and instructors.
In a previous thread the point was raised about the impact of new equipment proposals to operate airways.
The mode S proposals for light aircraft have in fact be deferred until at least 2005 at the earliest.