But were the guys who kindly gave up their time qualified language assessors, or were they "just" Examiners?
"Just" examiners, using guidance contained within CAP 804, Section 4, Part M, Page 4, 5.1 (b): Transitional arrangements for existing UK licence holders.
b) passing a language assessment as set out in FCL.055(b) and AMC1 FCL.055 section (a) to (l) inclusive, with the holder of a UK Examiner Certificate; (see Note 1). If the examiner assesses the candidate as being Expert Level 6 (the standard of a native speaker of English) he may certify to that effect by submitting a Form SRG 1199 to the CAA. If the examiner considers that the applicant is not at Level 6 the examiner must not give a proficiency endorsement, in which case the alternative means of assessment of 4.1 c), d), or e) must be used.
It requires you to go into the relevant document (FCL.055(b) and AMC1 FCL.055) to find what they want you to assess, which for native english speakers amounts to a brief conversation and a number of practical R/T examples. It is not a test, but an assessment, so you may provide training input which also ticks a number of other requirements.
If, as pembroke says, there is an IN coming on this subject then it is not a moment too soon.
The Information Notice may have been compiled from notes which were agreed between the examiners and the CAA for the Flying Show. As I understand it, the Information Notice will also allow RTF Examiners to conduct these assessments, which CAP 804 presently does not.
ifitaint...