I'm at the PDP next month but recently asked a CASA guy what would happen to the people who hold a GFPT if there were to be no student licences (which aren't required in other countries I have instructed in, also no such thing as a GFPT anywhere else, just NFT and GFT), expecting to be told they would need to do a flight test depending on whether they wanted RPL or PPL.
The answer was that they would be "given a PPL".
So...no PPL theory, no PPL flight test etc..."Given a PPL".
Did this come up at any of the other PDPs? I just find it really hard to believe, especially as until pretty recently the GFPT flight test form didn't even comply with the Day VFR Syllabus. Personally I've always felt it was a waste of time as it gives no credits towards the PPL flight test (isn't even mentioned in the ATOM) and the whole idea of student pilots whizzing about with passengers was something I have always been uncomfortable with.
Would be interesting to know. I giess I'll find out sometime in the two days I have to close up shop and try to stay awake in a stuffy room.....