...........all of which I proposed! I certainly feel that there need to be stricter entry criteria for FI courses and my proposals also included a mandatory first FI revalidation by test. Which is being introduced.
It is in the commercial interest of most clubs to get their FI(R)s upgraded as soon as possible to reduce the supervisory burden on the organisation. But since the first re-validation will soon be done by test, I certainly won't be just 'signing-off' FI(R)s once they get their 100/25 without flying with them as well - I don't want some FIE saying that I accept weak standards!
But the FIEs got their way regarding the re-introduction of the test. I agree wholeheartedly that a course and test for FI(R) upgrade would have been a better course of action.