Then why oh why did GAPAN not consult with one of its freemen who just happens to be the CEO of the BMAA - why would you call petulant the direct quote from GAPAN itself?
What continuation training is required in the BMAA - as I understand it no continuation training is currently required yet no case is to answer. Why force it upon them? Well an earlier contributer said it all. Jelousy.
Quote forwarded to me
In over 20 years of microlight training alone I have noticed a common trait in both students & pilots. The average microlight pilot seems to have to develop a natural and better feel for the air than nearly all of the conventionally orientated pilots that I have flown with.
I often have a tougher time teaching those who fly normal aircraft. The intricacies of flying a low inertia, high power to weight ratio and high drag aircraft (the types used by 90% of the microlight schools) are often diametrically opposed to the types that the conventional pilot has flown. As you know the typical weightshift pilot has to develop strange but unique skills that nearly always result in them converting to other aircraft in very short time. Whereas conversion of conventional pilots to weightshift can often be a nightmare! But still the conventional flying fraternity look down on them as not 'real' pilots.
Having been at the receiving end of typical conventional flying school tuition on many occasions, I find that the emphasis is very much on flying as a means to an end ie. professional pilot goal. Flying within a club environment can still be so expensive that the average pilot often only just manages to do the minimum required for revalidation and therefore I can understand somewhat the feeling that they need some form of skill test/check flight.
Microlight aviation on the other hand has not only made flying more accessible but has allowed the average pilot to knock up more hours and experience annually. Generally, the only reason a test is made is when they have not managed to clock up the minimum times for a C of E. In microlight flying this rarely happens as most people can fly their own aircraft regularly.
I hope that this steady trend towards increasing bureaucracy will not have just the opposite effect on safety. There is a constant feeling of despondency amongst pilots as they see that more regulation, often justified on the grounds of safety is usually just red tape!
Unquote...l