A new training system is a good start but Mike's comments re golf are also
correct.
The great challenge in club instructing [and RAA/GA] is that this is a
recreational activity
largely carried out by older people with plenty of time and/or cash. Nothing
wrong with that but students who perhaps should play golf put more and more $
into their training until through with little natural attrition. Some of these
slow learners have advanced flying lives, some stay on at a lower level under
club system [200hrs would be WAY too few hrs to give them a "licence"] Some
eventually crash!
As a junior instructor just starting my 2000 odd hrs of GA instructing I had
two students I simply could not bring myself to send solo, they could blunder
around the circuit and hit the ground intact but I had a "gut feeling" about
them. After they threw many $ at their flying [not with me] they both got
"licences" [power equivalent of independant operator and therefore outside the
instructor's supervision] and both eventually lost their lives in their own
aircraft which were beyond them! [one in a twin he should never had been in and
the other a solo glider pilot in a homebuilt] I have learnt to trust my gut
feelings.
Medical standards are also low, flarm is a great development but I would
rather see a CPL medical standard for the Nationals!! We all know some to
avoid.
Anybody who thinks they should get a "licence" after 10hrs of RAA flying has
rocks in their heads! [from scratch, no other experience] My licence test for a
glider "licence" would be quite rigorous, involving simple aeros, crosscountry
and outlandings, strong winds and a visit to a ridge/mountain site - perhaps
50% of current pilots would fail!
But we are a recreation, not the military or an airline and do what we can do.
Tom Claffey
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