I couldn't agree more! I know of several now CFIG's
that were power instructors and did there private,
commercial and CFIG ratings in one exam with right
at 20 flights and less than 4 hours in gliders and
were teaching the next day. They couldn't even thermal,
but they read the book : ) I have always argued that
if we want to grow the sport, it starts with the instructors.
I was lucky enough (at the same school) to have an
instructor that had flown diamond distance in a 1-26
several times and taught from that perspective.

PS. One of the fast trackers mentioned, a year later
totaled a 2-33 on a takeoff thermal when he broke the
rope and spun it in with a ride passenger. No one hurt
thank god.

At 13:48 26 April 2007, Bill Daniels wrote:

'126Driver' wrote in message
oups.com...
The three levels of instructor is interesting and
makes sense.
Another difference seems to be orientation in that
there is some
expectation that the student may fly cross country
some day. I don't
think this is part of USA instruction. I would also
guess 80% of the
US instructors have no official cross counry credentials
like the
Silver C. But again, this is probably not a problem
as you can gain
the knowledge to teach cross country skills by reading
the texts on
the topic.

thanks,

It becomes a problem when the instructor conveys the
idea to his students
that, 'only crazy people go XC'. This is, unfortunately,
not uncommon under
the US system.

Try suggesting to instructors that they get some cross
country experience
and you'll be amazed at the response. I know an instructor
that keeps
complaining that, 'Instructors get no respect'. I
asked him if he held any
FAI badges and he said no and he didn't want any.
I said, 'Well?....

I hate to say it, but maybe we need a change in the
FAA instructor applicant
experience requirements (and renewal requirements)
to include at least a
Silver Badge.

Bill Daniels