Comments on: EASA Taking Aim on U.S. Flight Schools

By: FAA test

FAA test — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:24:42 +0000

A very interesting post !

FAA and JAA have some economic differences yes, but I’m convinced that the main reason for JAA rules in this respect are trade political: to protect the endangered species of European flight schools, who’d otherwise (read: due to economic reasons, bigger US markets etc.) lose a lot of the business to the US schools.

By: Ed

Ed — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:54:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

I’m a flight attendant working for a european airline, and I would like to stick with the industry, however I would like to do it as a pilot :P I’m hearing that getting your PPL in the USA is a lot cheaper than over here, so I was wondering if it’s hard to find a flight school in the states that is certified to give out JAR PPLs, and the costs for that.

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

By: F. Troj

F. Troj — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:11:31 +0000

It’s quite simple…..GREED!

European pilots drag their money to the US, because zero to CPL IR ME is less than 50 percent of the cost than here (and I know that because I did exactly that!).

You would have to be stupid (or rich!) to train in Europe self-funded….. in the US you get a lot more for the same amount of money.

EASA is trying to end this, make people spend their money (more money) at home.

Ridiculous. Simple as that. I hope I’m long done with converting by then.

By: The Importance of a Pilot’s License. « Aviation Buzz

The Importance of a Pilot’s License. « Aviation Buzz — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:04:34 +0000

[...] at least one pilot, right? I don’t know if you’re familiar with JetWhine, but they had a post related to the number of student pilot certificates given out each year by the FAA. (Referring to [...]

By: Ari

Ari — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:43:28 +0000

It might have to do with US not allowing majority EU ownership of US-based airlines. I’ve heard this being used as a threat in negotiations but I didn’t realize that they are about to put this into law. I guess they want to be ready in case negotiations fail, as they most likely will.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:26:46 +0000

In all of my research I could find no official reason why EASA is proposing these additional requirements. But I remember that JAA proposed similar requirements when it came to be back in the 1990s.

Many called it “protectionism,” to keep European flight school business from fleeing to America. I’m not so sure about that, then or now.

Given the mindset of bureaucrats worldwide, I’d put my money on the paperpushers doing what they can to make their lives easier. Fewer people will line up for the transfer process if you make the requirements for getting in line off-putting.

By: Matthew Stibbe

Matthew Stibbe — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:48:49 +0000

If I recall correctly, fewer than a dozen UK PPLs get an instrument rating each year in the UK. Why? Not because the flying or checkride is more difficult than the FAA version but because they insist on making you take nine elaborate exams first. The full set of ATPL exams is 14 so you’re doing about 2/3rds of a year-long ATPL ground school course simply to take the exams. It’s the same requirement (at least in the UK) if you want to convert an FAA IR to a JAR IR. It’s insane. If you go the other way, I think, the FAA will give you an IR automatically if you present an ICAO-compliant certificate.

By: PlasticPilot

PlasticPilot — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:38:51 +0000

Ron, you’re correct. Getting a JAA IFR is quite a tough thing. The theory is almost the same as for a full-blown ATPL. Result ? Approximately 5% of JAA private pilots are instrument rated… No more comment.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:21:56 +0000

Well said. I wonder why these restrictions would be put in place? It’s like a trade embargo on U.S. trained pilots.

How many pilots pursued the JAR instrument rating last year? Probably just a handful.