zagno,
I do understand that the FAA will give grandfather rights to us that have SODA/LOE from Tower Signal Test etc. Here in Europe things are not so simple. The EASA is a European wide agency that has rules written into European law. This makes it very difficult for one nation to stand out as ALL EU states are governed by European law above their own national laws.
For the UK we need to take a look back in history. Before the JAA we had 3 medicals just like in the US. Class 1 for CPL/ATPL class 2 for BCPL and class 3 for PPL.
You will see BCPL here, something that most newer members to aviation will not know about - this is the beginning of the modular v integrated training.
Back in the old days before JAA you either needed 700 hours to get CPL or go on an integrated course and get CPL in 200 hours. The BCPL allowed you do do instructing for pay - it was called the self improver method.
Now the class 1 medical could not have any limitations for colour vision put on it so C1 was out, but CVD people could have a class 2 with no night restriction and must fly with a radio. The UK was the only nation to have this. Now in JAA times with only 2 classes of medical the UK filed a deviation with the JAA to put a restriction on class 1 saying no public transport and no night (the radio bit seems to have been dropped) this gives us the same rights we always had in the UK and we are the only JAA nation to do this.
When EASA take over FCL - god knows what will happen with our restricted class 1 as in the UK we are only one nation against all the others. They do after all seem to want our IMC rating scrapped!!
However I am sure the EASA will tread carefully as all those people that have invested large amounts of money and now earn a living from instructing are likely to sue The arse of the EASA if they suddenly loose their livelihood, and bloody good luck to them.
Happy flying all
