the ATPL exams dont need to be done in the uk?
Naples Air Centre in florida do the JAA frozen ATPL theory exams.
So does BAE Systems in Jerez, Spain.
Regarding license conversion from FAA to JAA, id look into this more, this too is very costly....I worked out a cost if i where to do it at OATS it came to around £16,000 just to convert my license and about 1 year to do (atpl exams taking most time)
Your flight schools, if your looking at America, ive looked at alot of flight schools, 2 i would recommend PEA (Pheonix East Aviation
www.pea.com ) and Epic Aviation (
www.epicaviation.com )
PEA currently do a bridged program that will get you lots and lots of hours.
Epic aviation tho, they probably have the best fleet of planes in the florida area, all there Cessnas are equiped with the latest systems (moving map gps, 2 axis auto pilot, nexrad weather uplink etc)