Bill,
You are 100% correct.
Ok, so now you know the rules. And I know the rules. And so does everyone else who's reading this. The chances of the immigration officer who sees you on the day you arrive reading PPRuNe, though, are pretty slim. There's a good chance that he'll know the rules, but he has lots of rules to know, and he's unlikely to have done anything more than skim-read a memo about the rules as they specifically relate to aviation (unlike us). Even if he does know the rules, he may well not know enough about aviation to understand the difference between what you're doing, and training. You'll probably need a BFR, and a club checkout with an instructor, right? So it counts as training, right? Well, no, that's wrong - but if that's the view that the immigration official decides to take, then you will have no opportunity to argue your case and show him why he's wrong - you'll be on the first flight back home, regardless of what the rulebook says.
The general advice is to get a Visa if you have enough time to do so, even though it's not required. If you don't have a Visa, then don't volunteer information about your flying activities to the immigration official. You're there for a holiday - just the same as someone who's going to spend a few weeks skiing is there on a holiday. However, if you are asked, then whatever else you do, don't lie - that will get you into even more trouble.
I've not heard of anyone being sent home for trying to hour-build without a Visa, so be sensible about it, and there's no reason why you should be sent home either.
FFF
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