Quote..
"Not too sure about the situation in Eire, but flying in the UK is completely different to the US. Airspace here is much more congested, restrictions on altitudes, more formal RT.
Weather is a big factor too. Getting used to flying in poorer visibility and lower cloud as opposed CAVOK everyday in states gives you much more confidence.
Navigating using more features which tend to look similar like fields, small towns, minute rivers and rail lines as opposed to the coast of Florida and interstate highways!!"...
I would suggest that you are wrong and you don't get an easy PPL in the US. I did my PPL in the UK but have flown a lot in the US and have had just as bad weather there, also the radio close to major airports is very sharp and with so many airfields the navigation is just as difficult.
I would suggest the USA produce better pilots than the UK and Ireland. I think the FAA systen is still more like what the UK system was some years ago, ie. when you actually had to learn to fly and a licence meant something. I am talking about a proper FAA school not a 3 week assembly line.
I can count on my fingers the pilots I would sit in the back of and aircraft with while they were flying, and I know a lot of pilots.
A new PPL should be able to hop into most simple singles with an hour or so notice and fly VFR without GPS from Blackpool to Bournemouth on their own.
I don't think we produce the goods anymore.
So my advice is to fly about 7 - 10 hours here, go to the USA and you will get your PPL and enjoy the experience.
TR