When it is all said and done, the training is the same. Whether you are flying in the UK or the US the aircraft is the same; you pull up the houses get smaller, you pull up again the houses get bigger
Both sides are tested by JAA approved Examiners to the same levels.
It all comes down to the pilot and their experience. Whereas LooneyPilot sees one side, I see the other. Even freshly tested pilots at JAA Instrument level (a feat in itself) arrive in the US with need of some hours brush up. It is do do with a pilot leaving his element and being in strange surroundings. Another problem is time; we recommend that as soon our JAA approved pilots leave that they get back in the air as soon as possible.....the longer they leave it the confidence level drops and on top of that, a new aircraft, a new airport and a new voice from the tower. It is only natural for all novice PPL's on either side of the pond needing some boost of training to get them back into things and familiar with their surroundings. We always recommend that new pilots on their return home get a couple of hours with an Instructor to get familiar and comfortable with the area that they fly in.
As for the price........it only really compares to anywhere in the world when you complete it in the minimums and with minimums you need continuity. As long as you can dedicate the time and money with no weather problems most pilots can finish in or close to the minimums. However, once you start adding in the external factors of life, weather etc things can get delayed and this starts adding onto the minimums. That is why many pilots half way through end up having long breaks and get out of practise because it is hard to juggle training, careers, school, personal lives without interferring with a flight schedule. A great many pilots end up travelling to fair weather bases throughout the World to finish up with a good bout of continuous, dedicated training.
There will always be those who want to complete at home and those that want to dedicate time abroad......they all end up with the same licence to join in this great World of Pilots.
