Well Black Sheep, you're obviously full of sheep dip. After your comments, notice that all the replies are about getting the JAA questions. This is the real world, nobody wants to hear you go on about VC10's and how you met Wilbur Wright and how Wilbur asked you for advice on how to build an aircraft.
I am over 50 years of age and in middle management in a major airline and I never heard of a 6 hour oral in the UK except for people who just about scraped through the exam. My exams took 1 1/2 hours each and that was it!! They were typical times.
You should try move with the times, you've obviously got your head so far up your rams bottom you can't appreciate that the system is turning out some excellent young engineers. They don't all need to be made to stand to attention and get (or give) 6 hour orals to become good engineers, "just like they did in the old days".
Nothing wrong with JAA standards, just problems with how some people interpret them, and by the way.....what is JAR175??
How come aircraft maintenance related accidents are not increasing with the illeged reduction in safety standards. Have you noticed more accidents since they abolished the 6 hour oral? No, safety is on the increase, certainly in the UK. It's just whining old farts who like to go on and on about the old days and how things were so much better that makes people think standards are reducing.
Think positive, aviation is becoming a better place to be. JAA is here to stay and all you young engineers get out there and pass those exams and follow the industry safety standards. So when they tell you on your human factors course about the guy who says "but thats the way we always did it" now you know who that guy they're talking about is!!!!! BAAAAH