thanks for that info !
i would sure like to hear what your friends have to say - since i am from austria myself. i tried to get in contact with the austrian aviation authority, however i was not able to get an email address, and since i will go back to europe in december, it would take too long to send a regular letter. i went through the JAA webpage before, and to be honest with you it does not really make a lot of sense. in a lot of issues they refer back to the country regs in whichever country you would like to convert - very confusing.
i am looking forward to hear what your friends have to say !
andy