Bravo 73 That is interesting, and I don't have an old copy of LASORS to check back with to see if the CAA has changed the wording.
This is how I understood the situation, but the section you quote does raise a doubt or two (although to my mind it reads like an incomplete paragraph - perhaps an bad edit job?)
Mortennb
Are you saying you are a better pilot if you take 14 exams instead of 5? I dont know all of the JAA exams, but I know 1 is about flight planning. Dont you have to plan a flight plan from Japan to the UK or something. At 60.000 feet? Well, I cant see how that makes you a better helicopter pilot. And the rest is for fixed wing except performance??
Should the comparison not be 9 exams instead of 1 (CPL to CPL), or 14 exams instead of 2 (ATPL & IR to ATPL & IR)?
Many of the JAA exams have a heavy fixed-wing persuasion, however that does not mean the entire subject is of no relevance to helicopter pilots - that would be very narrow minded.
Meteorology, IFR Communications, VFR Communications, Flight Planning, General Navigation, Instrumentation, Radio Navigation, Air Law, Human Performance, Mass and Balance and Operational Procedures have universal elements in varying degrees.
Principles of Flight and Aircraft Systems are now rotary specific.
The system may well have changed, but helicopter pilots were exempt from the Performance paper altogether
And also another thing, how many helicopters does the US have compared to ALL JAA countries.. And look at the accidents??? But I guess we are the bad mechanic, while your the pro with 14 exams....
Now that is going to open a whole new argument!
In this industry there is forever this petty "my system is better than yours" going on between pilots from different licensing authorities and lets face it, none are perfect. The FAA written exam is far too little, the JAA exams are too much. The FAA oral exam is an excellent idea, the lack of one in the JAA system is sorely missed. You go to America you will have the chance to build hours quicker and cheaper than in Europe, however when you return to Europe you may well be at a disadvantage to those trained in Europe and you will have to pay for a conversion. Its all swings and roundabouts and most of these sorts of arguments are futile.
The reason I am posting this information is not to carry on an argument, it is because many potential pilots come on these forums to look for information. Yes, they come on here for opinion, but they also need to understand the facts behind the prejudices so they can make up there own minds.
I have spoken to so many people that were unaware of the whole story when they were sold on the idea of training abroad and now realise its going to cost a considerable amount of money to come home again and are very bitter towards the JAA system, whereas in actual fact nothing had changed whilst they were gone. It was simply the result of bad or incomplete information at the decision making stage. And similarly I have actively encouraged other students to go abroad when on discussion it suited their individual situation.