They are usually half only in terms of exchange rate. The schools that are advertising these prices often misrepresent the costs and the quality of training is dubious to say the least.
The percentage of people starting flight training in the United States is probably the highest in the World. The proportion that actually make it to the airlines, epecially the majors is very small.
Names have been changed to protect the innocent, but...Academy X' Ab-initio class of 115 students. Many left during private training, half left during instrument and the attrition continued until 15 were left at the end of training. 12 hired as instructors 7 went on to the regionals.
If you do decide to train in the States, your number one priority should be to find a quality school, namely, one of the academys. In all honesty, this will probably cost you at least the same, if not more than a UK school, when you include living expenses. Then there is the process of a lengthy and expensive conversion.
If you are fortunate enough to have a work visa you will need a four year degree to get hired by one of the major carriers (with exceptionally rare instances) and you can bet this requirement will be resurected by the regionals when the hiring dries up- not as far away as the training industry is selling.
As I have already said, you will also have to have considerably more hours to get on to either regional or major than anywhere else in the World
I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but just to give some truth about the training over here. I have met many people that have wasted much time, money and heartache, having based their hopes on some flight school salesman's nonesense.
GL
[ 16 July 2001: Message edited by: CAVU ]