and the owners should be considering getting national licenses instead of doing it on the cheap.
They are only cheap licence in respect of the £/$ rate at the moment, they are not sub-standard. I would rather someone hold an FAA IR than not hold a JAA IR as it still makes them a more capable pilot less likely to end up as a hole in the ground if he got into trouble. Most PPLs arent going to jump through all the pointless hoops and exams to get themselves a JAA IR.
Having to get a JAA IR to hold an FAA IR is crazy a lot of people just wont bother and will stick with their PPL. EASA are comprising safety in my books.
J.