Sometimes the CAA may be right
The CAA may well over regulate in some circumstances I agree but do some of us think that the FAA system could be under regulated in some areas?
The FAA system of being able to fly any helo upto 12,500Ibs unless it requires a type endorsement could be seen to be stupid at one end of the scale and then good should you have the luxury of having different types to hand.
But.... put yourself in the place of a passenger. Under the FAA system I can fly say a longranger after finishing my ppl in a robbo without any further training or endorsements, throw 6 pax in it and off we go (once somebody has shown me how to start it). So on a monday you were completing your skills test in a R22 and tuesday you have 6 lives counting on your skill and judgement to fly and land them safely. They will not know you have never flown one before.
One last thing regarding the comparison of accident rates from the US to say the UK. In the US many prangs are classed as incidents which can go unreported unless there are fatalities. In the UK if you fart and scorch the seat it gets reported.