yeah. Another thing.
Not sure about Bristow Academy, but there's more US helicopter instructors teaching Germans and Norwegians than US students in proportion. Thus looking to me like all the heli students being trained by Americans SHOULDN'T BE HERE TO LET AMERICANS HOURBUILD ON THEM DAMN FAST. Right?
(KHIO -main part of Hillsboro Aviation. Not sure about numbers in KTTD since it's not for M1/J1 students)
As for this almost xenophobic, patriotic protectionst feelings, without all those European an Asian sponsored (or otherwise) cadets flying planks, there'd be hundreds (if not low thousands) of American airplane instructors without work - training foreigners, companies without business from foreigners, employing American in maintenance, menial and office jobs in flight schools. J1 students are a drop in a pond. J1 rotary even less. The total of foreigners training in the US isn't.
Only blunt people would want non-US aviation students to steer clear from this country as they greatly benefit it. Aviation in the USA wouldn't be what it is without it.
Also, not the best time, but regionals in the US have been recruiting domestic CPL/MEIR graduates into F/O seat. So in FW world, getting to 1000TT or around isn't as magical and quintessential as for rotary Europeans.
As for 'Homeland Security' reasons, J1 students are career minded aviation enthusiasts who plan their career. Not one in hoardes of people flying here recreationally or on M1 without intent to work here temporarily. M1 guys are 'higher risk'. Not to mention all the JAA PPLs who get 'piggyback' FAA PPL and fly around Florida. They're even worse since they were not indoctrinated to FAA standards, aren't they?
Can't find anything on US website. AOPA and AvWeb quoting AOPA