mikewil,
Good point about enroute climb performance.....consider this.
In Aus an aircraft must meet the required enroute climb performance to be granted a CofA. However it is not a requirement for each aircraft to demonstrate this, only first of type on the register!
I remember..many moons ago back in the UK, I owened a single engine 1971 four seat retractable tourer and every 3 years it had to demonstrate, demonstrate(repeated for effect), its certified climb performance to renew it's CofA, and all this for a private CofA. Imagine the requirements for a M/E charter CofA. I am not familiar with the current UK CAA requirements but I'll bet they are not relaxed.
This seems very tough and expensive to comply with, and it was, but what cost is safety? Is the UK over regulated or are we under regulated? and another point, If you think a PPL or CPL is expensive here, compare the cost of UK General aviation to ours?
J