I'm years out of date about training costs, but a bit suprised to read people saying the US is still so much cheaper. I know fixed-wing hire is much cheaper in the US (unlike the rip-off rates here) but is helicopter flying any cheaper than here?
I looked into renting a 206 for a few hours in California a few months ago and was quoted just over $600
pr hr - not much difference to the UK. And the hoops I'd have had to jump through to self-fly hire made it not worth the hassle. Some places in the US won't even do SFH for turbines at all.