Fr Dougal
Also, if people want to check the FAA FAR/AIM they would see that JAR instructors are allowed to sign people off for solo's and cross-countries
Where does it say that in the FARs? Are you claiming you can do this under 61.41?
61.41 (b) says
A flight instructor described in paragraph (a) of this section is only authorized to give endorsements to show training given.
It doesn't say he is authorised to give endorsements allowing student pilot solos.
An 'authorized instructor' is defined in 61.1(b)(2). Are there DEs out there accepting solo/X-country endorsements given by non FAA instructors?