Is the JAA PPL Dead?

[StrateandLevel]

"and it just amazes me that the CAA / JAA is set up as a complete money making business, not with safety in mind but money."

This presumes a degree of colusiuon and organisation! there is no organisation that well coordinated.

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"A quick example.....I would like to fly ME aircraft in the UK, however it would cost approx £2-3000 per year to maintain."

If you fly 10 hours a year it will cost you the same regardless of what licence you hold. A UK revalidation will take just over an hour and cost about £250 + £65 for the examiner. If you have an IR then you have to stay current to revalidate a FAA IR!

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"but it still means I am limited to 3000' when flying to the channel islands from Bournemouth due to the overlying class A."

Holding a FAA IR will make no difference in a G- Reg aircraft. Read ANO Article 21 (40(a)(ii); " shall not act ast pilot of an aircraft in controlled airspace under IFR"

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"It now transpires that I am qualified to fly a G-reg ME aircraft on my present qualifications, which only require a BFR with an FAA instructor (in UK, US or anywhere, in a G reg, N reg or X reg plane) every couple of years"

This has always been the case, but have you tried obtaining insurance on a ME aeroplane on the basis of one flight every two years?

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To answer the original question is The JAA PPL Dead? Certainly Not! It is still the basis of the UK flying training industry, without it commercial training is also in trouble.

There is little difference between a JAA PPL and anything that has gone before. The majority of costs eminate from poor government legislation in a number of areas. The aviation industry is apathetic, with no worthwhile representitive bodies. There has been no representation or lobbying of MPs who are generally totally ignorant when it comes to aviation. There has never ever been any government policy relating to flying training or recreational flying; it is still perceived as an eletist passtime of the well heeled!

The NPPL is a Red Herring. Initially a valliant attempt to rejuvenate recreational aviation, it has become a collection of Microlights, Motor Gliders and Medical Failures. Try counting the ab-initio SEP holder after one year; it will be difficult, because the satatistics will be arranged to show how successful it all is. All that was required to acheive the same thing was a second tier medical; instead we have a bungled beaurocratic mess. Even the law changes are such a mess, exemptions have already had to be issued.

I agree a FAA licence may be a useful licence to hold, in some cases things are simpler, but do get it in perspective. If you fly regularly, the cost will be generally the same, regardless of the licence you hold.