Is the JAA PPL Dead?

[Fuji Abound]

Irv – the question is why more people don’t transfer their syndicated aircraft to the N reg.

I think there are a few fundamental issues. The first is the only legal route is to place the aircraft in trust, short of having an American citizen in your syndicate who you all trust. Trusts are potentially complicated legal arrangements and whilst there are several specialist companies who deal with aircraft that does not guarantee the particular trust arrangements a given company offers will truly protect your asset should things go wrong. Secondly every member of the syndicate practically requires an FAA license –yes you can fly the aircraft on your JAR licence in the UK but most syndicated members will want to fly in Europe at some time which you cannot do. Yes an FAA license is relatively easy to come by but it is more paperwork to obtain and may make the sale of a members share less attractive because an N reg is an unknown entity. Then the FAA ticket has to be revalidated biannually which means finding an FAA examiner – not difficult, but a bit more difficult than a JAR examiner. Then a maintenance shop has to be found that is FAA certified – again not difficult , but a bit more difficult that CAA shops – and this is always supposing your aircraft will be accepted on the N register; broadly speaking if the aircraft was not manufactured in the States and there is not already one of your type on the N register a difficult if not impossible task. In short there are potentially lots of problems and some not insignificant costs to make the transfer in the first place. On the up side the ongoing costs of the trust are probably not much greater than the saving on doing away with the CAA C of A renewal fees and associated costs.

.. .. .. and all this is presupposing the CAA or FAA at some point dont legislate to prevent N reg aircraft operating in Europe, although I gather the consensus is this would be a difficult piece of legislation to pass and not politically acceptable. Who knows though folowing 9/11. What about every N reg aircraft shall make one landing and one take off in the States in each twelve mont period.

I would far rather see us all campaign for a realistically obtainable and maintainable European IR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!