My experience of coming back to the UK from the USA was absolute hell. It really was not a pleasant experience and I took another 15-20 hours back here until my instructor let me go up for my skills test. Ok, I admit, I didn't quite finish it in the US due to weather, but I was very close to finishing.
Navigation, I found, was the biggest change. Then there's the RT, but as Sensible said, buy an a/c scanner and also get the CAA's Cap 143 book from a decent pilot shop or your flying school and read it a few times (it will only take an hour or two).
I think most of my hours were spent on being sent on navigation exercises - I did 3 different ones, each one dual and then solo. My biggest one was 3 and a half hours (my qualifier) so you can see how I built up my hours. It did give me a lot more confidence though.
Instructors back here really are very sceptical about PPL's from America, and I got the feeling that because I was young, they thought I was naive enough to believe I need loads and loads of extra training. I let the manager of the airfield know that I didn't feel it was necessary and he swiftly agreed - I saved about another 5 hours flying time by doing this. By then end of it, is it really cheaper to learn in the US rather than here? I reckon I spent about £7000 in the end, and I know others on my course in the US who have come back and are still training, I would only do it again if I found a course with accomodation and food costs included.
Good luck anyhow, let us know when you get past your final hurdle - leaving your UK instructor behind!
[ 29 December 2001: Message edited by: PrivatePilot01 ]</p>