I believe that the FAA system represents a
fairer way of obtaining licences and experience. Some friends of mine went through the 'experience' of sitting the old CAA CPL/ATPL examinations a few years ago when negative marking was in force. Having seen them fail the 'multi guess challenge' they went to the states and never looked back. The JAA exams I am told are just as bad with 90% of what you learn never actually being used in daily flying. I think it is a big money making farce designed by JAA states to weed
out rich from poor, the poor ending up with a big debt round their neck. The fact that some people do pass these exams does not make them
any safer or more competant than an FAA qualified pilot.For example the old IR test in the U.K. used established routes so that the candidate knew what they were getting. In the states it is not so, also the instructor rating stateside is more difficult than in the U.K.
The complete snobbery that I have seen displayed on these pages only reminds me that
the U.K.is not geared up to either general aviation or professional training...
I reckon Ron's spot on!