Inyoni et al,
Thanks very much for your post on PPRuNe although now I've gone from total certainty to utter confusion and should be a happy chappy again if you could explain the acronyms from your mail:
Dublin Flyer
It depends what kind of PPL you are looking for JAA or FAA. Most of those offering JAA/CAA PPL's in Florida I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole. If you're happy with a FAA PPL there are loads of good US schools who are not sausage factories for foreigners.
CaptainCrunch - again the same applies, there are no JAA approved PPL schools in SA. Once you have the SA PPL you will find it exceedingly difficult to get a medical renewal in Europe and very expensive if you can. Also there are very few EU based SA Instructors to do your renewals! However there are plenty of FAA approved AME's in the EU and UK and plenty of FAA licensed Instructors who do your BFR's.
So think carefully before either of you make the wrong decision!
Now, I do (sort of) understand that the types of licenses have been changed in the interests of greater international understanding, world peace and hemp trousers however the fallout is that I don't understand the system myself! So: the JAA is the new "world wide valid" license. Is that right? This means that if I do a PPL in SA then I'm only qualified in SA and not in the US or, more importantly, in the UK. This is why the FAA in Florida is only valid in Florida. Why would you not go near the JAA schools in Florida? If I have a license from SA do I really need a South African to come to the UK to renew my license? Seems unusual.
Below is a reply from one of the SA schools to these questions:
a. If you returned to the UK with a SA ICAO PPL you would immediately enjoy those privileges entitled to JAR or UK PPL holders.
b. The JAR PPL in June/July/August 2001 will be restricted to FTC Midrand only, however once you have the SA PPL from FTC George you could pop into FTC Midrand for a day on your way home and after a 2 hr check ride & flight test you could be signed off by a JAR examiner which would entitle you to a JAR Ticket.
Any light you could shed on this would be wonderful since I'm approaching meltdown wondering who to trust with my hard earned dosh!
Thank you,
Cap'n Crunch
(Richard Robertson, Cologne)
PS. No idea what a BFR is and I've devoured tons of magazines and Trevor Thom books!