Sensible - I think you've just read my post with a pre-conceived notion of my views. I never said a word about the quality of US training.
I have advised many people to look at it very carefully as an options and for some peoples circumstances its the best choice.
HOWEVER> you have to realise that Uncle Sam is taking around 45% of the PPL training that would otherwise occur in the UK.
THAT fact keeps UK flying instructors out of work i.e. most Wannabes first job. GA is smaller therefore less well supported and more expensive etc etc. I want to see a vibrant GA community in the UK. Ending US PPL's will help this ideal greatly.
As for my experience of the US - none. Never been. Want to though.
I have converted several Brits who have done the US PPL and then come back to blighty to join the flying club. Their checkouts take circa 3-4 hours rather than 1. Every time. I also trained some guy who never got his PPL in the States even though they flew him for 70hrs!!!! They Never sent him solo even. They were taking him for a ride and his training was so abysmal that it was IMPOSSIBLE for me to de-programme his dangerous bad habits.
That said its all annecdotal and US safety records are comparable to ours.
WWW