Whilst the two should never really be uttered in the same sentence, simply divide the cost of a licence over the nationally safety stats, and again the US appears a better option. I’ve trained in both environments and my view of the situation is that the US takes a more practical approach to flying. The ground school their was silly, a week in the hot-tub with the Glim and a good first time pass. Flying is different, would the FAA want Dangerous pilots? There is a different system and training suits it. However I would say transiting between the two resulted in an easier time and small praise in the states, and a steep learning curve and added cost (greatly outweighed by the savings) in the UK. I’ve seen the shonkey outfits in the US, run by very shady types to trap the “I want a PPL, look at the big bright add in the mag, don’t do any more research types.” Why does the CAA allow this? They hold the power to licence.
The continual bickering in to who is best will not go away, all will hold their opinions, but butting in only having half the story doesn’t help. I’ve flown in both, and I’d rather be a British trained pilot, however. In the US, the cost per hour allows for a more “relaxed pace” of training. Something needs polishing up, didn’t get it just right, practice it a few more times. Now training in the UK, at commercial rates, the pressure to get things right first time every time is almost unbearable. “Practice” is a very pricey word in the UK. The navigation trips appear more of a “proof of concept” that applied X-countries; I got my 320nm req out the way in the states, many times over, BEFORE any Commercial training! I’ll train as much as I can in the UK, but if it’s a tick in the box hour requirement, I go to the states, It’s the only viable option.
There are many in the forum saying it’s a good thing, stopping people going the US for a cheap licence, I would agreed, but arguing for legislation to ban cheap training is in my view deplorable, if as much gusto was provided to campaigning to lower the cost of training here, people would stay here, out of choice. I wish to be an instructor, I want to see a vibrant GA in the UK, and I look to the US as a good founding model.