How to Waste Money - $140 English Tests
I have just found out that whereas in the USA the English test for a pilot is simply done at the flight test – i.e. the ATO won’t pass the pilot unless the pilot can speak acceptable English – in Australia it is completely different. Pilots need to do a separate course and this costs up to $140. I also understand an American pilot wanting to come here and fly has to do the course and send the results to CASA before his/her license can be endorsed. This is an incredible misallocation of money and will further damage Aussie aviation. What do others think?
P.S.: Yes, I know, it’s a so-called “ICAO requirement” to do the test before any training starts. Wisely, the US FAA simply notifies a difference to ICAO and that’s their only obligation. The US has more notified differences to ICAO than any other nation – that’s because they want to have a viable aviation industry.