In line with the trend of this thread, it is worth noting the EASA complete reversal of it s original position with respects to ATO's for training.
Registered facilities (RF), plain simple structures which have worked well for half a century allowing for aeroclubs to survive and sometimes prosper and expand, under EASA had to become heavy and complex ATO,s ( Approved training organisations).
The change involved huge financial and structural investments, plus a number of staff to be hired which would have allowed only a tiny number of structures to adapt and survive while the majority would simply disappear.
Since 2012 in a race to adapt to meet the deadlines ( deadlines repeatedly posponed) a number of schools and aeroclub were able to make the step..
Now in a complete course reversal EASA, very likely under massive pressures, changed the requirements and reverted to allow setting up of simplified structures they now call DTO,s (Declared training organisations). Even simpler structures when compared to previous RF,s
https://www.caa.co.uk/uploadedFiles/...ows%202017.pdf
But some big damage has already been done, General Aviation has been cast a big blow, those structures which had made the painful move to become ATO,s at least the small ones providing Ppl and associated ratings, are left with huge investments and structures which now are no longer needed.
With all due respect, one would think that there would be some embarassment from EASA, but it s not the case, it has been announced as a great achievement.
Macchiavelli and Kafka are still pulling the strings at EASA, otherwise how can anyone explain why EASA fcl,s ( Flight crew licencing rules) are a document of more than 1200 pages, whereas the FAA equivalent is a tenth of it....
EASA fcl,s need a big reshuffling in the name of simplicity, the rules are so open to interpretation so complex, and supplemented by countless amendments, enabling many Caa,s in particular those from southern european countries to negate user s rights.
And when one contacts EASA as I have done many times to ask for clarification, they turn me back to those stubborn Caa,s stating they are not responsible for the enforcements of those rules. But the problem it s not the enforcement of those rules rather the meaning of them...By the way they also suggest to file a complaint at the European Community for which they provide a link....
It s the dog biting his tail, turning round and round.....