FAA to CASA conversion or Flight Training in Australia

[shon7]

Is it a better option to get the FAA CPL and then work on conversion to CASA or is it better and more economic to do flight training in Australia itself.

Heres the situation - professional moving to Australia. Holds FAA PPL + IR.
Not looking for a full time flying position currently. Have to be in Australia for work commitments (non aviation, non flying) for at least two years starting 2011.

[loro]

Not sure how the numbers would stack up but my vote would be for the FAA CPL first followed by the CASA conversion.

[ReverseFlight]

US order is usually PPL, IR(SE), CPL(SE), then ME add on. Oz order is usually PPL, CPL(SE), then MECIR (together). Whether you came to Oz to do CPL, you'd have to take IREX anyway.

If you might be returning to the US for a flying job in the future, then do FAA CPL first and then do Oz CPL conversion (permanent under CASA, unlike FAA). If you're just flying for pleasure in Oz, then just do PPL conversion. It all depends on your future plans.

Hope that helps.