Not really. It's just that we have a training and Licencing regime in Europe. If you want to operate under another countries regime then go to that country and gain the ratings you want. That way the local regs apply and you are not trying to hybrid something to fit.

And That way at least you are putting money back into the system directly that you are going to take from for ever more as a free loader.

Now I must get out of bed and go flying. Key West or Marathon today.....

Dont think that makes sense - he'd be flying and paying in Europe keeping 'our' bloated and overpaid workforce and bureaucrats in baked beans - rather than take his money pointlessly at inconvenience and extra expense to somewhere else in the world with a free market approach where he could perform the exercise under an open US administrative arrangement. The US do not charge (significantly) for these services.... so they would hardly be losing out if that's what you meant.

Unless you're talking about the £50 the 'Competent Authority' in Europe might make - hardly worth sacrificing the £3000 of economic activity just to try and avoid 'circumvention' of payment of £50 - Do u think anyone would mind paying the £50 to administration company (CAA Ltd) if that's what you're talking about?

- and they don't elsewhere in the world?
Europe's not a prison - at least it shouldn't be.

Then why does he need an FAA rating?

good question - I don't know, maybe he doesn't need one but would just like one, or maybe he'd like to enjoy the freedoms which an FAA license affords the holder internationally - perhaps the freedom to fly any type under 12500lbs based on his own assessment of whether that's a good idea without having to go to an EASA approved ATO.... or be 'examined' every year on every type - maybe so he can fly a Bell206 in Mozambique at night - maybe he just likes the idea that a State will permit him these judgements himself rather than be treated like a junior member of the Armed Forces or a criminal 'out on license', I just don't know.... I guess the whole debate about how much freedom a citizen needs to give up in exchange for living in an 'ordered State' is pertinent. Perhaps that is a key difference between Europe and America? In Russia the citizens were not permitted the freedoms 'we' had in the west, maybe its all changing now?