FAA CPL - Change in requirements
 

I recently contacted 'American Air Services' to enquire about the requirements to sit the FAA CPL exams.

I had been under the impression that to sit these exams required an un-restricted FAA PPL. AAS informs me that these have now changed and you may sit the exam with only the FAA restricted PPL (ie. the paper exercise licence obtained from any US FBO on production of you UK PPL).

Notwithstanding that your UK PPL must remain valid can anyone:
a) Confirm / deny / elaborate on these changes and
b) See any drawbacks if I wish to operate an aerial photography business on an N reg a/c?