This might happen in the future (of course I could be wrong):

To this date, the CAA has never experienced competition. The more and more countries join the JAA and become JAR compliant, the more countries aspirating wannabe pilots can chose from where they want to get licensed. The only disadvantage I can think of now is the language barrier. Knowing our governments it probably wouldn't take long to adjust the appropriate fees among each other.

I took my ground exams in 97 and I still do not understand what justified 567 quit for the nav exams. If the FAA would dare to do it in the US of A people would walk into OK city with big shotguns!

I returned to the mighty Aviation House in 2000 and to my surprise the examination room is no longer part of the main building. It really seems like the customer is treated well after spending 500 plus quit!

If at least their food would taste good!

[ 02 March 2002: Message edited by: Squawk7777 ]</p>

Mystery Guest

I would be happy to support anything that could be done to alert people to just how appalling the CAA are. Having lived and worked in the US for a couple of years it highlights this fact even more. Examples -

Rude, arrogant employees many of which are failed pilots with an axe to grind.. .Same employees unable to do their job because for some reason they are unable to read and understand their own regulations - hence customer getting a different answer for every query.. .Outrageous charges for landing, ATC, licence issue etc.. .On the subject of licence issue - why the f**k do they have to take your logbooks away from you for weeks - this is an absolute scam and outrage which really pisses me off. Why the hell can they not check them while you are there and issue the licence and give it back to you same day.

Basically I couldn't have less respect for any organisation in the whole world. They need to sort themselves out in a big way.

[ 02 March 2002: Message edited by: The Greaser ]</p>

I haven't abandoned this thread, just in case anyone was wandering. On the contrary, I am watching and listening with great interest.

There seems to be a fairly heavy weight of opinion here, and it's good to see it being exercised on a forum at last.

I am working solidly (within the limits of my limited spare time) on structuring some ideas about this, so please keep the information coming.

Regarding the stupid profile I have adopted - I am surprised anyone would have inferred anything from it, as you surely wouldn't expect me to use my real name would you??? <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> But, thanks for pointing out that the glass is really brown, when I just thought I was never finishing it....

MG

I hate to say it, but the CAA ain't that bad, IF you compare them to the dear LBA (Luftfahr-Bundesamt, German CAA). No matter how you contact them (writing, phone or in person), please assume that the person in front of you is God. And he/she only works until 1700 local time IF they are in a good mood. Forget Friday! That is already considered as the weekend and on Monday they have SOOOO much catching up to do.... .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="redface.gif" /> Sad World

Squawk7777,. .. .But that is no reason to say that the Belgrano is OK. . .. .Personally, I think that they have an awfull lot to answer for, but the problem is that they have a heavy coat of armour and a serious amount of money to defend their legal position. . .. .I'm not saying that they are impregnable (sp?), but there is no one other than wannabies that really wants to take them on. Once passed the wannabies stage, it's in your interest to stop other comming up so as to speak. Plus, your employer financially protects your position such that you don't get too messed around.. .. .Then there are the MP's. I suspect that the general view of pilots is that they are well healed from the upper classes, and therefore do not need any assistance from them. Hmm... Plus, lets face it, in the scheme of things, the numbers are like my PC, tiny.. .. .Difficult one. Been tried many times before, but you see the problem.. .. .PS