Quote:
JAA does it that way because they've essentially legislated GA out of existence - virtually the only pipeline they have for pilots is by training them from day one (since they wouldn't condescend to letting non-EU pilots operate their aircraft, notwithstanding the many EU pilots I've flown with at US carriers - reciprocity anyone? But that's another thread.)
I have yet to be convinced that the JAA system produces a better pilot product. You still have a pilot in the right seat with minimal real world experience. At least (as I understand it) you do have a very experienced pilot in the left seat (unlike here).
+1! I agree with everything you said. While I was stationed over in Europe during my military stint, I had a chance to fly with EU military pilots during joint exercises and I also observed the JAA licensing process. People who insist EU system is better are entitled to their opinion but I disagree 100%, as do many of my former EU military pilots I have had a chance to fly with. Originally Posted by bcrosier
I believe they have to jump through a lot more paperwork hoops and pass a lot of tests with questions irrelevant to line operations. I'm not convinced this is indeed a higher standard. If that's what we want to emulate, then we should be looking at the Japanese - heck let's make type training nine months long and learn how to build a radio in the process - that will help on the line.JAA does it that way because they've essentially legislated GA out of existence - virtually the only pipeline they have for pilots is by training them from day one (since they wouldn't condescend to letting non-EU pilots operate their aircraft, notwithstanding the many EU pilots I've flown with at US carriers - reciprocity anyone? But that's another thread.)
I have yet to be convinced that the JAA system produces a better pilot product. You still have a pilot in the right seat with minimal real world experience. At least (as I understand it) you do have a very experienced pilot in the left seat (unlike here).
Like you said if you want to learn how to build an AC generator, radio or learn star navigation, by all means go over there and do it their way. If you want to learn how to fly, do it here in the US. There is a reason why so many EU students come over to US and learn to fly. Cost and paperwork is prohibitive in Europe. There is a reason for this. They regulated GA almost out of existence by charging for everything. You pay for landing fees everytime your wheels touch the runway surface, route fees, for filing IFR, etc, etc. Each EU nation has their own CAA and they are not funded by the government like our FAA so each CAA charge exhorbitant fees for everything under the sky to raise money.
As for having no reciprocity in EU. You can blame that on our government. For one thing we, here in the US, have the most laid back immigration policy. Try immigrating to France or Germany. Not easily done. The EU immigration policy for US citizens is not half as easy as ours is for Europeans coming over here. Plus they do not accept FAA licenses so if you were to go over there, you'd have to go through the entire JAA process which is extremely expensive. I would love to fly for Air France, but the whole process would be too expensive and time consuming, even if they allowed a non EU pilot to fly for them, which they do not.