Jack wrote:
Mark James Boyd wrote:

Those who train foriegn pilots are worst hit.


...training Japanese pilots in the USA...is so much cheaper.



Perhaps it is not necessarily in the best interests of the US that
Japanese or other foreigners find cheap aviation training here.

A particular business is affected negatively by necessary security
requirements? So sorry, but stuff happens.

Strengthening the competitive capabilities of foreign airlines or
enhancing the careers of their employees doesn't seem like something we
should be doing.


Jack
Scuse me while I shoot myself in the other foot...

The political hoopla and nationalistic fervour over in the USA is amusing from a
distance - clearly freedom is just a nice idea on a piece of paper.

Simple economics by the way here - Mike Beachyhead in Cape Town runs one of two
heavy jet test pilot schools in the world. He can't keep up at present , you can
guess why. Pilot follows a very simple procedure to present credentials. Flies
into Cape Town international - taxis right past the row of black painted
military hardware. Clears customs and goes flying. Costs a hell of a lot less
than in the USA, weather is generally predictable, location is a lot nicer than
the US alternative and he never gets the third degree "we dont trust foreigners"
treatment. Ditto for the other flying schools.

On the gliding front - Europeans find they can fly in, have two weeks of family
holiday and have a soaring safari, for less than the cost of a week in
{substitute any popular European resort}

All I can see from all this red tape and hypocrisy is a weakening of the
training institutions and increasing costs. Some will exit the business, a lot
of folk will decide the effort is not worth it and give up, or never take up
flying, and the country will be poorer for it. I suppose the current incumbents
at FAA will have less real work to do into the bargain, for a while. But with
decreasing activity will come decreasing budgets (you can't beat the security
drum forever) Some years ago there was no question about what country led the
world in general aviation, light aircraft manufacture, was home to the EAA etc.
Now, the options are much wider, and cheaper, and often better in places like
Poland, and Slovenia and even tiny economies like New Zealand and South Africa.
A bit sad really.