Please let me know about FSA..

[NickH]

Your figures sound about right, possibly a little conservative. I've heard of people who say $25,000 will get you the JAA IR. But you're right, FAA to JAA costs insane amounts and the reverse is cheap as chips.

I wouldn't say JAA standards are higher in every respect. The JAA exams are simply insane, but the checkrides are massively easier. There is no oral, and the flight portion, at least for the CPL, is mainly just a cross country flight that requires very anal planning. From what I hear it's not really difficult at all, although affording the $1200 CAA check ride fee might be.

You are very sensible to be doing an FAA PPL before starting the commercial, as you'll save a lot over doing the JAA PPL, even in the USA, and this is where many people waste their money. I'd reccomend considering doing the JAA CPL at one of the US JAA schools, either Naples Air Centre or Orlando Flight Training, as they will be cheaper than flying in Europe.

I would stand by my statement. If you don't intend to fly commercially in Europe (You can fly privatly on your US cert. in UK airplanes) then there is no real reason to go JAA. Most other countries will allow any ICAO licence, or do the same conversion to their own licencing regardless of your country of origin.

[Irish]

Ya its true what your saying...Im just doing JAA for the cheaper conversion aspect To get Jaa ppl here is madly expensive your talking 15g at least, which is insane.
Id love to do my JAA cpl in the us but its actually more expensive for me. Its approx 75,000 euro for everything includes books & Uniform( You know stuff you dont think about but is costly), all training exams and accommation at FSA, commercial training here in Ireland ,exams etcetc. You wouldnt buy a site here for 75g!
Id recommend anyone who wants to do a JAA license to check out Pilot training college Ireland. Its a fairly new course but really fantastic school...one major plus is the landing fees at the airport are £1! Cant go wrong