Astonishing, I taught a friend to fly, ultralight in Canada. He has flown over 100 hours and now is taking training for his private. They are telling him he has to do 17 hrs before he can solo. He's learning in an old spam can. They did 8 spins on one flight. WTF.
Unfortunately in our neck of the woods training is hard to find.
This is why I am in the ultralight world and own an OM aircraft.
I don't mind bragging a little, in Canada we have a much less restrictive environment to fly in.
And apparently we have lots of aluminum.