CPL - UK or US?

[wedger]

Hi guys,
Quick run down of my situation. Nearing the end of my ATPL groundschool with BGS. My original plan was to go to PTC here in Waterford, Ireland, for my CPL, ME, IR. However it now seems that I must do my CPL training with a CAA registered school since I am doing the ATPL's with BGS rather than an Irish groundschool provider (ridiculous situation, but that's another days topic!!).
Anyway, my question is this: can anyone advise me whether to do the CPL in the US or the UK - bearing in mind the exchange rates!!
Also, can anyone advise me on some good FTOs in US/UK from your own experiences? I'm more limited by time than money constraints (within reason!!!)
Thanks in advance for the help.

[Keygrip]

Two things strike me as odd here - unless I've missed something in the message:

a) You CAN do the writtens with one authority and the flying with another

b) PTC Waterford IS approved by the UK CAA - despite it being in Waterford.

[BillieBob]

Sorry Keygrip - Wrong! PTC is approved by the CAA at Bournemouth and Moncton - but not at Waterford.

The IAA may accept ATPL exams set in another state but are not obliged to do so. I am not aware of an instance where they have accepted such exams but am aware of a number where they haven't.

Wedger - You don't make it clear which JAA member state you intend to be the State of Licence Issue for your CPL. At the moment it would appear to be the UK, since you have completed the TK course with a UK approved school. Were you hoping to completed the flight training at Waterford and still have the licence issued in the UK? If so, you have no chance. You may, with the agreement of both States, change your State of Licence Issue (in your case from the UK to the RoI) but you may not swap backwards and forwards at will.

I assume from the tenor of your post that you have already confirmed the situation with the IAA, if not, you should do so - you might be lucky. Remember, what you are actually doing is seeking to change your State of Licence Issue from the UK to the Republic of Ireland.

If the IAA say/have said no, your decision whether to attend a UK approved organisation in the UK or the US should not be based on the, generally biased, opinions expressed here but on your personal opinion - i.e. go and visit all of the schools that you are interested in and talk to the current students face-to-face.

Considering the amount of money you are about to spend, the cost of a round-trip ticket to Florida and a few nights in cheap motels pales in insignificance.

[Keygrip]

Well, that's what happens when I write posts in the early morning - didn't put quite enough explanation about the writtens being accepted IF BOTH STATES AGREE (and was not aware that the IAA normally don't).

Did believe that PTC (Waterford) was approved by CAA though - again, a look at doc 33 would have clarified.

Another lesson learned. Thanks BB.

[wedger]

Thanks for replies so far guys.
BB my original intention was to get the IAA to accept my ATPL credits and get my CPL issued by the IAA and do all my training in Waterford - I really like the set up there and it is without doubt the best option for me.
However the IAA will not accept my written exam results (defeats the purpose of the JARs in my opinion, although I have heard many rumours as to why they have taken this stance!!).
I have already been to the US - PPL in Naples and hour building in OFT so I do know about some of the schools there. However as I'm sure you'll appreciate, there are so many schools in the UK and US that it would be impossible for me to visit them all. I was just hoping to get some advice so that I can at least cut the list down a good bit!!
Thanks again. Any more advice would be greatly appreciated.
Wedger

[Louis Euan]

If you are wanting to go to the States to do your CPL then I would recommend it. For several reasons but these might not suit you. Firstly it can be done very quickly, I finished mine in 8 days although I did have an IR. I believe the full 25 hour course can be done in 2 1/2 weeks as this is what a friend of mine did and that was with the a/c going tech for a couple of days and a couple of days bad weather and I also think he partialled the first test. So if its time then go.
Secondly the cost I am sure I saved myself about £1000 with everything taken into account. It cost me a couple of grand for the flying and then the flight and accommodation another £1000.
On the down side the instruction in my school was not that good, the reason was that there was not a lot of knowledge of the JAA requirements so it was almost down to me to find out what was in the test. On one exercise I had to just blagg it and pretend I had done it. So if you do go to Florida pick a school such as European Flight Training I think it is called down in Fort Pierce who I think specialise in CPL.

As for the IR I would do it in the UK. I did mine at WAC. Excellent!