PPL Training in USA [Archive]

JAY PATEL

3rd Jan 2007, 14:27

I have completed my ground exams and am looking for recommendations for intensive JAA PPL flight training in USA as I only have 2 weeks available.
PS - I have previous 38 flying hours experience but that was several years ago

wobble2plank

3rd Jan 2007, 18:30

Jay,

Try Ormond Beach Aviation (OBA) Florida. They can probably get you sorted. You can find a fabulous thread in the training section on OBA. I went there for some hour building a couple of years ago and found they were fine. They have some new aircraft, a cantankerous b*****d of an owner who is, in reality, fair and they should be able to get you through to JAA standard in two weeks (barring the torrential florida summer weather of course).

Some hate 'em some like 'em your choice really.

Google it to find their site.

Good luck
W2P

jakerr

3rd Jan 2007, 19:07

I did my PPL in San Diego USA. Did my whole PPL over 25 days from scratch, accomodation included in price and had a great time. About 50-60% of the students there where from the UK. Weather is good all year round! less erratic than Florida. They have a web site. :ok:

HyFlyer

3rd Jan 2007, 22:11

Just completed PPL in Socal....LA region.

Know a number of good people and if you want to do the course with a Brit...have a friend CFI there in KTOA ready to go.

2 weeks should be OK, if you have the availability. Also down by the coast there is less effect from the dreaded Santa Ana's..just some morning caostal mist rolling in......

PM and I can send you details and contacts.....

Flying surfer

4th Jan 2007, 07:03

I have been there done that, did my ppl in 17 days from 0-54 hours back in 1996. If you only have 2 wks by the time you arrive get settled and leave it will be 12 days maybe 13 if your return flight is boked for the evening time (late). Don't waste your time flying the extra 6 hours to California, keep it close and there are loads of schools in Florida, though California is way nicer to visit.

OBA seems to be the only place working hard to "get people done", be prepared to work your socks off and don't treat it like a holiday, you are there to get a certificate. I have been to the US throughout my training and used lots of different shcools and seen peopel come over from the UK and other parts of Europe and waste their time having a holiday and leave without their PPL only to have to pay more money and get it done back in the UK and that can take months.

Good Luck

JAY PATEL

4th Jan 2007, 12:11

JAY PATEL

4th Jan 2007, 15:11

The weather here in California is generally good however we have had some strong Santa Ana's during these past weeks which have caused a few problems. We are getting 60-70 mile gusts in the canyons and passes.

Also, the forecast is for an El Nino winter which will mean a greater amount of rain than we usually get during the winter months.

However, Jay Patel does not indicate when he was hoping to get his two weeks in.

I was hoping to do this either late Feb or March. Any ideas or advice as to which FTO?

JAY PATEL

4th Jan 2007, 15:13

You need to clearly determine if you are completing a JAA license or a US FAA certificate. Your first post indicated that you had completed your ground exams which implies you are completing a JAA license. You will NOT be able to complete that in Torrence California as there are no CAA approved Flight Schools there.
So unless you want to start over with a FAA cert and retake the US ground exam, you would be better to complete your JAA license at a CAA approved location.

Any recommendations or tips as to which JAA approved FTO in the USA?

Slopey

4th Jan 2007, 16:21

I was hoping to do this either late Feb or March. Any ideas or advice as to which FTO?

If you're looking at late Feb or March - you're going to have to get the visa process underway right now, in fact, you might be too late.

You need to get sorted out for an M1 visa - you'll need to call the US Consulate at either London, or if it's closer, Belfast (smaller queues) for an application pack, and you need the following forms DS-156, DS-157 & DS-158. You need to do some online registering for the DS-156 which is sent out to you with a barcode & payment for SEVIS with the school details and they'll post out the appropriate documentation to you which is all part of the student visa process - takes around 2 weeks or so minimum. If you don't get the barcode on the 156, there'll be delays processing your visa - but at least you can print it from the website so it's not a problem. You'll also need to attend an interview and have 2 US passport sized photos (not UK standard size).

OBA were a godsend to me when I did it all - they gave me step by step instructions, tipped me off about Belfast being quicker than London (by several weeks!), and were very helpful.

Also, you'll need an FAA medical once you're over there before you can fly solo, and (at least in florida) you need to get finger-printed at the local police station - if you arrive on a weekend, there might be delay in getting that done depending on the PD staff availiability which will take at least a day - so take that into account if you're on a tight schedule.