Hour Building - where in the world?!

[FlyPing]

Hello!

Myself and a few friends are currently part way through our ATPLs and are thinking ahead to hour building.

We want to do something interesting (long cross country flights etc.) and are hoping for any advice and opinions on where to go. Although price is always a factor, it is not our prime concern. We are very open to pretty much anywhere in the world!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated :ok:

[acuba 290]

maybe start in Florida and then Bahamas, Carribean etc.?

[FlyPing]

Thanks acuba 290,

Yes, this is definitely an option. Do you have any experience with different schools etc.? I was hoping to get some people's specific experiences and recommendations.

Cheers!

[deltaxray]

I did mine in FLIGHT SAFETY ACADEMY in Vero beach, florida. Had a brilliant time and saw some prety cool stuff. Aircraft are maintained very well (over 80) and the instructors are a pleasure to work with.

[captain Binns]

Hello flyping,
I can recommend the US for hour building, cheap aircraft hire and vast areas of open space. The west coast looks interesting in terms of adventure but apparently Florida is the place to go for cheap and cheerful flying if you want to do everything as quickly as possible as the weather is usually very reliable.

Good luck with your search.

[FlyPing]

Hi deltaxray,

Did you go to Flight Safety specifically for hour building? Their website doesn't advertise this. If you did how many hours did you log there and how long did it take you?

Thanks!

[BA123]

Hi Fly PING hows it going???

me and captain Binns are also looking take 2 more friends hour building with us just for the experience really. The posts on this forum are not very useful so far so we are wishing and hoping that someone can come up with some valuable information

Thanks Paul :cool:

[pilotincommand]

The flying in California is excellent and the aircraft are usually cheaper than in Florida. The weather is also more stable.

It is very scenic over there and can be quite challenging. During July and August some of the airfields can have density altitudes approaching 10,000ft.

Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Las Vegas are all within reasonable distance of each other plus there are loads of great smaller places to visit.

[shaffee]

I am in the US...are there any good places for this in Texas? Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated. I am looking for about 100 hours of solid experience before I try my luck overseas for a job.
Thanks in advance.

[winguru]

Hello to all this is my first post here

I am from Portugal, Azores.

Me and my friend and possibly another, we are going to make a USA trip for hour building and FAA training, in the end we ill have 250 or more hours, FAA CPL IR ME and JAA CPL IR ME with ATPL theory

End of March to end of Juin
We will start at San Francisco (based at oak international) PPL (50 H)+ Cross Country Time.

Summer back at home

End of August to End of November
Then at Long Beach, IF training at Angel City Flyers, known to be one of the best, glass and level 5 sim, etc etc
More Cross country time

San Diego Cross Country Time

December ATPL distance learning exams in UK

Cristhmas back at home

January to April
Florida:
CPL / ME with consolidation in IR to obtain FAA CPL / IR / ME at Phoenix East Aviation, Daytona Beach.

Miami: spring break and hour building, Keys, Bahamas, etc etc

After this module 2 exams at uk, and FAA to JAA conversion /5 flying 10 sim/

We are planing to buy a car, and head from san francisco to miami, in this way we plan to get one of the best training around, different weather , people, airports, airspaces, etc etc. And also the best clubs/schools/academies

We also plan doing some acrobatic flights, and thematic like the 6 day cross country trips, flight over grand canyon, and much more.

What do you guys think about this, what are the disadvantages, i cant think of any, enlighten me please ;)

[vignesh]

Hello sir (yourmilehighness),

I'm looking for flight schools to do my professional pilot course + hour building and I looked upon skymates their price seems to far less when compared to other schools.

Do you have any comments about the school?

anything welcome,

thank you

[SAA]

I did my hours in South Africa, it is cheap and a beautiful country. Pm me if you want any details.

[wangus]

Hour building in States and South Africa will certainly be cheaper than doing in the UK. However, something I read repeatedly on here is mention of open space, great weather, etc. I would suggest trying to split it, possibly 50/50 or even 70/30. I did PPL in States, all hour building back in UK, as I got a Cessna at a great rate. Notwithstanding that, the flying you'll experience is different. (NO I'M NOT SAYING BETTER. I'M SAYING DIFFERENT!!!) To take off from controlled airspace, and pass through class D within 30 miles followed by two MATZ crossings on the way to destination at 3000' in haze after consulting VFR minimums is great experience, as are flights to channel islands and West Wales. A colleague of mine did all his JAA and FAA training in States up to FAA IR, then converted in SPAIN, and has YET to fly in the UK, ever. The one sim assessment he had so shattered his confidence he has stopped applying for jobs for time being. I just met a friend on my IR (completing IR first) who had trained in States, and was feeling utterly overwhelmed by the flying around EGHH, and wished he'd done at leat 10 hours down there first.
No doubt I'll be abused now my some offended hour builder. All I'm saying is save some money for 10-15 hours at the END of hour building back here. I guarantee it will prove very beneficial.
PS Forget GPS. Plan every flight like a test. Plogs, wizz wheel, ETA Revised ETA's etc. Fly accurately, and don't burn holes in the sky. It will all prove very helpful.

[Shunter]

I'd certainly put in a vote for South Africa. Easy conversion to SA PPL, 172 wet-hire under £50/hr. Stunning landscape, and you can easily do a few days away upto places like Victoria Falls (not the Zim side, obviously!).

[shaffee]

shaffee, go to www.skymates.com (http://www.skymates.com/) based in Arlington, Texas right between Dallas and Fort Worth and just 14 miles south of DFW. good luckYMH

Thanks milehighness...will check them out.

Any ideas if there is anything closer to the Houston area though?

Thanks.