Flying in the USA

[DB777]

Hi, I have a UK PPL and have just booked a short break in the US for September, starting off in Houston and then New York. I have only 2 spare days in each destination.

Can anyone enlighten me as to the logistics of being able to fly in the US on a CAA license? I'd obviously need to be checked out at any school and hence fly with an instructor, but do I need to preplan any paperwork before such event? Ideally i'd like to get a few hours in at each destination just to get a taste of it and then come back at a later date to make use of the lower rates.

If anyone can recommend a school or club at either destination that operate C150/152s or C172s then i'd be extremely grateful.

Thanks in advance.

[CJ Driver]

If you just want to get in the air, check out the view, and experience the local procedures, you don't need a licence at all. You simply book a flying lesson with an instructor.

I have flown in many random locations that way, and providing you have no hangups about the fact that there will be an instructor in the right seat it is a great way to fly new and different aircraft types, and fly in some interesting places.

For many years I made a point of "type collecting" whilst on business trips, and on that basis I would suggest that you should NOT be looking for a school that rents generic Cessnas. Since aircraft hire in the USA is generally much cheaper than in the UK, I recommend that you take the amount of money you would normally spend in the UK on an hour in a C172, convert it to dollars, and phone a few flying schools and ask them what they will rent you for that amount of money. You might find a Mooney, or a Bonanza, or even a twin. Or how about a float plane, or a tail dragger, or whatever. I'm sure you get the idea. There's no chance of getting signed off solo in any of these machines, but who cares? You're on vacation!

[shumway76]

If you do that, would you be able to log the hours flown in "N" registered aircraft under your UK logbook as P1u/s?

[AdamFrisch]

This has been answered a million times here on Pprune. Search for piggyback license and FAR 61.75.

But basically you need a FAA validation of your JAA licence. It takes time and you have to pay CAA to release the info. Then you pick it up at a FSDO in the US, get a BFR with the school and off you go. If you need it for Sept, start yesterday.

[7of9]

Read this,

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/488436-where-pickup-faa-piggyback-license-flight-standards-district-offices.html

Need to get started with CAA application NOW if you want to fly as P1!!

Trev

[B2N2]

As you are in the US for business I gather you do not need the P1 or PIC time.
I would second the recommendations of CJ driver, see what you can rent with an instructor and enjoy!!!