US Flying for a Brit.
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US Flying for a Brit.
Dear PPruners, I would like to ask for your assistance regarding the 'shifting sands' of flying in the US for a Brit. I shall attempt to explain my background to ease matters.
I hold (or should I say held due to currency) FAA CPL/Multi-IR and JAA CPL/IR Multi, etc.... However the last time I stepped out of a 310 was back in 2008 therefore I will need to regain my currency and get some time under my belt. However I am unsure whether this would qualify as 'training' i.e. as a student or 'review' in the sense of regaining currency? Therefore, somewhat confused as to what government forms would require my attention (to be on the safe side of the TSA and Homeland security) before heading out to the US? Going forward I shall be concentrating on the North American side of flying.
I appreciate your help and any clarification you could offer.
I hold (or should I say held due to currency) FAA CPL/Multi-IR and JAA CPL/IR Multi, etc.... However the last time I stepped out of a 310 was back in 2008 therefore I will need to regain my currency and get some time under my belt. However I am unsure whether this would qualify as 'training' i.e. as a student or 'review' in the sense of regaining currency? Therefore, somewhat confused as to what government forms would require my attention (to be on the safe side of the TSA and Homeland security) before heading out to the US? Going forward I shall be concentrating on the North American side of flying.
I appreciate your help and any clarification you could offer.
Last edited by boogie-nicey; 30th Mar 2016 at 12:33.
You are not training for a certificate. You already have it, just not current. One medical, one satis. flight review and you are legal to go. Instrument proficiency check if you want IFR privileges too, but that can be part of the FR. Any practice you do to prep for the review isn't considered training for a certificate.
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I broadly agree with the previous, but you need to separate a few things.
First, you will *in principle* need a visa to go to the US. This applies to all foreign nationals visiting the US. However, if you are a citizen of some 30-odd "western" states (full list somewhere on the web) and if you satisfy a few other criteria, you can apply to gain entry under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Which is what it says on the tin: The ability to enter the US without a formal visa.
One of the criteria for the VWP is that your primary reason for visiting the US is short-term business or tourism. If your primary reason is something else, then you would not be eligible for the VWP and would need to obtain a proper visa.
So if you are exclusively going to the US to perform the flight training to obtain or reactivate some sort of pilots license, then it can be argued that you do need an M-1 visa, and are not eligible for entry under the VWP. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have that discussion here, since it's ultimately the friendly official at the airport who decides what applies. But it is pretty much established that you do need an M-1 visa for ab-initio flight training, and it is also pretty much established that you do not need an M-1 visa if all the training you're going to do is the BFR to make an existing "standalone" FAA PPL or freshly issued "based on" FAA PPL valid - especially if you plan a flying holiday after the BFR. Since your case sits somewhere in the middle of those extremities, I suggest you do a little further research into this, and maybe even get a written opinion from DHS as to your case.
Secondly, TSA clearance. You need TSA clearance for your initial FAA airmans certificate, and for any training that substantially enhances your ability to fly a large airliner (into a building): IR, ME and such. TSA clearance is not required for things like tailwheel and floatplane endorsements. Furthermore, TSA clearance is NOT required if you want to obtain an FAA "based on" PPL.
So if all you want is to revalidate (or whatever it's called) your existing FAA CPL/ME/IR, then TSA clearance is not required. However, should you want to use the opportunity to add something to that rating, then TSA clearance might be required. But again, to be on the safe side, you can always get a written opinion from the TSA.
First, you will *in principle* need a visa to go to the US. This applies to all foreign nationals visiting the US. However, if you are a citizen of some 30-odd "western" states (full list somewhere on the web) and if you satisfy a few other criteria, you can apply to gain entry under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Which is what it says on the tin: The ability to enter the US without a formal visa.
One of the criteria for the VWP is that your primary reason for visiting the US is short-term business or tourism. If your primary reason is something else, then you would not be eligible for the VWP and would need to obtain a proper visa.
So if you are exclusively going to the US to perform the flight training to obtain or reactivate some sort of pilots license, then it can be argued that you do need an M-1 visa, and are not eligible for entry under the VWP. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have that discussion here, since it's ultimately the friendly official at the airport who decides what applies. But it is pretty much established that you do need an M-1 visa for ab-initio flight training, and it is also pretty much established that you do not need an M-1 visa if all the training you're going to do is the BFR to make an existing "standalone" FAA PPL or freshly issued "based on" FAA PPL valid - especially if you plan a flying holiday after the BFR. Since your case sits somewhere in the middle of those extremities, I suggest you do a little further research into this, and maybe even get a written opinion from DHS as to your case.
Secondly, TSA clearance. You need TSA clearance for your initial FAA airmans certificate, and for any training that substantially enhances your ability to fly a large airliner (into a building): IR, ME and such. TSA clearance is not required for things like tailwheel and floatplane endorsements. Furthermore, TSA clearance is NOT required if you want to obtain an FAA "based on" PPL.
So if all you want is to revalidate (or whatever it's called) your existing FAA CPL/ME/IR, then TSA clearance is not required. However, should you want to use the opportunity to add something to that rating, then TSA clearance might be required. But again, to be on the safe side, you can always get a written opinion from the TSA.
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Tinstaffl has it dead right. BFR and FAA medical and IPC if required. If you were to consider a type rating that is a different matter.
it is ESTA not VWP - but since you mention you are a Brit then that is easy enough and what you propose is entirely within ESTA. If you were to consider flying your twin to canada or mexico then you need a physical visa in your passport to re-enter the US, unless you have an entry stamp within the last 30 days ( if you are considering that , look at the info on the CBP website) .
It cannot be argued that you need a M1 visa. A school cannot undertake that process unless you are enrolled for more than 18 hrs a week. If you aren't, you can't. And for the record TSA don't care about your visa status as long as you are in the country legally.
What you may run into is the issue of the CBP officer who enters you into the country who doesn't understand the whole spectrum of the term 'flight training'. They understand the visa requirements for this about as well as the lurkers on here. For that reason, be honest and say that you are on vacation.. or even a flying vacation . but avoid the use of the word training, especially as you are not.
it is ESTA not VWP - but since you mention you are a Brit then that is easy enough and what you propose is entirely within ESTA. If you were to consider flying your twin to canada or mexico then you need a physical visa in your passport to re-enter the US, unless you have an entry stamp within the last 30 days ( if you are considering that , look at the info on the CBP website) .
It cannot be argued that you need a M1 visa. A school cannot undertake that process unless you are enrolled for more than 18 hrs a week. If you aren't, you can't. And for the record TSA don't care about your visa status as long as you are in the country legally.
What you may run into is the issue of the CBP officer who enters you into the country who doesn't understand the whole spectrum of the term 'flight training'. They understand the visa requirements for this about as well as the lurkers on here. For that reason, be honest and say that you are on vacation.. or even a flying vacation . but avoid the use of the word training, especially as you are not.
