huntsman,
The $70 dollars I mentioned was the usual price for sitting each computer theory exam at the local flying school.
The private, commercial, instrument rating, instructor rating, (CFI), instructor instrument rating, (CFII), and so on, all require their own theory subjects to be passed, which unfortunately means a rather large bill. (The multi-engine instrument add-on rating doesen't require a theory exam)
The flight tests will run up a large bill aswell. The FAA does flight tests for free, but you will find they are now only really doing the flight instructor tests and leaving the remainder for the local designated examiners.
To schedule these guys for an exam will cost you whatever they want, and usually it's quite alot, in the order of 100-250 american dollars--I got charged $250 for my multi-engine instrument rating add-on test, all before I had even started the engines.
So in terms of money required for licence conversions over here, make sure you have some saved!
With regards to the standards, I wrote in another of my posts above, the way I went about changing mine over.
Also put some money away for some flying hours over here, because they do things a bit different to we aussies. It does take some time to get used to their airspace, procedures and manoeuvres required on their flight tests.
With regards to 135 operations, I too wasn't very keen on doing an instructor rating, (very glad I have done so now), however the experience requirements for 135 ops are quite high. I haven't looked at the IFR requirements in any depth recently, but I do know they are still up around the experience required by CASA for the issue of an ATPL.
VFR 135 operations require a minimum of 500 hours total time, with various requirements on cross country, night time etc... I initially looked into doing some VFR 135 charter and fire patrols when I first arrived in the states but unfortunately I didn't have the time then.
I therefore decided to do an instructor rating, and built up my time to 135 requirements that way. I suggest you do budget for an instructor rating, because if you have a CFI over here you can almost pick and choose your workplace and more importantly, you will learn more than you can imagine about all things aviation. I didn't realise how little I knew about flying until I started instructing. Don't get me wrong, I still find it extremely frustrating at times but it is a terrific stepping stone to bigger and better things.
Anyhow, let me know if you have any other questions, cheers
abroad
