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Old 1st September 2008 | 00:46
  #18 (permalink)  
Slopey
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 526
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From: Aberdeen, UK
I'd echo the US comments. UK based schools moaning about the US instruction are usually just peeved as they're not getting the business.

I did my PPL in Florida in November one year - allowed for 5 weeks, did it in 4 and had a week hour building. For me, it was massively cheaper (£5k all in) but it does depend where you're based - in Aberdeen, at £185ph (with 20 for each landing/T&G), it was Inverness/Dundee/or US.

Came back to the UK, flew 2 hours with an instructor as a refresher - no problem. The difference in airspace/comms etc is negligible and very easy to adjust to if you're a new PPL still in the "zone".

As long as your RT is the "UK" method, and you don't start chatting about what you had for breakfast/where to go for lunch, you'll be fine (it's much more informal over there). There's also quite a bit of busy airspace depending where you go - so don't worry about people who say you'll never get experience of busy airspace - that's simply not true.

You'll also find that your flying progresses no end if you're flying every day of the week as opposed to once/twice a week.

I'd also point out that there's nowhere like the states to get you positively enthusiastic about aviation - no landing fees, loads of people doing it, a warm welcome everywhere - puts the UK with airport jobsworths, nimbys and pointless regulation to shame.

You'll wonder why you're even bothering flying back here once you've been to the US!!
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