Irishpilot1990
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A and C constantly makes posts against people going abroad.
Yes I do! and having flown both GA and for an airline in the USA I think that I might have a better overall view than a number of the people new to aviation who seem to be dazzed by the bright lights of the USA and blinded by the "rip-off" UK syndrome that inhabits these forums.
The USA headline price is undoubtedly attractive but the weather is not all it is cracked up to be with thunderstorms and strong winds being the major enemy of low time pilots in Florida, this is one of the reasons for looking at Michigan in the summer. being mid continent the weather is more stable, the other reason is that Florida is more expensive to live in however I would not recomend it during the winter.
The standard of aircraft is much more variable than in Europe with some very good aircraft but more than a few that I would not tie my dog too! The only way to find out what the company has to offer is to visit.
I did my FAA CPL/IR in the USA and despite thinking that I had it set up from this side of the Atlantic it did not happen as planned due to the compleat inability to organise on the part of the pre booked company. six weeks and two companys later I found a very good place but at about 50% higher cost than the cheapest. I was working in the USA so the delay was not a problem but what would happen to you if you only had three weeks leave?
Flying in the USA did not in any way help me to fly in Europe and for a low time pilot this might require some re-training in Europe and you have to cost that into the total flying bill.
What I want to bring to this debate in not an anti-USA message but one of balance I have seen a lot of people get stung in the USA and come back short of more than a few hours and some very bad habits. On the other hand I know people who have had a great time flying in the USA and achived all that they set out to do................ the split is about 50/50.
I do have a bit of an axe to grind on this issue because I do lease aircraft to hours builders, however this gives me a lot of feedback from my customers and a very current few on the hours building business.
I know that I will have more customers who have had disapointments in the USA but it would be nice to get the business from them from day one rather than see them spend a lot of money for very little more than a disrupted hoilday.