Hmmmmm......
Slim-Slag:
I think you answered my question!
Now then Facts, show some respect
I do not think I answered your question at all.
The JAA PPL needs to be completed at an approved school by the CAA - approved school. They then approve the course of study ie the AOPA syllabus - approved course.
On the approved course you follow a syllabus with Instructors in ground school and flight training.
Nowhere was JAA PPL mentioned in this thread. Personally I would not come to the US to do a JAA PPL. I would do the FAA PP-ASEL, then time build here until you get the required 75 hours or so, go home and convert.
Advantages of this are
1) More choice of flight schools. Probably cheaper and you can easily move if you don't like the setup at the first one. Shop Around.
2) You get to 75 hours at less cost. You are going to get to 75 hours at some stage so may as well do it cheaply.
3) The experience you get here is pretty good. Having flown GA quite a bit in both countries, I would rate US > UK. Yikes, new thread!!!!!!
4) More experienced when you do your JAA PPL. This can only be a good thing. Obviously you will need to be retrained in new 'bad habits'
but that's all extra dual and dual is
always a good thing, IMO.
So, I do not think you should/could assume that everybody coming to the US is here to do the JAA. I would certainly advise against it.
Of course I would like to see people support flight schools back in the UK, they sorely need our money, but it's their money and they can spend it how you like.
Also, I doubt that the INS or US Goverment cares an iota about the CAA approval requirements. The flight school is either approved in the US system or not, it would be quite possible for a flight school to be 'UK' approved and not 'US' approved, though I don't see the point of not being US approved in this case.
Do you think I need a visa to go on a golf or tennis course, go to a medical conference where I will learn stuff? etc etc What is the spirit of the visa waiver scheme? Am I allowed to read reference books in the US if they are related to (say) nuclear physics? Can I learn how to ski?
If you come here primarily as a tourist you do not need a visa for incidental study as long as it is recreational.
When you get into the US don't say "I'm here to become a commercial pilot", say "I'm here on holiday but I've always fancied doing some flying lessons and I've got $10k in my pocket to give to the local flight school"
You get the drift?
The INS inspector will have a fit on the former, and drag you past the desk into the country on the latter. Remember, the INS inspector doesn't even have to let you into the coutry WITH a valid M1 visa.
What the INS guys is asking himself when you show up drunk and looking like crap after a delightful longhaul flight in World Traveller is..
1) Is this guy going to go home within 90 days?
2) Is this guy going to become a public charge? Break the law and go to jail?
3) Is this guy going to spend loadsamoney?
4) Is this guy going to put a Yank out of work?
That's all they really care about. They don't give too much of a toss about the Brits, thats why we are on the Visa Waiver scheme. Now if you were an Iraqi........
I agree entirely that if you are at all in doubt, get the visa. I said that earlier too. Just make sure you choose the flight school and have flown with the instructor in advance. Pretty hard to do I'd say from your computer terminal desk in Croyden
.
What you do
not want to do is get an M1 visa for "xyz flying school", find out they suck, so ****** off down the road to the really cool part 61 school. That would put you in violation of your US admission terms, and if the INS found out they would rip your goolies off. You would not find it easy to enter the US after that.
All in my opinion of course , which I am sure some here already consider worthless
Me no lawyer!
Regards
[ 06 October 2001: Message edited by: slim_slag because I got JAA/FAA/CAA totally mixed up. We need a single authority, preferabley FAA
and I also got another smart-ass commment in too
Ho Ho!)
]
[ 06 October 2001: Message edited by: slim_slag ]