CPL (H) Hourbuilding

[miket_68]

HI.
Not sure if this belongs here or somewhere else,
Getting through my ATPL's looking at doing some hour building.
Some say goto the states and build / IR / CPL there then come back and convert.
Others say, stay here (UK) hour build here then do the CPL here.
If I stay here, I have to build 150 hours (enough to start the FI) course.
If I goto the states do the IR / CPL then return I will gain air experiance over there but not 'local' experiance.
I have been asking several schools what they suggest for hour building over here but most have been a bit cagey until I confirm I will be doing my CPL with them, I suppose they dont want to waste their FI's time helping me plan the hour building structure then swanning off to another School.
Will I 'miss out' on experiance by flying states side might it be frowned upon by a school when I apply for an FI job as most of my experiance is in the US.
Its a close call financially as I still have my wife and child to feed and house whilst I am 'having a great time in the states' as my friends call it!!
I will be upgrading my IR when I return (and funds are available). so the IR would not be wasted. Not that any time in the air could be wasted.
Thoughts and ideas welcome.
Thanks
Mike

[BHenderson]

If you're going to the States to get a FAA CPL are you aware that you need 100hrs PIC whereas in the JAA system you need 50hrs? This could affect your deicision depending on how many hours you have at the moment. If you're going for a JAA CPL then you are limited to a certain number of schools and helicopter types when compared to the UK.

Assuming you have 100hrs at the moment (100+150= 250hrs min requirement FIC) I would be tempted to fly the hours for the CPL here and then go to the States, once you have done the CPL course, to top up your hours for the FIC. BUT remember that you can get an R22 for about £140ph in the UK if you look hard enough thus avoiding any potential 'stigma' issues.

A large number of people consider the FAA IR a waste of time. Moreover if you're looking for a JAA IR, I've heard the flight times to convert FAA to JAA vary wildly from the bare minimum of 15 hrs, to the full 55hrs. So the IR could indeed be wasted in that instance.

Bobby

[Bravo73]

Mike,

You say that you need to 'build' 150hrs (pre-FI course.)

If I was in your position, I would build a bit of experience and spread my wings a bit.

I would first fly 50hrs in the USA. Pick the part of the country that you most want to see (hint: most of Florida is pretty flat, featureless and dull to look at from the air) and target a school that will give you a decent block rate. I would then go to either South Africa, Australia or New Zealand. Find another school and fly a further 50hrs. Then I'd return to the UK and fly the final 50hrs at whichever school you would want to do the FIC at.

The international travel could be done in either two separate trips or on a single 'round the world' ticket. In terms of paperwork, you should only need PPL validations for each of the countries. Also for the States, the visa issue should be much more simple - you aren't doing any training so a visa waiver should suffice.

If you are intending on going down the FI route, any IR training at this stage will be bit of a waste of effort and funds. Plan to complete an IR course in about 30 months time (ie before your 36 months ATPL validity expires.)


HTH.

[henrymonster]

hi mike
Read your message i know a school that has already helped one student hour build doing 50 in states and the rest uk. to talk to her and Mark about how they can help call 07718179456

[tony 1969]

Hi, My thoughts for what it is worth,
If you plan to work in this country the CPL/IR/FI part should be done here,
Hour building is another matter if it includes FAA CPL/IR then so much the better, whatever you do dont "waste" the hour building, (you can set challenges for yourself and get a useful 100 hours or spend 100 hrs doing the same easy local trip! guess which one makes you a better pilot) IF you go elsewhere bear in mind the PIC requirements for pre CPL/FI courses, particularly if you end up doing things like flying traffic choppers around it may not all count as P1, also if you decide to o your hour bulding here pick do it with the company that you want to work for, then they get to see what you are like !!!!! (Doesnt always work though when you ask them for a job:ugh:)
Best of luck