Questions from Brazil

[miltonbarboza]

Hello,
I'm brazilian and next month I'm going to Toronto to finish my English School. I'll stay there for 6 months.

I'll visit some helicopter flight schools in Ontário and in USA (next New York), but I have some doubts.

I prefer to study in Canada, but the cost is cheapest in USA and I think FAA is most important than JAA (I don't know).

Can you help me to decide if I study in USA or in Canada? Which is better for a commercial helicopter pilot?

Thanks,
Milton

[BelArgUSA]

Oi Brasileiro...
xxx
I dont know what licence you got now...
You want to fly helicopters...?
Generally, people learn to fly fixed wing aircraft first.
Then they get a licence, PPL, sometimes also CPL, IR etc, then helicopter.
xxx
Best place for a Brasileiro, is Pompano Beach, in Florida...
The largest community of people from Brasil in USA... or almost.
It is about 35 km north of Miami, just next to Ft. Lauderdale.
Nice weather, cheap place to stay, to eat Brasilian food, churrascas...
Rent a room to some people there. Even less expensive...!
Watch TV-Globo e "Programa do Jo" (Suares)... !!!
And enjoy a Chopp de Brahma after flying.
xxx
Good flight school there in Pompano Beach is "American Flyers".
They have a few student pilots from Brasil.
Other flight schools there around, on other airfields...
xxx
If you have problems falar Inglés, you can PM me in Português...
I understand very well (I can speak "Portuñol") as I am from Argentina.
Living part-time at the beach in Floriapo, my mother-in-law is from Porto Alegre.
xxx
Entâo, chau, e bom dia/noite pra você...!
:)
Happy contrails

[miltonbarboza]

Thanks Bel.

I have another doubt:

I've read once that in USA they have hidden costs like instructor, fuel etc, and in Canada it's all included. It's true?

[BelArgUSA]

Oi Milton -
xxx
Never heard that there are "hidden costs"... in Canada, or USA...
xxx
If you buy a course, say an "Instrument Rating, Airplanes" they will sell you the training all inclusive, xxx hours of dual instruction in airplane, xxx hours of ground school (classroom), xxx hours of simulator with instructor, xxx hours of briefing/debriefing and this and that book... In the airplane, fuel is included.
xxx
Maybe the only extra, might be the examiner fee for the oral/flight test, and that should not be that much... maybe $100 or 200... often that fee is included in the training program (just read if included or not).
xxx
And you can also buy training "by the hour", includes rental of airplane with fuel, with instructor, or without instructor...
xxx
Check on flight schools in the USA, and get their prices... then send me a copy, I will see if "any extras"... I never heard of that... By the way, right now, the US $ and the Canada $ is same exchange value for Reais...
xxx
:)
Happy contrails

[miltonbarboza]

I've saw this information on this site: http://www.helicopterscanada.com/costcomp.html


The most of sites of USA write something like this "FAA minimum":


http://www.helicopterflighttraininginc.com/00/01_01a_private.htm

Completion Requirements:
- Obtain an FAA medical certificate.
- Pass an FAA written exam.
- Obtain 40 hours of flight time to include 10 hours of solo time.
- Pass an FAA oral and flight test.
Estimated Cost:
Based on FAA Minimums: $9361.00
* Prices include all fees and surcharges and are subject to change *


So now you can see my problem. I prefer Canadá. The costs are something about $20,250.00 ($450/h). In the USA the costs are $9361.00 ($187/h). And I want commercial pilot. Something about 100 hours. :eek:

If is really all inclusive like is written, I think I'll to USA. :confused: