Pilot Training In The Usa

[flightknight]

Please share your experiences about training for your PPL/CPL in the USA. Give us the good, bad and ugly side of your tenure.
Suggestions, concerns, recommendations; esp. from foreign students will be helpful to future aviators on this forum.

[jester_icarus]

As former operator of a flight school..let me tell you about training in the US..

VARIETIES...VARIETIES....VARIETIES.....VARIETIES.....

The US has two different types of flight shcools.. Part 141 and PArt 61. Either one will get you the ratings that you want. Most Part 141 are more pricy and those who work there tend to say that their training is better than Part 61. DONT BELEIVE THAT. Its all up tot he student.

With Part 61 you can go as slow or as fast as you want to..or the speed that your ATM can spit out funds.

Most Part 141 schools have loan programs and work with banks or other financial institutions to fund you flight training..while the Part 61 seldom dont. You have to fund yourself through your wallet. Wih the exception if you are military and have somekind of GI bill or tuition assistance program from the military.

So as you can see its pretty flexible. I can go on about different aspects about flight training in the US and comparisons between Part 141 or Part 61 flight schools..but at the end the certificagte or license that you get are all the same.

If you want to find out about the difference in the PArt 1412 and 121 check out the faa.gov web site and search for that subpart.

Oh...one thing about flight training is the US.. all requirements are clearly written down in the FAA regulations.

....If you are a foreign national you may have a bit of a rough start. After 9/11 as a foreign nationlal you have to register with the TSA and apply for a certain visa before you are able to flight train..and even if you are approved the visa stay may be limited and may not be enough to finish your ratings.

....let me know specific that concerns you about flight training in the US..

"keep the blue side up"

[Pluto's gone]

Worth taking a trip out to where you are thinking about. Its easy looking at websites and talking in emails. For the price of an airfare go and check out the school in person, see you if like the atmoshpere etc. After all an airfare now is a drop in the ocean as to what you are going to spend.

As for the training, don't think you can go wrong, cheapest aircraft rental around!