USA FL advice needed

[uk840Ci]

Hello everyone


Im planning a trip to USA florida next January,, Starting from 8th of Jan I will stay in Miami were my friends will join me for a holiday

We have roughly a month to catch some sun and fun , but main reason for me as I was planning to build some hours on my uk easa license. Currently im like 70-80 hours..

Will really appreciate your advices on :

1 Are there any trusted fly schools not too far from Miami? And are they willing to hire aircraft so I can travel around FL ,not returning to same airport every day?
2. Weather... For those who already flew there, whats its like in January?
3. Bahamas. Is it nice idea to plan big journey in SEP to fly over and visit many spectacular places there?)

Thank you !

[fin100]

Firstly you need to get the FAA piggyback license on the basis of your existing one.
Then you need to do a biennual flight check with an FAA instructor.

As to FBOs nr MIA try ADF out of KTMB SW of Miami around SW 152 seem a bit more professional than Silver Express on the same field.

A bit further south is Homestead General - X51, smaller an less time wasted taxing about. Orient Flight seem to be pretty good.

As to the Bahamas, you need to check if the latest security malarkey will allow you to travel that route without a full US visa.

[creweite]

You might want to take a look at Hollywood/N. Perry KHWO north of MIA. Four runways, two NS and two EW, with an operating tower. There are
several flight schools on the field, but no idea as to rentals. Try ATA, run by Mike Punziano who is president of the local chapter of the Florida Aero Club, a get together social organization. APA is a recent start up run by Bob Diaz. You can Google ATA and HWO for information.

[worldpilot]

Based on my recent experience renting in Florida out of Orlando and Tampa area, not many FBOs will allow you to fly alone with their aircraft to the Bahamas. Don't know why things have changed.


For flying to the Bahamas, you might want to check this AOPA link for some valuable information.


Flying to Bahamas - AOPA (http://www.aopa.org/Flight-Planning/Bahamas)


To retain an aircraft for a longer period without flying back to aircraft home base, you will have to fly a minimum of 2-3 hours a day, depending on rental policies.


And, don't take any risk to rent without adeqaute insurance coverage. You can get insurance for about $150. It is worth it though.


WP

[Ebbie 2003]

NS Aviation at North Perry/Hollywood v.good professional outfit.

They are a Cessna set up.

Four runways. Very busy airport with banner towing airplanes, several flight schools including the local community college (huge fleets of Cirrus SR20 and 22's). Best of all just about the most complicated and varied airspace arrangement you could hope for - I learned to fly there and there are lots of local airports to practice "new" field landings, yes you can land at Miami and Ft. Lauderdale and mix in with the big boys:)

[mary meagher]

Good advice here. However, though visiting the Florida Keys may be allowed by the aircraft owners, I would not insist on leaving United States territory; there are a lot of illegal drugs that travel these routes, so big problems could result. If I were you I would rent the plane for a week, and go up the west side of Florida, the panhandle, and New Orleans. Then back to Alabama, Jacksonville, and down the Atlantic coast. All nice warm water, most of the year. And stop by at Jack Brown's seaplane base, get your float plane rating!

Have fun!

[India Four Two]

My advice to is to start your FAA paperwork as soon as possible. I'm not familiar with the "piggyback" license, but I know the paperwork for getting an independent FAA license on the basis of my Canadian licence can take up to 90 days.

[360BakTrak]

I did the 'piggy back' licence 2 years ago and the paperwork took quite some time to be processed, but that was leading up to the peak summer season so they were busy.

I also had to do the TSA process too including informing the authorities which school I was renting from.