Flying in Florida

[RomeoDelta155]

Hi Ppruners


I am going to Florida for a family holiday at the end of March and would like to do some flying while I'm there.


I have my PPL (both JAR and FAA) but it is a while since I have flown so I'm really looking some dual time to brush up my skills.


Could anyone recommend a flying school that has PA28s. I would prefer to go to a small local airfield/school and not the big training providers.


Thanks in advance.


Andrew

[alland2012]

Florida Flight School- ORIGINAL Accelerated Flight Training Program (http://www.tailwheelsetc.com)

They are based out of a class Delta fleld( KLAL) but a family owned flight school with a selection of aircraft for rental.

Also if you are going to be in town during April don't forget "Sun n Fun" also based at Lakeland KLAL, well worth a visit.

[creweite]

Big state , where are you going to be?

[RomeoDelta155]

Going to be based in Orlando for the family holiday but have an extra week where I can travel to any part of the state.

[alland2012]

There are also a couple of smaller places within 40 minutes of Orlando who have nice aircraft rentals if you don't mind a checkout in a 172

Bartow Air Services based at KBOW
Propeller Heads at KGIF

I'm over in Florida from the UK at our vacation home during March & April if you need any help, I know quite a few of the guys at BOW, GIF and LAL
and if it's just a bit of dual and you want to go up and blow some holes in the sky I would be happy to take you up or act as your safety pilot.

Please feel free to drop me a PM if interested

Cheers
Allan

[gceyg]

Lads,

Could you tell me the simplest process of getting an FAA PPL as I have a current CAA PPL.

Cheers!

[alland2012]

Book a week or two holiday in Florida and with a flight school that knows the system for getting your TSA clearance, pretty straight forward, I used Tailwheelsetc. near Orlando, as I was going on holiday and "not" just for primary flight training I didn't need to jump through any hoops regarding a visa.

While I was there a guy from Ireland came over to get his FAA ticket, he knocked it out in a week in fact he walked in on Monday morning and took his checkride on Friday afternoon and was on a plane back home on Sunday.
As you are already a pilot, it will be mainly learning the US airspace system, which to be honest is not difficult.

[GBEBZ]

Actually its a lot harder than just rocking up in the USA with your license - you need to do some prep paperwork and form filling and the process is time and rubber stamp critical too...

https://flyerdavid.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/how-to-get-a-us-faa-ppl-licence-based-on-your-uk-ppl/

[alland2012]

No you don't just "rock up" that's why I suggested contacting a flight school in advance who knows the TSA system regarding foreign pilots. But I wouldn't say it was difficult, when I arrived in Orlando the first job was visit the appointed TSA office get my fingerprints taken, fill out the paperwork and within couple of days the flight school had permission to begin the flight process, while waiting I studied the ground stuff and then took my oral test and from then on it was concentrating on the flying with my CFI.