Recommended Flight School in Florida/Arizona
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: London
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Recommended Flight School in Florida/Arizona
Hello,
I posted this over in the Wannabe section but didn't harness much response... so trying my luck here..
I am looking for a recommended place to do some training, predominently hours build in the U.S.A. The weather in the UK at the moment is not great so makes sense to spend around 3-4 weeks abroad for hours building. USA seems to work out competitive based on the exchange rate.
I am flexible with regards to the state and ultimately prefer a small school with a personal touch rather than a "pilot factory".. Looking to build approximately 80 hours and then will build the rest of the 20 hours in the UK.
The school should have well maintained aircraft with good availability of the C152. This is what I learned on and is the cheapest! - I am not interested in the "safety pilot scheme".
I have emailed Chandler Aviation Services and they have come back with a quote of approximate $8000 for 80 hours with $1500 of taxes and checkouts = so round numbers of $9500 on a Cherokee 140 or PA28 (I believe).
What should I be asking the schools when I make enquiries?
I have thought of the following:
- Taxes,
- Landing Fees
- Fuel Surcharge
- Cost for touch & go's
- insurance waiver
- Accommodation.
Any schools which you can suggest would be welcome ideas? I will be converting my license to the FAA required for hours building.
I posted this over in the Wannabe section but didn't harness much response... so trying my luck here..
I am looking for a recommended place to do some training, predominently hours build in the U.S.A. The weather in the UK at the moment is not great so makes sense to spend around 3-4 weeks abroad for hours building. USA seems to work out competitive based on the exchange rate.
I am flexible with regards to the state and ultimately prefer a small school with a personal touch rather than a "pilot factory".. Looking to build approximately 80 hours and then will build the rest of the 20 hours in the UK.
The school should have well maintained aircraft with good availability of the C152. This is what I learned on and is the cheapest! - I am not interested in the "safety pilot scheme".
I have emailed Chandler Aviation Services and they have come back with a quote of approximate $8000 for 80 hours with $1500 of taxes and checkouts = so round numbers of $9500 on a Cherokee 140 or PA28 (I believe).
What should I be asking the schools when I make enquiries?
I have thought of the following:
- Taxes,
- Landing Fees
- Fuel Surcharge
- Cost for touch & go's
- insurance waiver
- Accommodation.
Any schools which you can suggest would be welcome ideas? I will be converting my license to the FAA required for hours building.
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Chandler Aviation seemed quite reasonable when I was there but I understood that hours building was conducted with a CFI sat in the R/H seat for the entire time for insurance reasons which seemed to defeat the purpose of hours building to me. Perhaps this has changed now - it was a long time ago. You will be pleased to discover that you seldom pay for landing/touch & go's in the U.S. You may pick up the odd 'handling' charge if you plan to visit larger, busier fields like Las Vegas McCarran for example. Conversely, never paid anything for movements at PHX, TUC, OAK or SAN.
If you are obtaining an FAA Private on the basis of a Foreign certificate you will require an FAA Flight Review which you should be able to combine with a school checkout if you discuss with the instructor beforehand.
Arizona is a great place to fly this time of year with close proximity to CA/NM/NV although a few hours away in a 152 to reach the West Coast with not much inbetween . The best advice I would give is keep your eyes open - extremely busy airspace around Phoenix with numerous flight training organisations and many student pilots plus a more diverse range of traffic than you usually see VFR in Europe.
Alternatives could be Florida - again, nice this time of year but a bit limited with respect to 80 hours of meaningful navex's; California is good although taxes are higher and weather not as predictable as the two already mentioned. Utah and New Mexico offer good alternatives for both weather and financial incentive.
If you are planning to do it soon, I presume you understand that unless a US citizen, there is a requirement for TSA approval to undertake instruction?
If you are obtaining an FAA Private on the basis of a Foreign certificate you will require an FAA Flight Review which you should be able to combine with a school checkout if you discuss with the instructor beforehand.
Arizona is a great place to fly this time of year with close proximity to CA/NM/NV although a few hours away in a 152 to reach the West Coast with not much inbetween . The best advice I would give is keep your eyes open - extremely busy airspace around Phoenix with numerous flight training organisations and many student pilots plus a more diverse range of traffic than you usually see VFR in Europe.
Alternatives could be Florida - again, nice this time of year but a bit limited with respect to 80 hours of meaningful navex's; California is good although taxes are higher and weather not as predictable as the two already mentioned. Utah and New Mexico offer good alternatives for both weather and financial incentive.
If you are planning to do it soon, I presume you understand that unless a US citizen, there is a requirement for TSA approval to undertake instruction?
Join Date: May 2000
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Take a look at these two schools in NE Florida:
Florida Aviation Career Training, Inc. I know the owner. He is a nice guy.
Aviation|Flight Training|Fliegen lernen Flugschule USA: Florida Flyers I don't know anyone here.
Florida Aviation Career Training, Inc. I know the owner. He is a nice guy.
Aviation|Flight Training|Fliegen lernen Flugschule USA: Florida Flyers I don't know anyone here.
