Recommended flying schools in USA
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Recommended flying schools in USA
Further to my JAR-Compliant PPL vs JAA PPL post, I think I could probably live with a FAA PPL - for now at least! 
So - next question is can anybody recommend a decent flying school in the USA? There are so many and without really knowing what to look for, it's difficult to even begin to think about where I might go. The ideal solution, I guess, would be to visit a selection, but I thought I'd say what people here had to offer first. Info about UKFT (UK Flight Training) and Anglo-American Aviation, in particular, would be appreciated.
Cheers all!
Leon
So - next question is can anybody recommend a decent flying school in the USA? There are so many and without really knowing what to look for, it's difficult to even begin to think about where I might go. The ideal solution, I guess, would be to visit a selection, but I thought I'd say what people here had to offer first. Info about UKFT (UK Flight Training) and Anglo-American Aviation, in particular, would be appreciated.
Cheers all!
Leon
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: uk
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
May I refer you to the first post in this thead http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=135854
Last edited by BRL; 6th January 2006 at 21:44.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
May I refer you to the first post in this thead http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=135854
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
From: He's on the limb to nowhere
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
Just perusing the first post in that linked thread I'd not fully agree with the "Never pay up front" repeated advice. There are plenty of flying schools where paying block amounts of cash in advance is quite safe and a good idea as you get a discount. I wouldn't pay for a whole course up front, but $1000 in advance at a time is quite reasonable and can get you a 10% discount, so that would be how I would clarify the advice. If a flying school has been in business for 10 years it's likely to remain in business for the duration of your course. Having said that, caveat emptor is still something you need to be aware of in the States, just like in the UK.
As for recommended schools. Bit hard to answer such a vague question. Most Europeans head for Florida, Arizona or Southern California. So pick a climate. Is the search function back yet?
As for recommended schools. Bit hard to answer such a vague question. Most Europeans head for Florida, Arizona or Southern California. So pick a climate. Is the search function back yet?
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
One problem with the present situation (need an I-20, M-1 visa, TSA permission for training) is that the M-1 visa is specific to a school (the visa in your passport will name the school) and by the date range of the training.
So if there is a last minute problem with the school, one is somewhat out of options...
So if there is a last minute problem with the school, one is somewhat out of options...
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
No, I0540 - one is not somewhat out of options.
Simply tell the school that you wish to move from which other visa approved school you wish to move to - and they have no choice but to transfer your visa (which will take them just a few seconds on the computer).
If the school one wishes to move from does not comply with this then the STUDENT must call the SEVIS helpdesk personally - and all will be fixed.
Simply tell the school that you wish to move from which other visa approved school you wish to move to - and they have no choice but to transfer your visa (which will take them just a few seconds on the computer).
If the school one wishes to move from does not comply with this then the STUDENT must call the SEVIS helpdesk personally - and all will be fixed.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
Originally Posted by slim_slag
As for recommended schools. Bit hard to answer such a vague question. Most Europeans head for Florida, Arizona or Southern California. So pick a climate.
) and would appreciated recommendations or suggestions. Ideally I'd try to visit a range of places first (maybe in June), before returning home to the UK to make a decision (and possibly subsequently trainin in late August/September).Thanks for all the info!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Norway
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
Can highly recomend NAIA located in Conway, SC!! Really nice people who work there and they have a campus located 1 min walking distance from the airport......
www.naiasc.com
send me a pm if you want more info
www.naiasc.com
send me a pm if you want more info
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
Originally Posted by leonbrumsack
OK - comments noted. What about other schools?
HB
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,068
Likes: 0
From: Brighton. UK. (Via Liverpool).
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
Hi. Any Ormond related post now gets refered to that thread. Keeps the legal people off my back doing it like that. (Well, off Dannys back, but you know what I mean........)
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
leonbrumsack,
I'm going back to school that BRL refers to in 5 weeks time - and that will be my third visit there (feel free to PM me).
I was in California (Palm Springs) a few weeks back and popped into 'Twin Palms Aviation' based at Bermuda Dunes Airport. Brilliant facility, cracking instructors and a lovely Sky Hawk available for hire (they had other aircraft too). The downside was that the school would not accept my UK medical, and insisted I needed a US one if I wished to fly solo. I tried my best to explain that I didn't need a US one but they were having none of it.
If venturing to a school that is not used to dealing with foreign licence holders make sure you know the exact regulations to quote (I didn't....but I do now).
Whilst I would happily return to TPA, I wouldn't do it in the summer
Too bloody hot 
I'm going back to school that BRL refers to in 5 weeks time - and that will be my third visit there (feel free to PM me).
I was in California (Palm Springs) a few weeks back and popped into 'Twin Palms Aviation' based at Bermuda Dunes Airport. Brilliant facility, cracking instructors and a lovely Sky Hawk available for hire (they had other aircraft too). The downside was that the school would not accept my UK medical, and insisted I needed a US one if I wished to fly solo. I tried my best to explain that I didn't need a US one but they were having none of it.
If venturing to a school that is not used to dealing with foreign licence holders make sure you know the exact regulations to quote (I didn't....but I do now).
Whilst I would happily return to TPA, I wouldn't do it in the summer
Too bloody hot
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
Originally Posted by Paris Dakar
The downside was that the school would not accept my UK medical, and insisted I needed a US one if I wished to fly solo. I tried my best to explain that I didn't need a US one but they were having none of it.
HB
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
well you know you do need to have a "validating" medical for the FAA licence (and all pilots licences) to be current, so I think they were right to ask you to get a medical.
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
HB - nope - "license issued on the basis of" requires EITHER a Federal one or a National one - not both.
Having said that - if the national medical isn't current/valid then that would invalidate the pilots licence that it applied to, so the FAA license issued on the basis of, would also be invalid.
No need for Federal medical as well as a national one.
Having said that - if the national medical isn't current/valid then that would invalidate the pilots licence that it applied to, so the FAA license issued on the basis of, would also be invalid.
No need for Federal medical as well as a national one.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
Can you give me a reference in the ANO or JAR FCL 1 which states that, would be interesting to know for sure, as I am getting a FAA PPL issued on the back of my JAR licence soon.
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
No. Was that a serious question? I don't mean to be rude - which this is certainly going to sound - but do you really expect either the UK ANO or JAR-FCL to be able dictate what medical is required to fly an N registered aircraft, in Federal airspace?
It's in the FAR's. Do a tad of research under licensing.
It's in the FAR's. Do a tad of research under licensing.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Recommended flying schools in USA
I was kindly supplied this link by Chilli Monster last year regarding medical validity.
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...2.1.10&idno=14
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...2.1.10&idno=14