Recreational flying in the USA.
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im not too clued up on this myself im sure someone will post very soon with plenty of info, but have you tried doing a search? there should be loads of info on this in the archives.
Blah Blah Blah
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Under current US Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations, you do not need a special visa to enter the United States to fly for pleasure, (hour build). You can enter as a tourist under the B2 Visitor for Pleasure Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if you are the holder of a passport from a country accepted into the VWP. The UK, Ireland and Germany and virtually all European countries are included in the VWP. If you are in doubt as to whether you are a citizen of a country included in the VWP check with your travel agent or the US Embassy in your home country. Also hour building is not currently included in the US Transport Security Administration (TSA) security requirements so no registration is required under this program.
You must have an FAA licence to be Pilot in Command, (PIC). If you do not already have an FAA licence, whether "stand alone" or issued on the basis of your existing licence, you must apply to the FAA in Oklahoma City for a letter of verification to issue an FAA licence. If your licence is a JAA/CAA licence issued by the UK CAA you must, due to the Data Protection Act, give the CAA permission to release your licence details to the FAA. The CAA currently charge an administrative fee of £38 to process the release of you licensing details to the FAA. Information and the necessary form(s) are included in the attachments file. You must expedite the issue by sending the applications forms to the CAA/FAA by fax and have the FAA send the verification letter directly to us at our Ormond Beach Airport address marked for your attention, this procedure "short circuits" the international mail system. If you cannot open the attachments you can download the required CAA form, SRG 1160, from http://www.caa.co.uk/publications/publications.asp?cattype=formcat&id=2 and the required FAA instructions and form AFS-760-Exam-02 (7/04) from http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific...erify61-75.pdf , this form can be completed on line and printed after completion. If completing the writable PDF on line you must print the form on completion and in box 10 enter "FSDO 15". The CAA/FAA will not accept application by email only in hard copy by fax or mail.
It is a fairly quick process. That pain in the backside part is choosing which FSDO to go to and collect you FAA papers.
PM me if you are confused.
Gary
You must have an FAA licence to be Pilot in Command, (PIC). If you do not already have an FAA licence, whether "stand alone" or issued on the basis of your existing licence, you must apply to the FAA in Oklahoma City for a letter of verification to issue an FAA licence. If your licence is a JAA/CAA licence issued by the UK CAA you must, due to the Data Protection Act, give the CAA permission to release your licence details to the FAA. The CAA currently charge an administrative fee of £38 to process the release of you licensing details to the FAA. Information and the necessary form(s) are included in the attachments file. You must expedite the issue by sending the applications forms to the CAA/FAA by fax and have the FAA send the verification letter directly to us at our Ormond Beach Airport address marked for your attention, this procedure "short circuits" the international mail system. If you cannot open the attachments you can download the required CAA form, SRG 1160, from http://www.caa.co.uk/publications/publications.asp?cattype=formcat&id=2 and the required FAA instructions and form AFS-760-Exam-02 (7/04) from http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific...erify61-75.pdf , this form can be completed on line and printed after completion. If completing the writable PDF on line you must print the form on completion and in box 10 enter "FSDO 15". The CAA/FAA will not accept application by email only in hard copy by fax or mail.
It is a fairly quick process. That pain in the backside part is choosing which FSDO to go to and collect you FAA papers.
PM me if you are confused.
Gary
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I was wondering about this as well. There are plenty of references in the archives but you're never sure if it's definitive info or things have changed when looking at old posts and threads.
When you've done the FAA/CAA faxing and attend the FSDO with your letter from the FAA, do you need to present a filled in license application form as well?
And do you need to take a BFR with a flight school before all this?
Thanks,
- Michael
When you've done the FAA/CAA faxing and attend the FSDO with your letter from the FAA, do you need to present a filled in license application form as well?
And do you need to take a BFR with a flight school before all this?
Thanks,
- Michael
Blah Blah Blah
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Once all the faxing is done, the CAA will send you a reciept. The FAA will send you a letter stating the validity period of your application and requesting that you make an appointment at the FSDO you selected. You then attend that appointment go through some more bumf and thats it. Although the verfication of foreign license does not mean you will definatley get the FAA airmans certificate.
Unless you have a an amzaing amount of hours most clubs in the US will want you to do a check ride before they allow you to take a plane out on your own.
Gary.
Unless you have a an amzaing amount of hours most clubs in the US will want you to do a check ride before they allow you to take a plane out on your own.
Gary.
BestAviation.net
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Originally Posted by gcolyer
Unless you have a an amzaing amount of hours most clubs in the US will want you to do a check ride before they allow you to take a plane out on your own.
Gary.
A tip though if you are going to rent in the US - get yourself a renters insurance. That way you won't be reliable for the deductible (which sometimes range up to $5000+!). Insurance for a rental airplane is high and some schools therefore go with the higher deductible (to keep costs down)...after all - you as the pilot renting will be stuck with paying it if you're not carefull.
Think AOPA have some great deals on rental insurance, also paying the extra $5 or $10 per hour to the school may be worth it.
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When you have your FAA airman's certificate you will need to do a BFR for it to be valid. That will almost certainly double as a checkout and is a useful primer on local airspace and procedures anyway.
Ian
Ian
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Thanks for the useful info.
For those who've done it, should I expect the BFR/checkout to be like the GFT part of my PPL here - i.e. like a proper examination? Or more informal?
For those who've done it, should I expect the BFR/checkout to be like the GFT part of my PPL here - i.e. like a proper examination? Or more informal?
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The BFR is a lot more relaxed than a GFT.
You'll do an hour groundschool which can be on any aspect of aviation, and you can choose. I'd recommend basic procedures - radio, airfield joining, that sort of thing, cos they're very different in the USA.
The flying bit is usually a good refresher - a few circuits, probably a PFL or two, and if you want to go into a "hot 'n high" airfield, probably a checkout into somewhere hot 'n high.
Insurance: Renter's Insurance is strongly recommended. The basic package is $5k hull and $250k liability, and will cost you around $220 for a year, assuming you have sufficient experience. You'll need a US address to take that out - use the address of the place you're hiring the aircraft from: I'm told that's quite legit.
You'll do an hour groundschool which can be on any aspect of aviation, and you can choose. I'd recommend basic procedures - radio, airfield joining, that sort of thing, cos they're very different in the USA.
The flying bit is usually a good refresher - a few circuits, probably a PFL or two, and if you want to go into a "hot 'n high" airfield, probably a checkout into somewhere hot 'n high.
Insurance: Renter's Insurance is strongly recommended. The basic package is $5k hull and $250k liability, and will cost you around $220 for a year, assuming you have sufficient experience. You'll need a US address to take that out - use the address of the place you're hiring the aircraft from: I'm told that's quite legit.
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Originally Posted by BestAviation
All schools to my knowledge will require a checkout. This is so that if you goof up the insurance will still pay the school for the mess you created *knock on wood*
A tip though if you are going to rent in the US - get yourself a renters insurance. That way you won't be reliable for the deductible (which sometimes range up to $5000+!). Insurance for a rental airplane is high and some schools therefore go with the higher deductible (to keep costs down)...after all - you as the pilot renting will be stuck with paying it if you're not carefull.
Think AOPA have some great deals on rental insurance, also paying the extra $5 or $10 per hour to the school may be worth it.
A tip though if you are going to rent in the US - get yourself a renters insurance. That way you won't be reliable for the deductible (which sometimes range up to $5000+!). Insurance for a rental airplane is high and some schools therefore go with the higher deductible (to keep costs down)...after all - you as the pilot renting will be stuck with paying it if you're not carefull.
Think AOPA have some great deals on rental insurance, also paying the extra $5 or $10 per hour to the school may be worth it.
- Tim
BestAviation.net
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Thanks Tim - I'm not in the insurance business....I've just lived long enough in the states to know that "be insured" are the magic words. Soon you probably need insurance to cover your insurance too =(
For the BFR or flight review if you may - this link should be of some help:
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/REGULATORY...4?OpenDocument
Depending on the instructor and your own flying skills it should go fairly painless. I've done a few as a CFI (not too many) and haven't deemed anybody unsafe to fly on their own as of yet.
Do the BFR where you plan to rent - as already mentioned it should absolutely double as a rental checkout.
For the BFR or flight review if you may - this link should be of some help:
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/REGULATORY...4?OpenDocument
Depending on the instructor and your own flying skills it should go fairly painless. I've done a few as a CFI (not too many) and haven't deemed anybody unsafe to fly on their own as of yet.
Do the BFR where you plan to rent - as already mentioned it should absolutely double as a rental checkout.
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Already have FAA licence BUT
If you already have a FAA licences issued on the back of your CAA/JAR licence, before all the new regulations came into force, but haven't flown in the US for a while(since new regs), is it still valid or do you have to renew it with the new document/info process
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Get hold of two slim paper back books available from all the usual suspects here and on the other side, sorry cannt remember the exact titles or publishers but from memory;
Guide to the BFR by ASA, and
VFR Radio Procedures in the USA
Read both on the trip over.
I just got back from a week at Naples, Fla had a great time - enjoy!
Guide to the BFR by ASA, and
VFR Radio Procedures in the USA
Read both on the trip over.
I just got back from a week at Naples, Fla had a great time - enjoy!
BestAviation.net
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Originally Posted by What a Loop
If you already have a FAA licences issued on the back of your CAA/JAR licence, before all the new regulations came into force, but haven't flown in the US for a while(since new regs), is it still valid or do you have to renew it with the new document/info process
However - if you haven't flown in the US for some time you WILL need a BFR before you do anything on your own. Regardless of how much flying time you have done in Europe on your JAA/CAA ones every FAA pilot have to have a checkout AT LEAST every two years. Beyond that everything should be a formality....
If you don't have your old FAA papers anymore it may be smart to order new ones. Saves you alot of questions when you pitch up at a flying school in the US.
Order a new one here - http://faa.gov/licenses_certificates...e_replacement/
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Just to be clear, a BFR (strictly speaking officially now just called a 'flight review' but still biennial nonetheless) is the legal requirement to maintain an FAA private pilot's certificate. I do not believe it is necessary to have one to validate a new FAA certificate issued on the back of a foreign licence, although I may be wrong. If anyone knows differently I would be interested to see a reference.
A checkout has no relevance to a pilot's certification. It is simply something that any renter will require before letting you disappear with their $100000 machine.
A checkout has no relevance to a pilot's certification. It is simply something that any renter will require before letting you disappear with their $100000 machine.
BestAviation.net
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Originally Posted by Lower the Nose!
I do not believe it is necessary to have one to validate a new FAA certificate issued on the back of a foreign licence, although I may be wrong.
For foreign license conversion (ex. JAA PPL to FAA PPL) you need the flight review before the priveledges take effect. Bare in mind you've never had an FAA flight review before if you're a JAA pilot.
Here is some interesting reading for you lot who still wonder about this:
License expiration - http://www.airweb.faa.gov/REGULATORY...F?OpenDocument
FAA foreign license conversion -
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/REGULATORY...D?OpenDocument
FAR 61.56(c) Explains it pretty clearly - http://www.airweb.faa.gov/REGULATORY...4?OpenDocument
Alright....all this reading of the laws has made me sleepy. Of to bed...
BestAviation.net
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Originally Posted by BestAviation
Validated or not - you still need a flight review if you haven't had one within the past two years.
By that I of course mean last 24 calendar months...before someone decides to be pedantic about it
Night night!
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If you are going to an organisation that has less experience of renting to foreign students, it may be worth noting the following:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...2.1.10&idno=14
I attended such a place in California last year and they insisted I needed a US Medical for solo flight, they would not accept my JAR one!
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...2.1.10&idno=14
I attended such a place in California last year and they insisted I needed a US Medical for solo flight, they would not accept my JAR one!
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Blinkz
When I got mine everyone was very good.
CAA did their bit in a few weeks.
A few weeks after that FAA sent me a letter asking me to make an appointment with an area office of my choice. I did that over the phone.
The worst part was having to drive from Naples to Ft Lauderdale and back all just to fill in a one page form, then its "Welcome to USA and heres your temporary airmans certificate".
BFR next day and your good to go.
When I got mine everyone was very good.
CAA did their bit in a few weeks.
A few weeks after that FAA sent me a letter asking me to make an appointment with an area office of my choice. I did that over the phone.
The worst part was having to drive from Naples to Ft Lauderdale and back all just to fill in a one page form, then its "Welcome to USA and heres your temporary airmans certificate".
BFR next day and your good to go.