Starting that PPL...UK or US?
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Join Date: Oct 2005
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Starting that PPL...UK or US?
Alot has been said for training for the PPL in the USA, cost and weather are the main positive factors.
But, should the PPL be completed in the UK with the USA used for hour building only, as people have said they needed extra hours or training on returning to the UK?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
P.S I did a search on this and found nothing as I'm sure it's been discussed a few hundred times
But, should the PPL be completed in the UK with the USA used for hour building only, as people have said they needed extra hours or training on returning to the UK?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
P.S I did a search on this and found nothing as I'm sure it's been discussed a few hundred times
Join Date: Nov 2005
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There is no real answer to your question as it is going to be down to you as a pilot and how competent you are at the end of the day. Also it will be depend on the club you come back to. If they are old school and rubbish all training done stateside then I guess you will be in for a rough ride although hopefully you will grab your coat and move on somewhere else if you find this letting them know why you are heading for the hills. If you want to spend £7k or whatever a PPL is going for these days in the UK then go for it but be prepared for many delays and cancelled flights due to weather which won't help with your continuity. For me it is a no brainer but there you go.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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As above.
But what you might want to consider is if you can fly in the great british weather you can fly anywhere. If you can afford to take 4 weeks off work then that is great but flying on weekends is not going to cost you anything in lost pay.
If you are a teacher/lecturer and have 6 weeks off for the summer then the US is the obvious choice. I'll be going to the US/Greese to do the 18/12 months course so I'll have to give up my job
Horses for courses.
Also with the hour building in the US if your on your own you have to pay the full amount. If you do the hour building here you can go 50/50 on the fuel bill. So it might work out around about the same price per hour but you get to show your friends and family what you have achieved.
Good luck
Andrew
But what you might want to consider is if you can fly in the great british weather you can fly anywhere. If you can afford to take 4 weeks off work then that is great but flying on weekends is not going to cost you anything in lost pay.
If you are a teacher/lecturer and have 6 weeks off for the summer then the US is the obvious choice. I'll be going to the US/Greese to do the 18/12 months course so I'll have to give up my job
Horses for courses.
Also with the hour building in the US if your on your own you have to pay the full amount. If you do the hour building here you can go 50/50 on the fuel bill. So it might work out around about the same price per hour but you get to show your friends and family what you have achieved.
Good luck
Andrew
Last edited by AlphaMale; 23rd Oct 2006 at 15:33. Reason: Added hour building comment
Go to the USA
Having done my JAA/PPL in the states (Southern California) and having about 40 hours in the NW of England I can say you have nothing to lose by going to the states. Aside from being cheaper the oppotunities for expanding your experience are much better. EG
I added a night rating for free, and had the chance to actually use it.
Flown from Big Bear elev 6700' density altitude 8500' - talk about hot and high performance
Flown over LAX at 3500' on a PPL. Regularly flown above 10000'.
No landing or approach fees.
Flown in Class B airspace on a PPL.
I could go on but in summery if you want to go on to CPL then have a look at the USA first.
p.s. also the weather is not perfect, and bad weather doesn't just happen in Britain, despite what some people think- look up the Santa Ana winds (up to 100kts on occasion from nowhere), the Marine layer and the desert monsoon season. It has all the bad weather you could want!
PM if you want to know more.
good luck
Shaft
I added a night rating for free, and had the chance to actually use it.
Flown from Big Bear elev 6700' density altitude 8500' - talk about hot and high performance
Flown over LAX at 3500' on a PPL. Regularly flown above 10000'.
No landing or approach fees.
Flown in Class B airspace on a PPL.
I could go on but in summery if you want to go on to CPL then have a look at the USA first.
p.s. also the weather is not perfect, and bad weather doesn't just happen in Britain, despite what some people think- look up the Santa Ana winds (up to 100kts on occasion from nowhere), the Marine layer and the desert monsoon season. It has all the bad weather you could want!
PM if you want to know more.
good luck
Shaft
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I did my PPL in the States in Naples, Florida. I don't think I saved a huge amount of money by doing it there, but I think I probably got it done a lot quicker due to having good weather. Also, I had the continuity of flying most days I was there.
My hour building was done over here at Denham, though I didn't know it was hour building at the time, as I hadn't thought about doing a CPL at that stage ! I did 5 hours with an instructor to get familiarised with a Warrior and get used to UK airspace and RT. I found I really did need that 5 hours because of the differences. I'm quite pleased I did my hour building here, partly because Denham was a very nice aerodrome to fly from, but also because I think the flying was a bit more challenging than in Florida eg. dealing with terrain, weather decisions, controlled airspace.
Whichever way you do it, have fun !
My hour building was done over here at Denham, though I didn't know it was hour building at the time, as I hadn't thought about doing a CPL at that stage ! I did 5 hours with an instructor to get familiarised with a Warrior and get used to UK airspace and RT. I found I really did need that 5 hours because of the differences. I'm quite pleased I did my hour building here, partly because Denham was a very nice aerodrome to fly from, but also because I think the flying was a bit more challenging than in Florida eg. dealing with terrain, weather decisions, controlled airspace.
Whichever way you do it, have fun !
