Hours Building

[morbz]

Hi there

I've spent a good hour sifting through threads on Florida and hours building, however Im still a bit stuck on information...

This August I intened to gain around 50 hours in a Cessna 172, Cherokee 140 or something equally the same in price. I've researched about 15 different schools and places that rent planes in Florida, including Kissimmee, Orlando, St Lucie and a few other places. I will be travelling with a non flying partner- well someone who will be travelling in the right hand seat but not actually flying, just there for the experience and company. However this person is only available until around September so ideally I would be going to build hours before then... If for some reason I cant get to Florida for such an early date, I wouldnt mind going later- its just I am unsure of weather and things?

I have a few questions to ask if anyone could answer them, or a few if anything!

1. Where would you recommend for hours building in florida, ie a school, club or airfield and why? I've so far found interest in Trade Winds and SunState Aviation, both at different airfields I believe, but what would your suggestions be in terms of cheapest landing fees, clubs that dont sting you on extra hidden charges etc... So far I've worked out around $135 per hour in a 172 including fuel (wet rate) including sales tax.

2. Accommodation & flight over... I've found that some schools offer cheap accommodation, however not all so I would need to stay in a motel which would cost around £200 for the 14 days I intend to stay. Also the cheapest flight I've found is £710 involving one stop and then an internal link. BUT thinking about it out of a simple holiday brochure from a travel agents, they offer 14 day holidays including flights for around £800!?

3. License conversions and visas... I understand I must convert a PPL to the FAA license, as well as get some sort of security clearance. I've heard mixed instructions though, some people saying you dont need a clearance or special visa for the 14 days and that you can get away with a basic tourist visa. Also as I won't have my license until the start of August, would this be too late to sort out an FAA conversion or would I need to go later in the year? I'm guessing this may be a bit late, if so, would I be able to fly in November/December time or is the weather really poor?

4. Finally, how does florida differ in terms of their Air law and procedures to here in the UK? Are their charts different, or is the RT different? Do you still sit in the left seat or the right?

Any information would be brill, either on here or through a PM.

Thanks very much for reading,
Steve

[ab33t]

No Landing Fee

Easier to fly in the US than the UK , they actually encourage GA flying.

You will be doing a few hours with an instructor before they let you loose.

Any school, club will be fine look at going into Sanford or Orlando as the flights are cheaper.

Some FBO offer accomodation or a reduced rate , just look around .

In all countries the captain sits on the left side . You can sit on the right if you want.

[XL319]

If you go to the US hour building then you can enter on a green card without any visa or security requirements. Only if your training would you need a visa ans tsa clearance

[Fright Level]

You will need the FAA licence and it takes around 5-6 weeks to obtain. Plenty of threads on here about the process. Hope it all works for you, it's a great country to fly in. Late summer in Florida is the start of hurricane season and there will be plenty of CB activity. Fortunately they are almost never embedded so you can see and avoid, but expect the afternoons to get very dark. I'd suggest early morning flying, which, with the time change will suit you being on UK time.

[morbz]

Cheers for some basic information already, very kind. If anyone has done some hours building in Florida could they perhaps drop me a PM?

[XL319]

Early morning is great in the US....very smooth air and not a cloud in the sky. Watch out for thermals by lunchtime and CB's in the afternoon.

[morbz]

Whats the weather like around December time? 1st - 15th ish?

[Longfinals]

there are no landing fees in the US! If you decide to take the a/c away for a few nights then the airfield you leave it overnight on might charge a parking fee usually $5-10.

fuel costs are between $4-5/gallon check out www.100ll.com for more info. I have been to florida loads of times in fact i have flown all over the US so know the system well. If you plan to do some touring make sure you get a fuel reimbursement rate from the school before you go, the smaller airfields tend to have cheaper fuel. I would go anytime from Sep onwards as the summer its hot, humid and bumpy during the day. Check out Debenair in Titusville i think they have good rates

If you have never been before its really easy flying in the US, really user friendly, i've just got back from picking up an /ac and flew it from West-East coast.

[BackPacker]

If you go to the US hour building then you can enter on a green card without any visa or security requirements.

I know what you mean but you should not call it a "green card". A "green card", in official speak, is a temporary or permanent resident visa, allowing you to stay, and work, in the US for three years or so. These are very, very hard to obtain. In fact, there's even a lottery each year to get these.

What the OP would need is to fill in a card (which happens to be green) which identifies the holder as qualifying for the "visa waiver programme". This VWP is only available to visitors from certain countries (mostly European) for short-term business or pleasure visits. As long as you are not training for the initial issue of a license or rating, such a visa waiver is good enough, and you don't need TSA clearance either.

You will need the FAA licence and it takes around 5-6 weeks to obtain.

I might be wrong but in this case a "piggyback" FAA PPL on top of your UK/JAA PPL would do just fine. And I believe that process is pretty painless, with the most time-consuming item being the validation letter from the CAA to the FAA. All told, I believe the total process should take no more than two weeks.

Start here: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific..._verification/

2. Accommodation & flight over... I've found that some schools offer cheap accommodation...

Accommodation that is provided by schools is students accommodation. Shared between students, being cleaned once a week, shared kitchen/bathroom, possibly shared rooms... Not something I would want to do with a spouse. If you can find a cheap holiday package which includes a hotel or apartment, go for it.

4. Finally, how does florida differ in terms of their Air law and procedures to here in the UK? Are their charts different, or is the RT different?

Well, it's a different country so has different laws. In my "Obtaining a JAA PPL in the US" thread I've listed a few differences but in this case I'd say it's probably better to obtain a US PPL book and browse through it so you know what to expect. Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook should be just right for this. It has all the details on how the charts look, what R/T phrases are expected, how the airspace is divided and so forth.

There is some debate (in other threads) about whether a BFR is required for a piggyback FAA PPL if your JAA license is fully current but you can expect the school/club you rent from to give you a full BFR anyway: One hour in the air refreshing your handling skills, getting to know the local important landmarks and getting up to speed on R/T procedures, and one hour groundschool to refresh your air law, airspace and other knowledge.

Oh, and here's another tip. I understand from your posts that you don't have your PPL yet, but intend to do a lot of flying with the missus. It might help the missus gain confidence and trust if she did a short "flying for non-flying partners" course. Some schools have standard packages for this but any instructor should be able to improvise. The course should basically be a "what if the pilot becomes incapacitated" course, focusing on two things:
- Tune the radio and use it so that ATC knows your situation and can give you vectors to an airfield. (Don't worry about standard R/T, except for the word Mayday and a callsign.) Also know how to operate a transponder to dial 7700.
- Fly compass headings, descend and land the aircraft (or more likely - ensure your arrival doesn't wreck the occupants)
This could be done in one to two hours. Obviously the missus should sit on the right, with the instructor on the left.

[bellend]

to gain your temp FAA permit, nominate an FSDO to see. Theres one just round the corner from KMCO. Pay our CAA lot the money to send the request of details using the forms on the above sites. Arrange an appointment with the FSDO and get checked out, short interview, they will give you a slip of paper to use as a temp license, 5-8 weeks later you will receive your credit card type FAA license valid alongside your JAA license

regs