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N-Reg, PPL, IR and UK - advice needed

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N-Reg, PPL, IR and UK - advice needed

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Old 27th Sep 2008, 21:38
  #21 (permalink)  
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i think this comment is particularly relevant to the whole business of flying. At least my latin teacher wil be happy, even if as has been pointed out, my english one is less than impressed.
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Old 28th Sep 2008, 03:43
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Apologies if you took my re-writing your paragraph too harshly.

It took me a few tries to read it, just to understand what it was you were asking. The written word does not benefit from pauses, inflection, and tone of voice, so to properly read your question, and then hope someone could answer it, I put in some typographical edits.

Festina lente
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Old 1st Oct 2008, 06:20
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If you get the JAA IR, you can add this to your US license simply by sitting a 50 question "Foreign Pilot IR" written. 70% pass and a visit to the local FSDO will get it added to your FAA ticket. No need to do anymore flying.
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Old 1st Oct 2008, 08:00
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True but you need an FAA PPL too. This can be a piggyback or standalone. Piggybacks are nowadays a right PITA because of the need to visit the USA (generally). So one also needs to spend a couple of days doing a standalone FAA PPL.
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Old 1st Oct 2008, 08:52
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So one also needs to spend a couple of days doing a standalone FAA PPL.
One does need not to do a standalone PPL. In fact as I understand it you can't add a foreign instrument test passed to a full PPL, you have to do an FAA IR.

For those with a JAA IR who just want the foreign instrument privilege you get a piggy back and take the FIP test.

We have to accept the fact that if you want to fly on another countries register and rules outside of that nation you are going to be faced with an element of inconvenience. If you don't like the inconvenience you operate under your own national regime.
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Old 1st Oct 2008, 09:05
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"if you want to fly on another countries register and rules outside of that nation you are going to be faced with an element of inconvenience. If you don't like the inconvenience you operate under your own national regime."

Quite so Bose, however it really is a case of weighing up the relative inconvenience of obtaining, maintaining and using the European IR versus the US one. As far as I am concerned the US route wins hands down in the convenience stakes - it is just so much more user-friendly.

SB
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Old 1st Oct 2008, 09:11
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Quite so Bose, however it really is a case of weighing up the relative inconvenience of obtaining, maintaining and using the European IR versus the US one. As far as I am concerned the US route wins hands down in the convenience stakes - it is just so much more user-friendly.
Indeed SB. That was not being opened for debate. I merely stated a fact.
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Old 3rd Oct 2008, 08:03
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Getting a JAA/IR is much less onerous than it seems - although I have not quite finished mine yet .

When we initially started looking at the groundschool options most seemed to be of the opinion that we would need to join in with the ATPLers and do 2/3 weeks G/S - the requirement from the CAA is 10% of the theory portion of a distance learning course. Not sure how they get to the fuigure but LASORS has this at 200 hours so you need to do just 21/2 days in a classroom.

CATS at Cranfield were extremely helpful here and put on some Saturday classes so us busy business men did not need to give up too much time attending - this made a big difference to me.

The exams are pretty straight forward and out of the 30 or so of us who started most have sat about half of the exams (with a few of us having sat all of them) and I think there have only been two exams failed (and passed at resit) with quite a few of us passing all 7 exams on the minimum 2 days.

The flying side is of course fun and I am finding the guys at Wycombe very helpful. Again I am flying at weekends only and have managed to rack up about 35 hours in a/c and sim. I know a few who have started at Bournemouth and their feedback is also good.

As far as I can see (personal perspective) the ONLY downside to doing the JAA is the cost and by exptension the time. These are:

Groundschool £1K (we had a considerable discount by organising a large group of us)
exams at gatwick £70 each (plus hotel bills and probably a too large bar bill considering I had up tp 4 exams the next day)
Flying - mixture of 20 hours sim and 30 in a cesspit - might work out at about £11K - with some luck

It is relatively straight forward and pricy - buit a better option for me than taking time off to go to the states.
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 06:50
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Collective friction
I am planning to do the ground school with CATS and then probably MEIR with Billins at cranfield where I did the multi and really enjoyed the experience. In fact it was because I enjoyed the teaching and the flying of the twin there that made me think that the effort to get the IR done was worthwhile. In fact the instruction and honing of schools I had with the multi was such a challenge and fun that it was this that made me think the IR could be looked on as an enjoyable way to fly for a while.
I am not sure if there is a small group that that CATS will be happy teaching at weekends but will ask, and very helpful to know they have done this for you.
I agree that it is easier for me to study more and fly more hours that to take any time off to go to US.
How long did it take you to finish off the ground school before the flying started? It is made out to be the most arduous course but to be honest I actually really enjoyed all the studying for PPL, IMC and ME and I cant believe the IR ground school is as impossible as is made out. My day job has involved a life time of study and exams so I am used to the idea. I accept I may be proven wrong on this one, bt encouraged by your comments.
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 08:30
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The JAA exams are easy if a little bulky. They are generally made out to be impossible by either those who have done them and wish to be seen as sky gods or by those looking for a curve in a 100 mile straight road and always looking for the 'easy route'.

CATS are a flexible organisation with a good standard of material although prepare for a little frustration as the management can be a little air brained at times but overall the experience will be a good one.

They are certainly better geared for the private IR where the other big names are only intent on the sausage machine of ATPL candidates.
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Old 4th Oct 2008, 22:25
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I found the ground school pretty straight forward. Passed all of the exams first time around (sat 3 on one day in april and the remaining four on one day on June). The CATS in line stuff is OK, but not up to the standard of say OAT, but its good enough. You have an option of purchasing the manuals (I got given a set and they never got opened). The only thing I would recommend buy as an extra is the OAT Met CD.

The CATS question bank pretty accurately reflected the questions in the exam and were very useful in judging whether you had done enough prio to sitting an exam. The weekend groundschools were great value and very well presented by a knowledgeable tutor.

If you want it spoon fed then go somewhere else, if you have a bit of nouse and want some flexibility then I think CATS get about 9 out of 10.

Give Stuart a call and discuss the weekend bit - although it might seem obvious to us lot but when I went to see him to jack up the course for the 30 of us who started, it was clear that they had never really thought about IR studying for businessmen. they seem to have caught on now and made a tidy sum for a little additional weekend work - works for them works for us.

For weekend IR training I have found Wycombe Aic Centre excellent - started July and now 40 hours into it.
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