JAA PPL in USA - is it really cheaper?
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All I needed to know for now!
Thanks for all the replies! This thread gave me some good info about the subject. Some people I will contact via PM, so that hopefully I can get more specific info if there's a need.
Once again, thanks.
Kind Regards
Once again, thanks.
Kind Regards
Last edited by dodos9; 5th Feb 2012 at 21:02.
Join Date: May 2001
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I did mine in the USA in 2000 and it was definitely cheaper then. I paid $5,500 for the course plus about $1500 for the hotel / flights (which included a minibus which would take you anywhere in Long Beach, so no hire car reqd.).
Took 5 weeks, due to a spell of "June Gloom" delaying my test. Came back with 63 hrs in the logbook for that price.
But there are two distinct advantages with the USA...1) You can bang it out in a month if you want (allow an extra week though)....2) If you want a stand alone US license then take the FAA test straight away afterwards, then you have JAA and FAA PPL.
Plus it made me comfortable flying in the USA and now we go back for flying holidays quite often.
It took me an hours checkout at Bournemouth Flying Club on my return to be allowed to rent their aeroplanes and then a few flights on my own fumbling my way through "MATZ transits" etc., but if you know the theory it is easy flying in the UK compared to the USA.
Took 5 weeks, due to a spell of "June Gloom" delaying my test. Came back with 63 hrs in the logbook for that price.
But there are two distinct advantages with the USA...1) You can bang it out in a month if you want (allow an extra week though)....2) If you want a stand alone US license then take the FAA test straight away afterwards, then you have JAA and FAA PPL.
Plus it made me comfortable flying in the USA and now we go back for flying holidays quite often.
It took me an hours checkout at Bournemouth Flying Club on my return to be allowed to rent their aeroplanes and then a few flights on my own fumbling my way through "MATZ transits" etc., but if you know the theory it is easy flying in the UK compared to the USA.
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It is very difficult to compare apples with apples on this one.
OK, you have accommodation and food costs with US based training, but do you eat free in the UK? Remember that Wal*Mart is cheaper than Asda!
What are your travel costs to/from the UK airfield? US schools usually have accommodation near the school.
A PPL course typically has about 100 landings/touch'n'gos which are usually free in the US but usually £5 - £15 each in the UK
Will the UK club require a membership fee (£100 - £200 common) and/or payment for a security pass?
How much will the school (UK or US) charge for each ground school exam? For the radio practical? The examiner's fee for the skill test?
What will be the total cost of Visa, SEVIS, TSA, fingerprints, travel costs to US embassy/consulate?
The OP included in his budget 1000GBP for JAA medical, headset, textbooks etc. These will all be required if training in the UK, but will be cheaper if obtained in the US (yes, a JAA Class2 in the US can cost less than many UK AMEs charge).
And there's PROB90 lots more that I cant think of! And of course after you get your costings down to the last penny and cent, the exchange rate will change.
OK, you have accommodation and food costs with US based training, but do you eat free in the UK? Remember that Wal*Mart is cheaper than Asda!
What are your travel costs to/from the UK airfield? US schools usually have accommodation near the school.
A PPL course typically has about 100 landings/touch'n'gos which are usually free in the US but usually £5 - £15 each in the UK
Will the UK club require a membership fee (£100 - £200 common) and/or payment for a security pass?
How much will the school (UK or US) charge for each ground school exam? For the radio practical? The examiner's fee for the skill test?
What will be the total cost of Visa, SEVIS, TSA, fingerprints, travel costs to US embassy/consulate?
The OP included in his budget 1000GBP for JAA medical, headset, textbooks etc. These will all be required if training in the UK, but will be cheaper if obtained in the US (yes, a JAA Class2 in the US can cost less than many UK AMEs charge).
And there's PROB90 lots more that I cant think of! And of course after you get your costings down to the last penny and cent, the exchange rate will change.
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money isn't everything
I'll probably get shot down in flames for this, but here goes:
You'll learn a lot more in the US. You'll learn to fly 'in the system', interact with ATC, fly in busy airspace operate in and out of 'real' airports. Especially if training in CA, you'll also have a very varied topography (ocean to 10.000ft+ mountains) with the concomitant weather and other related issues. In short - it will make you a more rounded, confident pilot.
I concur with Englishal and would also go for both the JAA and FAA licenses. Other than the joy of flying in the US, there's one BIG advantage to having the FAA ticket that often gets overlooked - it's a lot easier and cheaper to validate in a third (i.e. non-JAA/FAA) country.
Good luck
You'll learn a lot more in the US. You'll learn to fly 'in the system', interact with ATC, fly in busy airspace operate in and out of 'real' airports. Especially if training in CA, you'll also have a very varied topography (ocean to 10.000ft+ mountains) with the concomitant weather and other related issues. In short - it will make you a more rounded, confident pilot.
I concur with Englishal and would also go for both the JAA and FAA licenses. Other than the joy of flying in the US, there's one BIG advantage to having the FAA ticket that often gets overlooked - it's a lot easier and cheaper to validate in a third (i.e. non-JAA/FAA) country.
Good luck
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172driver above is bang on.
Americans pilots are taught to fly, straight out of the box. It's not just a piece of paper, with enough knowledge to get to Bembridge, which is what you tend to get over here.
BTW, a cheaper Class 2 in the USA ought to be irrelevant because you need to get risky stuff like that sorted well before you go there.
Americans pilots are taught to fly, straight out of the box. It's not just a piece of paper, with enough knowledge to get to Bembridge, which is what you tend to get over here.
BTW, a cheaper Class 2 in the USA ought to be irrelevant because you need to get risky stuff like that sorted well before you go there.
