Intensif PPL course in California or in Spain
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Intensif PPL course in California or in Spain
Hi,
I'd like to know if some of you already did their PPL in Spain or in California
I'm currently in Belgium, did the theoretical part of the PPL here and have around 10 hrs flying, but for some reasons I'd like to continue my PPL otherwise
I thought about California first when I saw the school FAAA in San Diego, that interest me a lot and I'm about thinking of going there for 1 week during this month to see the school, the planes, everything there because if I decide t do my PPL there I prefer to know where I go.
I also would like to know if you know some schools that can do the same (of course in FAAA I'll get an EASA license) but in Spain, because one of my main motivation is that here in Belgium the atmosphere is too windy, too bumpy and when the air is bumpy I'm too fast taken by nausea, I have to go and see a doctor to know what I can do about motion sickness and going in a place like Spain or California with their smooth air will allow me to let my body use of a little plane (I have nothing when I'm in a bigger plane but in a small one it's a disaster) and after doing my PPL there, I hope that I'll be able to be fit even here in Belgium.
I think about doing an intensif course because when I saw than in a place like SoCal and Spain you can achieve your PPL in around 4 weeks, so I'll do the trip for one month and come back in Belgium with my PPL)
Thank you for your answer
Regards
I'd like to know if some of you already did their PPL in Spain or in California
I'm currently in Belgium, did the theoretical part of the PPL here and have around 10 hrs flying, but for some reasons I'd like to continue my PPL otherwise
I thought about California first when I saw the school FAAA in San Diego, that interest me a lot and I'm about thinking of going there for 1 week during this month to see the school, the planes, everything there because if I decide t do my PPL there I prefer to know where I go.
I also would like to know if you know some schools that can do the same (of course in FAAA I'll get an EASA license) but in Spain, because one of my main motivation is that here in Belgium the atmosphere is too windy, too bumpy and when the air is bumpy I'm too fast taken by nausea, I have to go and see a doctor to know what I can do about motion sickness and going in a place like Spain or California with their smooth air will allow me to let my body use of a little plane (I have nothing when I'm in a bigger plane but in a small one it's a disaster) and after doing my PPL there, I hope that I'll be able to be fit even here in Belgium.
I think about doing an intensif course because when I saw than in a place like SoCal and Spain you can achieve your PPL in around 4 weeks, so I'll do the trip for one month and come back in Belgium with my PPL)
Thank you for your answer
Regards
You might wish to contact the Vliegclub Grimbergen: they used to organise two weeks of intensive training in Southern France every summer. Not sure whether they still do, though. And mind you, all is in Dutch there, Grimbergen being in Flanders!
Canada is another option. A number of flight schools take on foreign students and the visa paperwork may be simpler South of the Border. Also the Canadian $ is 80 cents US.
As for nausea, ginger pills sometimes help.
Don't fly on an empty stomach.
Bring sick bags - you will feel better after.
You have to acclimatize, perhaps beginning with shorter flights and less energetic maneuvers.
Keep your eyes outside
Looking back into the cockpit to check instruments can get the tummy butterflies fluttering
As for nausea, ginger pills sometimes help.
Don't fly on an empty stomach.
Bring sick bags - you will feel better after.
You have to acclimatize, perhaps beginning with shorter flights and less energetic maneuvers.
Keep your eyes outside
Looking back into the cockpit to check instruments can get the tummy butterflies fluttering
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Canada is another option. A number of flight schools take on foreign students and the visa paperwork may be simpler South of the Border. Also the Canadian $ is 80 cents US.
As for nausea, ginger pills sometimes help.
Don't fly on an empty stomach.
Bring sick bags - you will feel better after.
You have to acclimatize, perhaps beginning with shorter flights and less energetic maneuvers.
Keep your eyes outside
Looking back into the cockpit to check instruments can get the tummy butterflies fluttering
As for nausea, ginger pills sometimes help.
Don't fly on an empty stomach.
Bring sick bags - you will feel better after.
You have to acclimatize, perhaps beginning with shorter flights and less energetic maneuvers.
Keep your eyes outside
Looking back into the cockpit to check instruments can get the tummy butterflies fluttering
About acclimatize, after 10 flights obviousely I felt better, but I didn't want to do again that amount of flight just to be better, I prefer to go on an area where it's gonna be ok quickly and then came back in Belgium and plan wwhat I have I mind (doing a time building from Brussels to Canary islands or if I have time to South Africa to make some bush pilot experience)
I like Canada (was there last year in Montreal) but now it's maybe a little bit to late, the summer is not that far from the end and if I remember well during the winter they don't fly a lot and do more theoritical
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Canada is a great option if you can find the weather, and no visa concerns like california. Spain is ok but not many options for places to learn. California is the place to fly each and every day, or Florida (but that can be bumpy in the afternoons) You won't get your ppl in a month anywhere unless you are very organised. It is possible, but the realities soon mount up to make it hard. And where ever you go, don't pay more than about $750 advance on your account and pay as you fly.
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Yesterday I saw that South Africa may be an option, Inzlways wanted to fly there, make some bush and also the price is around 1300 R / hr (approx 85,00 €)
But it's a SA-CAA ppl so I need to do a conversion later but what about the air? Winds my main concern is to have a smooth air not bumpy even if that cost much
The thing is that I started my PPL in September 2016, I did my first flights and learning well even with the motion sickness (each flight was an improvement however) but I had all the issues in the world after, money problems and all that I saved for the PPL was gone, then it was time issues, etc now after few months without flying I saved enough to continue the PPL but I know that the bumpy air will be a problem for the first lessons, and if you add the fact than now all my mates finish their PPL, it adds frustration
But it's a SA-CAA ppl so I need to do a conversion later but what about the air? Winds my main concern is to have a smooth air not bumpy even if that cost much
The thing is that I started my PPL in September 2016, I did my first flights and learning well even with the motion sickness (each flight was an improvement however) but I had all the issues in the world after, money problems and all that I saved for the PPL was gone, then it was time issues, etc now after few months without flying I saved enough to continue the PPL but I know that the bumpy air will be a problem for the first lessons, and if you add the fact than now all my mates finish their PPL, it adds frustration
Bose-X should post here shortly - runs a great school in Spain. Similar weather conditions to Florida/California, but without the expensive commercial flights or visa headaches. The 'go to the US plan' still has advantages, but with the strengthened US$ it's not as attractive as it used to be.
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Bose-X should post here shortly - runs a great school in Spain. Similar weather conditions to Florida/California, but without the expensive commercial flights or visa headaches. The 'go to the US plan' still has advantages, but with the strengthened US$ it's not as attractive as it used to be.
To be honest I prefer to go on California, for almost everything that seems better to me
But there is one (big) négatif point, I want to go first at the school to see how it looks, how are the planes, the people, the area, the accommodations and have also à first look on what does the life cost there and be able like that to plan that for the time I'll stay here
And that to go on California soon is about 1200,00 € for the week (600,00 € for the return flight, then around 400,00 € for the accommodations and 200,00 € I think for the foods and travel or other visits) and plus around 150,00 € to already have a lesson and see how it is to fly there
In Spain this is far from that cost (but the flying hours are more expensive than in California) à Ryanair flight is 50,00 € for the return, almost nothing for the good and accommodations so that money saved is money that I can use to fly
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why do you think air in California or Spain is smoother? bumps are not only caused by winds, but by thermals, terrain and other factors too. If I had motion sickness, warm climate would probably be the last place I would want to do my flying in
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Tomorrow I have an appointement (after 3 months!) with an ORL, it's impossible to see one specialized on aviation but that can be fine because his is specialist in motion sickness
And also here in Belgium there is a mix of everything, thermals, winds, terrain (it's just road then land then road then land everytime) and you have rarely more than 10 seconds without a bump
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And I know that it's just a matter of time, be strong during the first time and then I am going to continue to follow my dreams in aviation, but the first step is the PPL and I have to deal with the ill when it's too bumpy
What did you do to feel better?? It became with times or did you do something else?
And I have now a little preference for school that train with the Piper PA28, I heard that she reacts better in terms of winds, that can be better for me
I too was not at my ease in the plane at first, which made me a very slow learner - to the despair of my instructors. It gradually eased off, and today I jump into the plane as casually as into the car. It's a matter of building habit.
PS Sam, unless my memory cheats me you are not in Brussels, even if you're not far off
PS Sam, unless my memory cheats me you are not in Brussels, even if you're not far off
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You're saying Belgium has terrain, and you want to go to San Diego???
Have you seen the mountains just east of SD? They go up to 6.5k, and that's where most training flights head to to avoid SAN class B airspace.
There's even a mark on the sectional that says "Extreme turbulence and severe up and downdrafts during high wind conditions".
Have you seen the mountains just east of SD? They go up to 6.5k, and that's where most training flights head to to avoid SAN class B airspace.
There's even a mark on the sectional that says "Extreme turbulence and severe up and downdrafts during high wind conditions".
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Just came back from the ORL, and now I know that my inner ear is 100,00 % fine ... that's the cause of my problem, since it's works too fine, I fell too much when there is a bump, so I have to do some vestibular kiné, after few times my brain will be able to focus just on what the inner ear feels and not what I see when there is a bump (nothing)
So I will do that and then see how I feels
That's nice to see, maybe than we can someday take a drink or do a flight after my solo
So I will do that and then see how I feels
