JAA to FAA PPL conversion cost?
 

Hi,

sorry if this is a bit silly question but I haven't been able to find any clear answer on the internet (and on PPRuNe).

What are the approximate costs of converting a JAA PPL to an FAA PPL (or obtaining some temporary document, that would allow me to fly in the USA)? I found out that you have to pay some small fees for all the paperwork which is fine but then I also read that you have to do a FAA Flight Review with a certified instructor that should cost around $400.

Did I understand it wrong and all you have to do is to fly some routine, one hour check ride with some instructor for a standard rate or does the whole process (from having a JAA PPL to being able to fly solo in the US) really cost about $500-ish or even more (not including the price of the plane rental)?

Thanks.

All your JAA PPL training is allowed towards any FAA license or rating.

Relative to a JAA PPL, the FAA PPL had extra night flight requirements.

You also need to fly 3 hours within the 60 days preceeding the checkride, with an FAA CFI instructor who will sign you off as ready for the checkride.

You then have the checkride.

Before all that, you need to pass the one theory exam, and get yourself an FAA medical, which for purely private flying can be the Class 3.

The exam and the medical can be done in Europe but the flying is strongly recommended to be done in the USA. Some notes are here.

Or you could just apply for a 61.75 validation of your licence which is free.

You will need a BFR once it is issued which is basically the same as the checkout they will require for you to rent.

edit: shocking spelling.

You can get a US licence based on you existing licence (refered to as a 61.75) and then go and rent an aircraft. The rental check flight should double as the flight review needed to validate the US licence.

The cost of having your licence validated depends on your National Aviation authority.

Airmen Certification - Verify the Authenticity of a Foreign License, Rating, or Medical Certification

I meant to mention the 61.75 and then got distracted :)

Thank you all for the answers and links.

The 61.75 validation is what I had in mind.

The BFR (possibly combined with the rental checkout) has to be done with some FAA official or is it enough doing it with some local CFI? For this, would I be charged some standard rate for flying with an instructor or would it be that $400-ish figure that I keep finding on the internet?

All my BFRs have been with a club instructor. Reckon on the cost of an hour's groundschool and 1-1:15 dual at club rates.

I have managed before now to combine it with a rental checkout, but only when I'm fairly current in US airspace/RT/locality. If I've not flown in the USA for a few years, realistically they need splitting out because I do need the extra time to re-acclimatise.

I'd recommend budgetting for 3 hours for your first BFR + checkout if you've not flown in US airspace before.

G

A CFI will do and they typically charge their standard rate. CFIs tend to be quite cheap in the US as they often need to collect hours to unfreeze their ATPL.

Ok, that's a relief.

Thank you very much for the answers and tips, guys.

It is, thanks.

$250 (with the price for the plane included) is still cheaper than $400 plus rental price.

I take it that the $400-ish fee is then only to those doing their PPL examination after the training.

The flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour ground and 1 hour flight, as Ghenghis says if you haven't flown in the US before you may need a bit more.

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/m...ght_review.pdf

Wow, thanks for the extra tips. $40 per hour of instruction and about 2–3 hours in dual is what I've been counting with. (I was worried about having to pay those extra $400 but it's all cleared up now)

California (maybe San Jose, not sure yet) is where I am headed and I indeed expect having to prepare a lot beforehand.

And thanks for the link, mcgoo.

Another suggestion - invest in the regional flight guide and an FAA "AIM" well before you go out. These also contain lots of useful material about RT, airspace, local rules, etc. and are a cheap source of self-study material. It'll save you a lot of time and money when you get there. Between them expect to spend around $30, maybe the same again on the local charts (which the USians call "sectionals").

Study at home will improve the odds of getting let loose quickly and cheaply to enjoy your US flying.

G

I have already downloaded the FAA AIM as a pdf but I will look for that regional flight guide. Thanks

@Silvaire1: Expensive as in accommodation (and other stuff) is expensive there or do you mean the flying itself? Have you got perhaps any experience or suggestions which is a more suitable place in California? I have actually already made a post here about the places I am considering. We can alternatively post there so we don't go too off-topic here.

(Or should I repost it here as a new thread? Is such reposting allowed?)

We don't freeze ATPs over here, we just hold a Commercial certificate.:ugh:

My perception of the Bay area is much as Silvaire describes.

Last time up there, I flew into RHV, who were very accommodating and got a good deal on car rental from the FBO. Going out however there was a big delay getting IFR release because of the traffic from SJC being very close, and it being Friday afternoon. VFR is a lot easier.

Livermore and Tracy are not far away and are less affected by the Bay area fogs and marine layers. I know someone training at Livermore and most of his instructors are Stanford professors. Rates are a bit lower than the Bay too.

Hayward seems quite a good base, but I've no knowledge of rental or training there.