I'm wondering if the above quoted qualification is really based on aviation experience.:=

Fact is, there is a minimum number of hours required to earn a pilot certificate (e.g. 45 hours for PPL). How long it takes to attain a pilot certificate depends on individual ability (knowledge, skills, mental readiness) and, of course, flying frequency. Obtaining a PPL status within 21 days, for example, is advantageous and beneficial (e.g. if time constraints is a factor), as long as the training ensures that the aviation procedures are accomplished with structure, accountability and substantial information quality.

Where you do the training (US or Europe) is totally irrelevant in terms of becoming a safe and competent pilot. Training in Arizona under favorable charlie weather conditions or in the UK where mostly delta/mike conditions prevail is structured with the same goal, to make you become a safe and competent pilot.

I did my JAR training (based on CAA rules and regulations) in the US (flying under FAA regulations) and it made me competent to fly in both US and Europe airspace and jurisdictions.

The key is to understand your needs and map out the training landscape accordingly to suit those needs and you should be able to successfully manage your training to attain a pilot certificate.

WP

Hi,

I did my PPL through EFT back in 2009 and loved it. One of the best things i've ever done. I'll answer your questions first:

1. Any recommendations of florida flight schools?

EFT. Heard horrible stories about what was then Ormond Beach Aviation (think its changed now) I had the luxury of visiting both before I signed up but EFT was the better choice.

2. Is 3 weeks actually feasible (I've seen people suggest i do the exams before i go which i can do).

Absolutely. I did mine after 20.5 days flying. Do as many exams as you can before you leave the UK as it will make life easier when you are there and give you some downtime to go to the touristy stuff as you will rarely fly on Saturday PM/Sunday. I left the UK having done 3 exams - I wish I had done more.

3. Does it work out much cheaper in the end? approx how much does it cost in total these days in florida? it seems to work out about £13k in south east england which is pretty steep

I paid a little over £6k and probably spent £7k all in including food, flight and Levi Jeans money! That will obviously have changed now.

4. finally, for those who have achieved their PPL for purely leisure purposes (not with a view to go commercial etc) was it worth the time and money? i really want to do it but keep talking myself out of it due to being realistic of what happens after i get it..(e.g fly a few times a year and thats it etc).

It is a drain on your finances but if you love it you find ways of maintaining your hours. Once you find a good airfield with great people you become addicted. As long as you don't spend your hours doing local area stuff, you can never become bored. I can only afford to do just over minimum hours but always make sure my hours count. When you split the cost with someone it makes it more fun and you can go much further.

Bad points about Florida - The R/T is shocking but you will be learning to an EASA standard and follow CAP413. Dont fall into their bad habits and you will be fine. Oh, and Ft Pierce is a bit of a hole but if you know where to go, like anywhere, there are nice parts.
Airspace is lacking over there. As long as you spend some time learning the UK airspace when you return then that's not an issue.

The weather is always a contentious point, especially for those who have not flown there. You get an appreciation of how quickly the weather can change so it teaches you to plan properly, especially for thunderstorm avoidance!

My advice is ignore those who have not had the pleasure of flying in FL. When I did my research back in 2009 I nearly gave up as people on these forums can be so negative and some seem to be scared of doing something "different." Flying in FL is amazing, fantastic facilities for GA, no landing fees, free use of a car at some airfields and the GA community over there are fantastic once you get chatting to them.

Ft Pierce is a good airport to learn at. Various runways, ground frequencies etc and its the right environment to learn in, especially if you want to fly into some larger fields when returning to Blighty, license in hand. I work at a South Coast airport and cringe when I see some G.A pilots land with us who learned at smaller airfields and have never had exposure to a large aerodrome. Ive seen all sorts, aircraft taxxiing down the airside road amongst other horrors. But that is partly down to poor preparation and pre flight briefings.

In summary, go for it. You make some good friends, you get sunshine 95% of the time and it's something you will never forget. PM me if you want more info.

p.s this is the thread I started when I came back...

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...nest-view.html

Mixture, I learned in the US a few years ago, and I have to say that your description of what to expect in the US is not one that I recognise. "Sun-soaked blue sky" is a wrong assumption to make about Florida in summer. While low cloud was never an issue, the thunderstorms and heavy rain definitely were. Not enough to delay my training, but certainly for making go/no-go decisions or deciding which direction to go.

I learned at a very busy airfield when you could regularly have 6-10 aircraft in the circuit, without ATC so you quickly learn RT situational awareness. A busy international airport was a few miles away, and so learning RT confidence and brevity was important - ATC didn't have the time or patience for hesitation or unnecessarily long calls. There was a mixture of Class C and D airspace in the vicinity of the airfield, and a visit to Orlando is busier than what most (if not all) students will experience in the UK.

I did my JAR PPL (as it was then) in 3 weeks, including all written exams. For most days it was 2 or 3 one hour lessons and it didn't feel rushed at all. I even took a couple of days off in the middle of the course as I was progressing too quickly (time wise, not academically). The great thing for me was that everything was fresh in my mind, so I didn't need to spend the next lesson revisiting what I learned in the previous lesson. This made it less repetitive and more varied.

I would definitely recommend it. Just don't expect it to be a holiday or to go out and have a drink every night (a common mistake for some people who come back without a PPL).

Not if you are proficient in English and a good listener and communicator.

It is actually not worse than else where, including the UK.

I wonder what the following link is depicting.

SkyVector: Flight Planning / Aeronautical Charts

Fly the east coast from Ft. Pierce to Key West and you would like what you experience, if you're able to successfully manage that.

WP

Ok let me clarify.

R/t shocking. Controllers talking to a pilot about buying his Warrior from him. General conversation over frequency. In this country you wouldn't get that. On the other hand I have heard some awful r/t here but not from the controllers.

Controlled airspace wise, the airspace is simpler. On my qxc I flew 200 miles without the need to enter any controlled airspace (apart from KFPR) or watch my height because of airways or CTA/CTR limits. I now fly around The Solent and that's way more complicated.

worldpilot,

Have you read this sticky thread at the top of this forum?

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...be-videos.html

SD

I am a 7000+ hour, ex-RAF pilot, I fly commercially for a living and have done many many private hours in Florida, just for fun.
Mixture is wrong, around Daytona/Orlando/Kissimmee/Titusville, the airspace is indeed very busy. The instruction is equal to that in the UK, the aircraft are as good and the US have a positive attitude to aviation.
I have lived in the school 'houses' with people doing 3 week PPLs and can confirm this would be no holiday........ But it will be a fantastic life experience. 4-5 weeks would improve the experience somewhat, but 3 is JUST do-able.
Do your groundschool before you go, even if you don't do the exams, just trust me on this. Beware, the cost of the course usually stays the same if you do the groundschool or not. Also note that any previous flying you have done MAY be used by the school to reduce the number of hours you fly there. Once again, the course cost may go unchanged........ maybe say you have no experience......

Are they approved?
 

The first thing you need to ensure is that they are legal to train you for EASA licences.

Look at this link to see the approved ones:

Approved ATOs

And this one to see who is not:

Not approved

Note there is a new addition to the list in the last few weeks....... If you train at one of these schools, your training will not be recognised.

There is nothing bad in having other conversations over ATC frequencies. It is actually fun, such as this one below.



It is advisable to always talk to ATC when at the controls of an aircraft. Remember, it is all about safety, and communication is a vital aspect of ensuring aviation safety.


WP

Thanks, SD, for the pointer.

WP

Mixture;

Florida summer weather is different, but more challenging than UK. Arizona etc is different, but Florida is very challenging during the summer months.

re. the magenta line, I used 430W once during my training, just to learn how to use it. Otherwise it was pilotage and/or dead reckoning.

I've flown around Europe in 10+ countries, and nowhere have I seen as busy enviroment as is the norm in the east coast of FL. I flew around NYC for a year after Florida. I find it almost funny someone says it is challenging to mix gliders and powereds on opposing circuits. Yawn. IFR/VFR traffic with everything from LSA's to G500's, all happily flying in the same airspace in- or outbound from one of the 7 controlled airports with commercial traffic within a 50 mile radius. Wycombe on "a busy day" is absolutely nothing compared to how busy some areas in the US get.

The biggest differences in operation are that in Europe there's hardly any traffic around, and (especially in the UK) ATC is hard work. UK ATC favourite word must be "freecall".

For the actual flying, UK likes uncontrolled PPR grass strips with very varying local practices. Also, charts etc are alot worse and much more difficult to obtain.
And don't even get me started on landing fees! :mad:

Sorry Mixture, but if you really think that Booker, even on a very busy day, compares to Long Beach in the demands it puts on a VFR pilot, then you really don't know what you are talking about.

G

I'm flying over in Florida every couple of months, Class Bravo airspace around Orlando/Tampa is always very busy but in my experience ATC are very helpful and courteous to GA drivers.

My home field in Florida is KLAL Class Delta, there are a couple of flight schools based at the field one has lots of overseas students who's first language is not English, the ATC go out of their way to assist them.