FAA Training in UK
 

Hi

There have been various people over the years doing FAA training in the UK but does anyone have an up to date recommendation? Preferably in the south UK.

I have a PPL and will soon have an IR(R) and looking to get an FAA standalone PPL and IR plus in future CPL. It also needs to be someone who can provide the aircraft as I don't have an N reg.

Regards

Some years ago I did some FAA training (piggy back licence B-ennial) at Southend with Willow Air

Don't know if they still do it ... but worth a call.

OC619

Thanks, I will try and contact them.

Geraldine over at Norwich. She is lovely.

Thanks, Will contact her too.

I followed a similar route. It isn't really cost effective to do actual N reg FAA training outside the USA. For a start, the aerial work issues around N reg mean that last time I looked into this one had to do it in france. However, you aren't going to need more than 3 hours of actual USA CFI time (for the check ride recommendation). Nor do your hours need to be in an N reg. What you can do is to study the unfamiliar manouevers with any instructor and fly them in wherever/whatever suits you. Any half decent instructor should be able to teach the ground reference manouevers etc. The part that needs a FAA CFI is really the check ride preparation and the lead up to the check ride itself. Definitely best done as a concentrated three week trip to the USA, when you can also do the written exam etc, as well as learn the format of the check ride. Most importantly, study hard the 'prerequistes for flight test' in part 61 and make sure you have the required hours breakdown which has different requirements to EASA, . For example, you will need night flight, which you may not have. Again, can be done as part of the check ride prep.

Hope that helps....

Speaking as an FAA CFI based in the UK... Honestly don't bother trying to do training and (especially) testing for FAA qualifications in the UK. It will be no cheaper, the cost of the tests extortionate, and the standard of instruction questionable (as many UK based CFIs are so far out of the loop with current FAA training standards). You would be much better doing the training in the US, with a school and instructors who know the system, within their airspace.

I have done training for a few people over the years towards FAA instrument ratings in the UK, and even though it means turning work down, I'd rather people went to the US than trying to muddle through it all here. They can still visit me for differences training and Flight Reviews or IPC, but for any "proper" training towards certificates/ratings all you'll get from me are links to the FARs and the web address of US based schools! :8