FAA Standalone PPL
 

For various stupidly complicated reasons, I need to get an FAA standalone.

Do I need to do this through a Part 141 school and get an M1 visa and do the TSA nonsense?

Thanks,

David

You can do it part 61 or part 141. If you do it in the US, you need an M1, F1, or other appropriate visa (not a B1/B2). You will need TSA, regardless of where in the world you do it.

By "stand alone" do you mean not based on a foreign license ?

If you need it for recreational flying, you can easily get an FAA PPL in accordance with FAR 61.75:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.75

Another option is to obtain an EU PPL which can be easily converted to a standard US private without doing a practical test with a US examiner. The abbreviated PEP knowledge test, as well as a flight review with a US instructor, must both be done before applying. That will avoid needing to apply for a US student visa. If no training needs to be done with a US instructor before the flight review, then you needn't apply for a TSA security threat assessment either.

Why is it necessary to get an EASA PPL? Will a UK PPL not do?

No, only EASA licences issued by an EU state are covered by the EU-US bilateral agreement. A UK licence holder would need to pass a practical test with a US examiner for a standard US private.

Another Brexit gift! :ugh: