Learning the few phrases required to operate at LEAX really is no big deal and I'd strongly suggest you do. Write down a crib sheet and have it on your kneeboard. These days LEAX tends to be dead quiet anyway, the financial crisis having taken its toll. In any case, it's a good idea to understand Spanish radio phrases, as Spanish pilots will always do the radio in Spanish. Understanding them definitely helps with situational awareness. At LEAX, you're in English speaking territory within about two minutes after t/o, i.e. when you switch to LEMG App.

@rmcB: it's a problem I never have, but AFAIK the PIC position can change during flight (it certainly can in FAA-land). So, if your instructor/safety/language proficient pilot takes off and then hands the a/c to you, my understanding is that you can then log the flight time as P1 until you hand the controls back, in this case for landing. Of course, the other pilot can then only log P1 for the few minutes of t/o and landing, and you could not log the landing.

PS: the above of course assumes that the POH doesn't specify a certain seat for the P1

The UK CAA were quite unequivocal about this issue; I was hour building for the purposes of granting the privilege of CPL(A). My putting time in the P1 slot and the safety pilot's name in the operator column invalidated my claim to P1 status. No argument. The FBO said was legal and correct in Spain; UK CAA said inappropriate and inadmissable in the UK.

You could put down that you were the operator but you would be found out in a subsequent inquiry - check the receipts that you have kept (?). You would be defrauding the system. The chances are that Juan Doe has put his name down as P1 as well.

You have no comeback with the FBO. I had to fly these hours and it cost me a further £1900 when I could least afford it.

You are not the 'sole manipulator of controls' in the flight, therefore you are not P1 for the purposes you may be flying. I implore the OP to contact the UK CAA to find out what is the correct procedure in these circumstances.

My thaught's are IF you will indeed have the aircraft based at AGP for the duration, then why do you need a safety pilot at all? Malaga is an English speaking airport. Plan your flights to larger airports with English ATC only.

Secondly, I will bet anything that the aircraft you are renting will spend the evenings hangared at LEAX, not LEMG. Finally, make sure they are not also charging the 'safety pilot' for the flying also - it has been known, and both pilots have been (illegally) logging P1. Think about it - what's the safety pilot getting out of this? Is he doing it outof the kindness of his or her heart? Didn't think so.

You have been warned - good luck.

Hour Building in Spain
 

Has anyone done hour building at GRUPO ONE AIR who are based in Malaga. Their website is Hour Building Spain | Hour Building Spain

I would be interested to hear of experiences of this organisation.

Thanks

RomeoDelta155

The OP said:
In the case of just flying around, it's obviously OK - probably acceptable as your hours for PPL renewal.
The question is whether the CAA/EASA will accept them for CPL or ATPL time.

Update
 

Hi Mate

Can you let me know how did your experience with one air went?

Regards