Hour building (USA)
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Plymouth UK
Hour building in California
Does anyone have any info on Air Desert Pacific in California? I am looking to do some hour building before I start my CPL in the UK and ADP was recommended to me by an instructor. However, I can't get a reply to email or telephone so I'm wondering if they're still in business. Can anyone recommend any other flying clubs in California?
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: London & Los Angeles
There are a couple of outfits around who will rent you aircraft in California. If you go to www.beapilot.com there is a list of flight schools that will almost certainly help you. Also you could try an aircraft sales company that may well rent you an old 172 that they're trying to shift?
Before you go it may well be worth chatting to an instructor about some challenging flying to be done. Getting into Santa Monica airport crossing the LA basin or San Francisco? There's plenty of space over there and its possible to fly 100hrs and never enter a controlled zone if you didn't want to. Radar advisory is free and you may as well play with it!
Before you go it may well be worth chatting to an instructor about some challenging flying to be done. Getting into Santa Monica airport crossing the LA basin or San Francisco? There's plenty of space over there and its possible to fly 100hrs and never enter a controlled zone if you didn't want to. Radar advisory is free and you may as well play with it!
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 0
From: Yorkshire
Jaca,
Have used the following, all based at KLGB.
Rainbow Air. (good selection of aircraft)
Angel City Flyers. (no aircraft - uses other schools for training)
Long Beach Flying Club. (no bad selection)
California Flight Centre (formly Hart Air). (Best selection inc. C172/182 with G1000s
)
Julian.
Have used the following, all based at KLGB.
Rainbow Air. (good selection of aircraft)
Angel City Flyers. (no aircraft - uses other schools for training)
Long Beach Flying Club. (no bad selection)
California Flight Centre (formly Hart Air). (Best selection inc. C172/182 with G1000s
)Julian.
Flies for fun
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
From: Wishing it was somewhere sunny!
I have used ADP and found them first rate.
http://www.airdesertpacific.com/
found them first rate for hour building and FAA IR.
I have also used Universal air and found them first rate as well, I rented their Arrow IV found them cheap and very helpful.
http://www.universalairacademy.com/
This photo looks like the PA28 is on a left base for El Monte airport. Very scenic against the mountain:-
http://www.universalairacademy.com/N38700.html
http://www.airdesertpacific.com/
found them first rate for hour building and FAA IR.
I have also used Universal air and found them first rate as well, I rented their Arrow IV found them cheap and very helpful.
http://www.universalairacademy.com/
This photo looks like the PA28 is on a left base for El Monte airport. Very scenic against the mountain:-
http://www.universalairacademy.com/N38700.html
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 0
From: UK
I used ADP a few years ago when they were at Brackett. No problems from me and everyone was friendly. You basically got what it said on the tin. Like most FTO's they have some (or did when I was there) half decent and the odd old dog of aircraft. When I booked with them I specifically requested an aircraft that had IFR fit as I wanted to hone my skills and wasn't disappointed.
Make sure you get to Vegas for a night. Accomodation is cheap, don't book in advance just get a midweek rate at one of the top hotels/casinos for 50 or so bucks online. The Grand Canyon is a great sight as well although be aware of the airspace restrictions. There are loads of other places that are fun to fly around so do a search. You will have much more fun out west than buzzing around Florida.
Make sure you get to Vegas for a night. Accomodation is cheap, don't book in advance just get a midweek rate at one of the top hotels/casinos for 50 or so bucks online. The Grand Canyon is a great sight as well although be aware of the airspace restrictions. There are loads of other places that are fun to fly around so do a search. You will have much more fun out west than buzzing around Florida.
Flies for fun
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
From: Wishing it was somewhere sunny!
You don't need a visa for hourbuilding, just describe it as a flying holiday. You will need a visa if you undergo certain types of training and you will certainly need an FAA airmans certificate obtained on the back of your caa/jaa license. Be warned, the certificate used to be a 15 minute formality down at the local faa office - not so now and has to be applied for months in advance!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 0
From: UK
ADP finally bankruptcied.
http://www.allbusiness.com/periodica.../867521-1.html
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
Hour building in the US
I was wondering if it is possible to just travel to the US for a 4 week holiday, check out a few flying schools, hour build and then return - all this without a training visa.
Has anybody done this?
Has anybody done this?
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 0
From: エリア88
Yes i think its fine, as long as you arn't training. Also you can get an FAA licence issued on the basis of your JAA PPL free of charge....well it would be but the our good old CAA charge £15 for sending the paperwork to the U.S.
The USA is an great place to build hours, new aircraft, GA freindly, No landing fees, free car hire, decent facilities, good weather and briefing services and you get treated like a customer rather than with the contempt you get from some of the airfields in the UK.
I went a couple of years ago so the rules may have changed a little bit but i still dont think you need a visa for flying holidays.
The USA is an great place to build hours, new aircraft, GA freindly, No landing fees, free car hire, decent facilities, good weather and briefing services and you get treated like a customer rather than with the contempt you get from some of the airfields in the UK.
I went a couple of years ago so the rules may have changed a little bit but i still dont think you need a visa for flying holidays.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: London
I did 4 weeks flying along the west coast of the states 2 summers ago. It was great! Cheaper, hotter, easier to get going, different challenges and some fresh landscape to look at, some new towns and cities to visit.
From what I remember, you can do it on a JAR license and a normal holiday visa. The school I used, helped sort out the FAA endorsement.
Simple...
From what I remember, you can do it on a JAR license and a normal holiday visa. The school I used, helped sort out the FAA endorsement.
Simple...
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Bristol,UK
Hour building
Planning on heading over to the US for some hour building (about 50 hours) in Sep/Oct time and wanted to know if there was anyone else planning on doing some thing similar at that time of year??? Maybe we can go together
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: UK
Originally Posted by Flying surfer
Planning on heading over to the US for some hour building (about 50 hours) in Sep/Oct time and wanted to know if there was anyone else planning on doing some thing similar at that time of year??? Maybe we can go together
Originally Posted by Longfinals
hey Flying surfer,
I saw your post and was contemplating doing some hours myself. Why don't you pm and we can chat off line? Have you got anywhere lined up?
I saw your post and was contemplating doing some hours myself. Why don't you pm and we can chat off line? Have you got anywhere lined up?
Don't become USA lemmings! Have a think about Canada too eh! I went there and had a great time.
PM me if you have any Q's.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Switzerland
FAA Time building in the States!
If you do your training in a JAA member state, can you time build in the states under normal FAA conditions? Or would you have to go to a school that provides JAA training to time build? Any tips????
ME
ME