Hour Building > Help!
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Join Date: Nov 2006
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Hour Building > Help!
Hey PprunerZZZ.
HAving trouble in the following areas....
2 points
Visa Requirements
Do I need a visa assuming I already have a JAA PPL and will go there soley for hour building? If so how do I go about doing this, and how long does it take?
Clearance to FLY
Can I sit a FAA skills test and be cleared to fly out there, oR must I do the validation paperwork exercise which is quoted as taking 90days? I dont mind paying for it, someone I spoke to said I can do this if I want to pay $450 for it...
I have been searching so plz domnt accuse me of being lazy!
ThANKZ pEEPs!!!
HAving trouble in the following areas....
2 points
Visa Requirements
Do I need a visa assuming I already have a JAA PPL and will go there soley for hour building? If so how do I go about doing this, and how long does it take?
Clearance to FLY
Can I sit a FAA skills test and be cleared to fly out there, oR must I do the validation paperwork exercise which is quoted as taking 90days? I dont mind paying for it, someone I spoke to said I can do this if I want to pay $450 for it...
I have been searching so plz domnt accuse me of being lazy!
ThANKZ pEEPs!!!
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I'm just looking at this now myself
If you have a JAR PPL you can hour build in the US under the visa waiver program. You are issued a restricted FAA licence based on your JAR licence valid for a maximum of 120 days. You must verify your licence which, as you say, takes 90 days. After a Flight Review (BFR) you are permitted to exercise the privileges of your FAA PPL.
You could, if time is against you, sit the FAA PPL theory test and flight test and receive an unrestricted FAA PPL but this requires at least an M1 visa and would obviously cost more. Visa waiting times are listed on the government websites.
If you have a JAR PPL you can hour build in the US under the visa waiver program. You are issued a restricted FAA licence based on your JAR licence valid for a maximum of 120 days. You must verify your licence which, as you say, takes 90 days. After a Flight Review (BFR) you are permitted to exercise the privileges of your FAA PPL.
You could, if time is against you, sit the FAA PPL theory test and flight test and receive an unrestricted FAA PPL but this requires at least an M1 visa and would obviously cost more. Visa waiting times are listed on the government websites.
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Hi all,
What you will need to do is go to the FAA website and download the forms regarding FOREIGN LICENCE VALIDATION complete these forms and fax them back to the FAA, it says on the website this may take up to 90 days to process, mine however took less than two weeks and i don't know of any of my friends having to wait more than three or four weeks.
What you will receive from the FAA is not immediate validation but just a letter stating they recognise you have a licence and that when you are in the States they will give you an interview to see if you are safe enough for your licence yo be validated. Seems scary huh travelling to the US with no more than a promise of an interview? However you'll be pleased to know if you have a decent command of the English language then this will just be a formality. Best of all (and this is a general feature of aviation in America) all of this is FREE.
However for us lucky people in the UK there is a another step: you will hace to get in touch with the Campaign Against Aviation and fill in seperate forms, these should not take long to process however...that's right u guessed it there is an 'adminisrative' fee to pay.
Anyways really not a problem, shouldn't need more than 3 weeks, if you get stuck ring the CAA or FAA or both. From my experience flying in the States is more relaxing, safer, cheaper, easier, friendly and generally better. Have fun and i hope this helps.
Oh yeah to answer your origional questions...you do not need a VISA if you will be there less than 90 days AND are not hoping to gain any qualification or rating. In 90 days if you were in any hurry at all you could probably fly at least 300 hours obviously depending on the availability of aircraft.
Same goes for the TSA...only if you plan to do a rating or qualification will you need to do a TSA.
What you will need to do is go to the FAA website and download the forms regarding FOREIGN LICENCE VALIDATION complete these forms and fax them back to the FAA, it says on the website this may take up to 90 days to process, mine however took less than two weeks and i don't know of any of my friends having to wait more than three or four weeks.
What you will receive from the FAA is not immediate validation but just a letter stating they recognise you have a licence and that when you are in the States they will give you an interview to see if you are safe enough for your licence yo be validated. Seems scary huh travelling to the US with no more than a promise of an interview? However you'll be pleased to know if you have a decent command of the English language then this will just be a formality. Best of all (and this is a general feature of aviation in America) all of this is FREE.
However for us lucky people in the UK there is a another step: you will hace to get in touch with the Campaign Against Aviation and fill in seperate forms, these should not take long to process however...that's right u guessed it there is an 'adminisrative' fee to pay.
Anyways really not a problem, shouldn't need more than 3 weeks, if you get stuck ring the CAA or FAA or both. From my experience flying in the States is more relaxing, safer, cheaper, easier, friendly and generally better. Have fun and i hope this helps.
Oh yeah to answer your origional questions...you do not need a VISA if you will be there less than 90 days AND are not hoping to gain any qualification or rating. In 90 days if you were in any hurry at all you could probably fly at least 300 hours obviously depending on the availability of aircraft.
Same goes for the TSA...only if you plan to do a rating or qualification will you need to do a TSA.
Last edited by yellowsubmarine; 9th Jan 2008 at 20:28. Reason: forgot to mention
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ahhh Man
Chheerz for the quick responses guys about the Visa and TSA....
However please can someone shed some light on this for me please,
Apart from the FAA (90 day !OMG!) validation, is there no other way to fly in the states? Was the salesman talking some cods-wallop to me about bypassing this and spending $450 for a check ride,then hour build all you want?
However please can someone shed some light on this for me please,
Apart from the FAA (90 day !OMG!) validation, is there no other way to fly in the states? Was the salesman talking some cods-wallop to me about bypassing this and spending $450 for a check ride,then hour build all you want?
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As yellowsubmarine said, it never usually takes 90 days. You could pay $450 for a checkride and not do this but it would mean sitting a written exam and quite a tough oral exam in addition to the actual flight test. FAA checkrides are not a formality as some would have you believe and you would need extra training to pass it (mandated by Part 61 and this gets worse if you don't have a night rating).
Unless you're going in the next week or two, the validation is the much easier option.
Unless you're going in the next week or two, the validation is the much easier option.
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Thank you for your info about the check ride, written and oral exams.
See the issue is I dont currently have my JAA PPL, however I will by the end of march (being generous). I want to go out to the states asap after this. This is why I would have a time constraint.
Im still only a third into my PPL course, what usually happens, when you pass do you get given a ppl certificate there and then, or are there forms etc to send off, hence another waiting period??
Cheerz again...MB
See the issue is I dont currently have my JAA PPL, however I will by the end of march (being generous). I want to go out to the states asap after this. This is why I would have a time constraint.
Im still only a third into my PPL course, what usually happens, when you pass do you get given a ppl certificate there and then, or are there forms etc to send off, hence another waiting period??
Cheerz again...MB
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mb2ai
Not having the JAA PPL makes a big difference to things. You cannot go to the United States for hour building without one as you would then be forced to get a TSA clearance for FAA PPL training (it would be your initial pilot qualification) and you're not going to get that without a visa.
The CAA usually take about a month to issue a PPL and there is no temporary certificate. Only once you have the licence can you apply for the FAA verification. Besides, if you still have 2/3 of the PPL to do, March is probably being quite optimistic with the weather in this country, especially at this time of year.
You could, of course, get the visa and complete out there under FAA rules (they do give out temporary certificates) but you need to get an I-20 from a school that can issue these and make an appointment at the US Embassy. Waiting time is usually about 3 or 4 weeks and they will also relieve you of $200 for the application and the SEVIS.
Not having the JAA PPL makes a big difference to things. You cannot go to the United States for hour building without one as you would then be forced to get a TSA clearance for FAA PPL training (it would be your initial pilot qualification) and you're not going to get that without a visa.
The CAA usually take about a month to issue a PPL and there is no temporary certificate. Only once you have the licence can you apply for the FAA verification. Besides, if you still have 2/3 of the PPL to do, March is probably being quite optimistic with the weather in this country, especially at this time of year.
You could, of course, get the visa and complete out there under FAA rules (they do give out temporary certificates) but you need to get an I-20 from a school that can issue these and make an appointment at the US Embassy. Waiting time is usually about 3 or 4 weeks and they will also relieve you of $200 for the application and the SEVIS.
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Once you already have you PPL you can fly (with medical) in the States but only under the schools student rules and regs (cross wind limits etc).
I have not had the time to convert lisences, nor alllowed time for the CAA to release my details, so this is the price I'll be paying, I will however be able to finish my hours ahead of my CPL start date, good times!
Regards
CR
I have not had the time to convert lisences, nor alllowed time for the CAA to release my details, so this is the price I'll be paying, I will however be able to finish my hours ahead of my CPL start date, good times!
Regards
CR
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but only under the schools student rules and regs (cross wind limits etc).
You will have to factor extra $$$ in paying for a school instructor to ride along with you on ALL your hour building. Happened to a friend of mine
It only takes a few weeks to get the FAA validation letter. Once you have it just make an appointment at your local FSDO in the states,turn up,fill in a few forms and you get your temp FAA airmans certificate. Takes less than an hour and you're good to go solo there and then(after taking whatever checkouts your school/rental organisation require)
Then in a few months they post you out a credit card type FAA certifcate that lasts forever(as long as you have it based on a valid licence in your home state)
Much less hassle and a lot cheaper than bringing around an instructor during your hour building
I did it a couple of years ago. It's a pretty simple process
