Looking at best advice to moving from FAA CPL to JAA CPL

[Mustard 72]

Hi All,

A brief summary on me.

Dec 2009 i completed my FAA PPl through a very good school operated out of Tam-miami Airport in Miam called ADF Airways. It is a small school and one of the oldest and my instructor Carlos was the best.

I completed this in 67 hours in 6 weeks including bad weather.

Come February I am heading back to ADF to finish IR, ME and CPL.
The reason i am heading back is my parents live 20mins away from the School....so i am saving alot by doing it this way.
This will cost me approx 24kus dollars.
Reason for delay is i am saving funds for the next step.

My main question is - when i return to Europe (Ireland) what should be my best strategy in getting my FAA IR ME CPL to JAA equivelant.
I live right next to Weston Aerodrome...but not familiar with what they offer?

Should i do ground school 14 exams via distance learning eg Bristol?
or
Same query but in USA distance learning?
or
Pilot Training School in waterford? Anyone done this through them.

I have heard that Bristol is best - would take approx 6months...then Switzerland (Zurich) was cheapest place to complete the flying component.

Any idea on costs from ground school to check rides?

Finally - best strategy on getting work - instructor? a320 type rating courses?

Really appreciate advice - please note - for those out there that are finding it tough - keep going....i went through tough times too - was offered a cadetship with Flybe and Citijet and then the financial crash happened - i was forced to go the modular route - and i wouldnt change it...REMEMBER - NEVER EVER GIVE UP- EVER!

Looking forward to some straight talking no bs advice - thats how i roll!

[Whirlygig]

Unless you get written permissions from the local Aviation Authorities, you need to take your CPL training and test in the same country as you take your ground exams.

Cheers

Whirls

[BillieBob]

Unless you get written permissions from the local Aviation Authorities, you need to take your CPL training and test in the same country as you take your ground exams.

Except when the two countries are the UK and ROI, who have a bilateral agreement to allow the theoretical knowledge to be completed in one state and the flight training in the other. The State of Licence Issue in this case will be the one in which the flight training is completed, which will, in turn, dictate in which state you must obtain the Class 1 medical.

It is highly unlikely that the Swiss FOCA would issue a licence based on TK completed elsewhere, except in the most exceptional circumstances, and neither the UK nor the ROI will issue a licence based on flight training completed in Switzerland.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Strikes me that you're doing this the wrong and most expensive way. If you don't have (a likelihood of) permission to work in the USA, then an FAA licence is of limited value beyond your PPL. You would be far better off going straight for your ATPL writtens then CPL flying via the JAA route.

There are JAA schools in the USA of-course, so you don't have to do it in Ireland (or the UK, where there's rather more training infrastructure).

G

[Mustard 72]

Thanks People.

I think i am seeing the light - i was too focussed on FFA Completion rather than keeping on the jaa side.

Should i also do the multi engine and instrument rating in the states while i am there.....hour build then return to do JAA Exams then check rides for jaa comercial, ir and m.e?

Have i got it wrong?

[Whirlygig]

You don't need to convert your FAA PPL - that is sufficient to be able to enrol for JAA groundschool.

Cheers

Whirls

[Mustard 72]

Thanks Whirly Gig...is it right in saying i cannot fly solo in ROI / UK / EU until i have all exams?

I have to complete all 14 exams no matter what?

Is best ground school long distance bristol? Cost?

[Whirlygig]

is it right in saying i cannot fly solo in ROI / UK / EU until i have all exams?

Eh? No. Where'd you get that idea?

Cheers

Whirls

[Mustard 72]

OK - can you expand on that?
What am i missing here?

By having an ffa ppl that allows me to fly solo in europe or not?

Am i better off doing ir and me in roi and just hour build in usa?
or do ir and me in usa with hour building and come back to roi and check ride for both there?

[BillieBob]

Mustard - it is clear from the nature of your questions that you need to do a lot more basic research before deciding the best way forward. Rather than asking a string of naive questions here, I suggest you download a copy of the relevant parts of JAR-FCL 1 and LASORS and familiarise yourself with the basics of the JAA requirements.

The decision on the best way to arrange your training between the US and Europe is one that only you can make once you understand the requirements - nobody else knows everything about your personal circumstances and, without that information, is unlikely to be able to give you worthwhile advice.

An FAA PPL is automatically validated by the UK for use in G-Reg aircraft in UK airspace; flight in other European airspace is at the discretion of the relevant state. Other European countries also have differing requirements for validation of foreign licences.

[Whirlygig]

Mustard, if you're lucky you might find one or N-reg aircraft in Ireland or the UK!

Cheers

Whirls

[Mustard 72]

Billybob, thanks for your insights - but you have to remember that i am not asking you to answer my prayers for me....i think what i am asking is basic.....

I like the idea of moving my faa ppl to jaa ppl by having more than 100 hours completed and doing the 3 jaa exams to convert - i understand this.
Then hour building in the states.....then back to eu to do all the jaa exams and flight tests to get the jaa cpl....

My more refined questioned now that i understand that is -
is it worth my while doing Instruments and Multi Engine in the usa????? I think so but i just want to check with you guys - those with possible more experience and knowledge than i.....

Instead of sifting through JARs and Saars....i thought i would ask the panel and get a basic answer....it is not a trick question and no one will be held accountable for my actions - i joined PPrune back in early 2008....and from their i made informed decisions to get my faa ppl thanks to people like you guys and girls.....

If you read my earlier posts I was set on doing everything in USA...i think i explained myself quite well i thought...

[Mustard 72]

Billy Bob also thanks for the hyper links - much appreciated.
Please dont take my last reply the wrong way - this cross road on the decision has only hit me this week since my post - i am heading to usa in Feb 2011....

[Whirlygig]

I like the idea of moving my faa ppl to jaa ppl by having more than 100 hours completed and doing the 3 jaa exams to convert - i understand this.
Then hour building in the states.....then back to eu to do all the jaa exams and flight tests to get the jaa cpl....

You don't need to convert your FAA PPL - I mentioned this to you earlier. Why do you want to spend the time, effort and money converting a qualification that you don't need.

Secondly, are you aware that the JAA CPL flying course is a minimum of 30 hours (plus night qualification of you don't have it) - it's not just exams and flight test. If you have an FAA CPL, then the JAA CPL flying course will be whatever hours are required to get you to JAA standard - I hear tales of this being around 30 hours.

This is what BillieBob meant by naive questions. If you go to the States to get your instrument rating and multi-engine rating, are you sure that you know the required processes to convert to JAA?

Cheers

Whirls

[Mustard 72]

Cheers for that. I got this information from LASORS re: >100 hours. It says if i have less than 100 hours ft then i have to do all 7 exams for JAA PPL. >100 Hours ft only 3 exams.

I am looking for this information everywhere and cannot find it.

I just want it in black and white -
1. What can i do with my FFA PPL in Ireland? I can 'N' A/C if the school has one...
2. If i do me and ir in usa what do i need to do to convert?

I understand there are courses - you are saying i need to be up to the jaa standard whatever that requirement is....
Should i do this in the states in a school that can do that for jaa or do it in ireland / uk?

Show me where to look and i will look - but why is this not simple in its answer?

What is the right way to do this? I need to have a JAA CPL at the end of all this as i am european not american....

Please advise?

[Whirlygig]

Here's a thought - why not ring your local school in Ireland and ask if you can self-fly hire their aircraft on an FAA PPL. I don't know enough about Irish regs to answer that and it's often up to the discretion of the school. But ASK them. They might want you to take a check ride.

Secondly, if you have an FAA PPL, you are eligible to start JAA groundschool NOW. If you are planning to hour-build in the States, then why get a JAA PPL?

There is no right or wrong way; just different ways could cost you more, that's all. We cannot spoon-feed you the information but it does seem that you need to research the requirements.

You should also start costing all this, including travel, accommodation etc and compare the alternatives.

It should not take long to work out from LASORS that you can convert an FAA IR (provided you have the JAA ATPL theory passed) in a minimum of 15 hours conversion course.

Cheers

Whirls

[flyer1977]

Training

Sent you a pm...

[Mustard 72]

Whirls thanks so much for your insights.

Flyer1977 thank you also for yours.

3 years ago i was on the brink of selling a house - got accepted into the flybe programme through Waterford where you went Flyer1977...and then everything crashed....

Hence i am here...working saving and trying to keep continuity as best i can.....just a little frustrated.

Thanks again guys and girls.

[Mustard 72]

Cheers for that - if i do any hour building it will be me on my own PIC....
$102 per hour....50 Hrs
But in saying that i did not know that re:time share...thank you.

[Uncle Wiggily]

I am sick and tired of seeing this misleading term - "convert". Christ...you basically are doing everything over when you decide to do it the "JAA way."