JAA/FAA question
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JAA/FAA question
Hello everyone,
I'm currently looking for flight schools in the US to do my CPL/ME/IR at, and it has turned out to be a bit of a hassle.
I live in sweden, did about 75 hours, time building in SE US this summer, and now i'd like to go back, but it's really a jungle of rules/bad schools out ther. And most of them hasn't even bothered to answer my inquiries.
So for the main question - after finding a few schools that seem allright, it hit me that I fiorgot to check if they are JAA approved. I know some of them are, for example AAA down in San Diego. But what if I attend a non-JAA school for my ratings, will these be totally useless in Europe? What are the rules regarding this? From hat I have understood, at least the IR has to be converted in Europe, even if I find a JAA-qualified school in the US (like 15 hours flying, and a checkride), but what with CPL/ME?...I know all of them are SEVIS-approved, but that don't really help me with the JAA issue..
Also while i'm at it, the schools i've been looking at are American Flyers Santa Monica, AAA San Diego, California flight academy also at Gillespie, and Sunrise Aviation up in Santa Ana. Only SOCAL yes, but those are the only ones that has given me the curtesy of an answer (none of the florida-schools did).
Any thoughts on these schools? Anyone with experience/constructive chriticism would be appreciated!
Thanks folks //Magnus
I'm currently looking for flight schools in the US to do my CPL/ME/IR at, and it has turned out to be a bit of a hassle.
I live in sweden, did about 75 hours, time building in SE US this summer, and now i'd like to go back, but it's really a jungle of rules/bad schools out ther. And most of them hasn't even bothered to answer my inquiries.
So for the main question - after finding a few schools that seem allright, it hit me that I fiorgot to check if they are JAA approved. I know some of them are, for example AAA down in San Diego. But what if I attend a non-JAA school for my ratings, will these be totally useless in Europe? What are the rules regarding this? From hat I have understood, at least the IR has to be converted in Europe, even if I find a JAA-qualified school in the US (like 15 hours flying, and a checkride), but what with CPL/ME?...I know all of them are SEVIS-approved, but that don't really help me with the JAA issue..
Also while i'm at it, the schools i've been looking at are American Flyers Santa Monica, AAA San Diego, California flight academy also at Gillespie, and Sunrise Aviation up in Santa Ana. Only SOCAL yes, but those are the only ones that has given me the curtesy of an answer (none of the florida-schools did).
Any thoughts on these schools? Anyone with experience/constructive chriticism would be appreciated!
Thanks folks //Magnus
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ok, so i narrowed it down to one school, the only JAA approved -> AAA in san diego.
Problem is that im not sure if my Swedish ATPL exams are valid in the UK (AAA is administred by CAA, at least their CPL/ME courses are).
I emailed CAA about it, but they seem a bit slow (as stated in other posts here too), and searches on different forums and on google didn't turn up anything really.
I read somewhere that foreign ATPL exams might be accepted, if all parts agreed (CAA and the swedish equivalent). But this just doesn't really sound really certain. I don't want to take a gamble..
I'd love to be able to start my VISA applications and what not, rather sooner than later, so if anyone has done anything similar/know anything, i'd appreciate the input.
Problem is that im not sure if my Swedish ATPL exams are valid in the UK (AAA is administred by CAA, at least their CPL/ME courses are).
I emailed CAA about it, but they seem a bit slow (as stated in other posts here too), and searches on different forums and on google didn't turn up anything really.
I read somewhere that foreign ATPL exams might be accepted, if all parts agreed (CAA and the swedish equivalent). But this just doesn't really sound really certain. I don't want to take a gamble..
I'd love to be able to start my VISA applications and what not, rather sooner than later, so if anyone has done anything similar/know anything, i'd appreciate the input.
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What about Scanavia in San Diego? i am not sure if they can help, as their program looks more geared towards integrated, but it wouldnīt hurt to contact them. Sorry I canīt provide more info.
Scanavia
by the way, if you get FAA ratings, it wonīt be useless but you WILL have to spend more money and time flying to get them converted to JAA, especially instrument time (yes 15 hrs is correct, which has to be done in
Europe). the JAA CPL can be done in the US.
Scanavia
by the way, if you get FAA ratings, it wonīt be useless but you WILL have to spend more money and time flying to get them converted to JAA, especially instrument time (yes 15 hrs is correct, which has to be done in
Europe). the JAA CPL can be done in the US.
Magnus, you need to contact the UK CAA to ask for approval.
They may or may not accept the Swedish papers.
Long live JAA Yeah...(little dance)
It's completely ridiculous but that's the way it is.
They may or may not accept the Swedish papers.
Long live JAA Yeah...(little dance)
It's completely ridiculous but that's the way it is.
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Yes this is exactly my issue. I do have the JAA ppl, so that made the school-choosing process easier (and i'd rather fly in california than florida) - hence AAA. The good thing about this was being able to get the JAA CPL/ME and the FAA IR, which after those 15 hours would be good for me. But now since the CAA are involved (i need valid atpl-exams to get the CPL!?), the CAA has to acknowladge my test results.
But what if all goes well, won't i then have JAA IR, but CAA CPL/ME? how would those transfer for swedish use? would i have to convert them back in sweden? it's all a mess now huh. (i don't expect you guys to have the latest on swedish aviation rules..)
B2N2, yeah i sent both caa and the swedes an email, but none of them are very fast workers i guess. 2-3 weeks for a reply? just hoped someone here would have any useful info that would speed things up for me (i've just been sitting on my ass since i passed the exams in december, waiting to be able to see the cali sun again.)
zondaracer, yes scandinavia would seem like the obvious choice! i didnt get a reply from them yet though, and it doesn't seem like they provide separated courses. it might be worth another try though.
But what if all goes well, won't i then have JAA IR, but CAA CPL/ME? how would those transfer for swedish use? would i have to convert them back in sweden? it's all a mess now huh. (i don't expect you guys to have the latest on swedish aviation rules..)
B2N2, yeah i sent both caa and the swedes an email, but none of them are very fast workers i guess. 2-3 weeks for a reply? just hoped someone here would have any useful info that would speed things up for me (i've just been sitting on my ass since i passed the exams in december, waiting to be able to see the cali sun again.)
zondaracer, yes scandinavia would seem like the obvious choice! i didnt get a reply from them yet though, and it doesn't seem like they provide separated courses. it might be worth another try though.
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tanks for the replies btw.
if it doesn't work out with the caa, i'll start looking at the florida schools, or even the possibility of taking all FAA's, and converting them all, not sure if that's gonna be economically defendable though. would it be hard to get cpl/me converted? (i guess it's the same problem there, swedish atpl?)
another prob is that the florida ones seem quite a bit more expensive, and the conversion idea would probably be even worse. there's always spain/poland, some cheap european place, but i'm not confident of the quality there..really too bad it's such a hassle
if it doesn't work out with the caa, i'll start looking at the florida schools, or even the possibility of taking all FAA's, and converting them all, not sure if that's gonna be economically defendable though. would it be hard to get cpl/me converted? (i guess it's the same problem there, swedish atpl?)
another prob is that the florida ones seem quite a bit more expensive, and the conversion idea would probably be even worse. there's always spain/poland, some cheap european place, but i'm not confident of the quality there..really too bad it's such a hassle
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For the conversion look at Horizon SFA in Zurich, Switzerland. It's a great place, well run, the flight school is owned by an airline so standards are high.
Might not be the cheapest option for you to travel there from Sweden, but worth a try - I personally can recommend them - great quality training.
Might not be the cheapest option for you to travel there from Sweden, but worth a try - I personally can recommend them - great quality training.
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yes, sticking to JAA will no doubt be the easiest and cheapest way. There seem to be some smaller changes in the LASORS document this year too, perhaps making it easier with the whole CAA thing.
this will still mean IR conversion in europe, no way around that. i'll have a look at that swiss place! still need to find a place in europe for that, and for the MCC.
te JAA schools in the US tend to recommend schools in UK for the conversions, for some reason. Doesn't seem like the most economical way does it? anyone with experience of those? ( http://www.pat.uk.com, www.flyaft.com, www.multiflight.com)
l
this will still mean IR conversion in europe, no way around that. i'll have a look at that swiss place! still need to find a place in europe for that, and for the MCC.
te JAA schools in the US tend to recommend schools in UK for the conversions, for some reason. Doesn't seem like the most economical way does it? anyone with experience of those? ( http://www.pat.uk.com, www.flyaft.com, www.multiflight.com)
l
