A visa to study is required when a "course of study" is being undertaken. See above memorandum and 8 CFR 248.1(c).

Your reference to 18 hours is a conditional requirement for a "full course of study" under a vocational curriculum (not provided by a high school), e.g. training requiring an M-class visa.

Flying is closer to shop/laboratory work than to classroom instruction so the lower bound for an M-visa should be 22 "clock hours" per week. You're a bit screwed if doing fewer hours than this since a "course of study" can't lawfully be pursued on a B visa (visitors / visa waiver program). I'm sure Uncle Sam is willing to turn a blind eye if the money flows fast enough.

Cu Chulainn
you better get the flight review signed in log and then 'company rental checkout' training flights signed and THEN nothing else mentioned (you put it as rental or something), else you're 100% gonna run into troubles with any EASA CAA claiming you were PIC because you paid rental rate and not training rate and company instructor was with you as 'safety pilot' collecting log hours.

To think otherwise, you'd be too naive. THe responsibility for safe conduct of flight and any emergency decision making, that'd NOT be you on flight with FAA CFI rated and legal company instructor. Google any interesting NTSB or FAA reports regarding any responsibility in incidents/accidents. One passenger CFI rated pilot did last minute save to prevent serious damage and 'manipulating controls' self-preservation bacon saving got him into trouble. Or the CFI rated friend of airplane owner in trouble for fuel starvation flight where he wasn't even legal to fly that time.

I trained and instructed in the US in the past and have been involved with EASA stuff, have kept track of various things, issues, considerations, legal stuff or practicalities.

In the eyes of FAA or IAA, UK CAA or whichever, instructor onboard that has dual controls installed (that'd be litmus test if whether the CFI is there for tips and ideas and solely for a nice view ride), is the acting PIC. End of story.

Hi guys I'm heading to Florida around January time waiting my verification letter at the moment,and so confused which place to go
1-pilots paradise
2-Florida Flyers
This schools at my top of the list at the moment any suggestions any other recommendations thanks in advance...

Dear @Trust737,

You're more than welcomed to visit us also. We have a fleet of C152, C172, C172SP G1000, PA28 in our base in Miami (KTMB).

Time building starts at $88/hr for a C152, the C172 starts at $107 and the C172SP G1000 starts at $140/hr, depending on the number of hours you would like to fly. Check our website and you might even get free accommodation. We don't apply any surcharges.

Let me know if you would be interested and would like to know more about Flying Academy Miami.

Thank you,
Radim Olbrecht
Head of Training

@Trust737

I went to florida flyers in 2011 and done about 60 hours, they were great to deal with, 150/152's were in good tidy condition and the PA28 I flew for a few trips was also in good nick.

Would love to go back for some flying in the sun this coming year, really enjoyed it.

I stayed in a motel in St.Augustine (Merida Inn & Suites). It was a clean comfy wee place and a very friendly and helpful owner.

Any good flying schools for hour building in Seattle.??

Anyone with some info on NCB Aviation in Ohio? Their rates are very cheap approx. $68 wet incl. tax for a C150. What worries me though is that they ask for the full block of hours to be paid up front (you can split this in to two payments for a fee). I am looking to build almost 100 hours, which means I would have to pay about $3400 upfront, twice.

I am just debating with myself if that's worth the risk, or if I should look elsewhere.

Thank you!

Hey all!


I'm going to Chandler Air Service in November for 4 weeks, going to do 80-100 H/B...

Hello All,

I have decided to do my hours building in Florida. I was thinking to do in Seattle but changed my mind because of weather and schools .

I will go to Florida this April. Researched a lot and I think Florida is the best place to fly as weather is good there.

PM if anyone is planning to go there by that time.

My Plan is to hire PA28 from Florida flyers. I have heard good reviews about them.

Cheers

Be weary. Any FTO insisting on cash upfront for 'special discounted rates' reeks of cashflow problems. I mean, there isn't any way to determine whether you'd get stung or not so it's your call.

Personally I would pay as you go. Try negotiating for a cash price paid in full after every flight.

Good luck

Hi All!

I am in the process of getting my verification letter and looking to go out to the states in June!

I have been onto "Superior Flying Services" in Duluth, Wisconsin about renting there 152 and 172.
Rates are 152 (10hr block) - $77 an hour wet (Add 5.5% sales tax)
172 (10hr block) - $91 an hour wet (Add 5.5% sales tax)

I would love to get some reviews from someone who has flown up that end of the country and past experiences with the company whether it be renting from them or communicating with them

All feedback is welcomed and much appreciated!

Hi all!

I´m planning my hours building (80-100 hrs in 4 weeks) in CA or AZ due to the weather and rent fee which are cheaper than FL.

I trained in a glass DA40 and have to choose between:

Chandler Air Service and rent a PA28-140 @92$ wet plus tax

American Flyers (KLGB) and fly the DA40 glass @109 dry.

I read good feedback for CAS but they are a little bit old, there are someone who recently made his/her hours there?
Personally I would go for the PA28 but I do not know,because I´ve never flown PA aircraft and there are familiarization and the check-ride

Thanks

Further endorsement for CAS in Arizona.

I was there in April/May last year for a month, and had a great time. Great team, very helpful and know their stuff.

Among other trips, I managed a Grand Canyon overflight and a transit over LAX whilst a Korean A380 departed a few thousand feet below me. Something never to forget. I don't think the A380 crew enjoyed being asked to look out for a Cherokee at 9000ft but I certainly did!

For anybody choosing to hour build in California; be VERY hot on your R/T. Busy airspace, and lots of VFR. Have to be on the ball.

@Pilot lad
What schools did you time build with in CA & AZ? What places in FL did you look into that CA or AZ prices beat? What year was the DA42 you flew? Most of the international pilots I trained with either went to Deland Aviation in Deland, FL or Berichi Aviation in Pompano Beach, FL. Berichi Aviation has a 2016 c172 w/g1000 and autopilot @120/hr WET with tax included. For the multi-engine guys, they have a 2016 DA62 with all the options @345/hr WET with tax included. They buy and sell new airplanes every two years so they are the only ones with new aircrafts and they are dirt cheap. You have to schedule far in advance because they are always packed with students. Very cool instructors, they are all laid back. Only place that beats their prices (but has very old airplanes and also has a packed schedule) is Deland Aviation. They have a c150 @ 85/hr WET plus (100 hour block pricing, pay up front). They also have a few c172's (1976-1984) @ 105/hr WET plus tax (115/hr without block pricing). However, a pilot I flew with there from Spain had multiple in-flight failures. Their planes are very old and poorly maintained. The mechanic/owner 'Bob' and his son are the worst with customer service. They limit where you can fly and give you problems if your late. They don't care about the weather. The AI on the c172 frequently was INOP. And we had a total electrical failure when flying back from Georgia. We also had a radio failure in the Class B @ MIA just before landing. Go with Berichi Aviation, they don't limit you if you pass the checkout and show your a professional (or at least pretend you know what your doing).

Rates | Berichi Aviation

Aircraft Rentals

the aircraft must be registered to a US citizen or resident- or a corporation- or in trust - the trust costs about $700 a year i believe. I am looking to do this if you want to share fuel costs!

Hello all, anyone interested to share hours by the middle of October for 2 weeks in Florida @Edgewater at 35usd per hour?

Amityes2002 wrote that the weather in Florida is good.


I did my hour building in Florida in the late 1970s, and had my first jobs there in the very early 1980s.


The 'old timers' used to talk about how clear it was in the 50s and 60s before they paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Now the visability is awful.


Back in 1981 the summer afternoon 'pop ups' were an inconvenience.
Now they are full blown storms every summer afternoon that will kill you.
Don't froget the morning winter fog too.


Florida is a pennisular. There is but one way in, and one way out.
It's too crowded, too expensive and the middle lower center section is an alligator infested swamp.


Arizona is too hot. There are too few airports as well.
Don't say you can take the heat. Nobody else can.


California is crazy crowded an crazy expensive and crazy.


Forget the North East, Rockies or Pacific NorthWest.


Go to the Heartland of America.
Anywhere from North Dakota to Alabama.
From Kansas to Virginia.


Thousands of airports.
Great people.
Cheaper prices.


Here's the best deal I found.
Matoon Illinois.
Can't remember the name of the FBO.
But they had a Piper Tomahawk as a local community service.
$40 an hour DRY, plus fuel at a discounted rate of $3.65 per gallon.
I don't know if they would be interested in renting it out in blocks though, as it's more for the local community to use.


If you only want 100 hours PIC (P1), don't even think about buying an aircraft.

Does anyone know anything about the two following places for hour building, both in Florida?
Home Page - Time Build Inc - Flight building hours services
FlightTimeBuilding.com - Affordable aircraft time building

As above. Has anything heard about them? Are they worth it or is it a scam?
Cheers

Hello mate,
I'm currently doing my modular ATPL theory in Oxford, after that was considering to go to USA for time-building.
My question is, you said you did alot of research, would you recommend Airplanes4rent company over FlightTimeBuilding , and why?
Becase the dry price for a C150 for a 100 hour block is 50$ , plus the fuel & oil i guess something like 25$ max . My friend went to that company he said that he paid as he flew, that everything was fine , he flew the PA28 for dry+fuel rate cca. 100$ ...