PPL Info
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Bournemouth, UK
PPL Info
Hi,
Im going to go to the US next January to do my PPL, and I was looking for some advice on good schools. I was thinking of going to Florida and at the moment I am leaning towards Ormond Beach Aviation because their overall package seems good and economical. It includes accomodation and a night rating. Does anyone recommend this school, and if not, where do you reccomend?
Also, where do I stand with a Visa? I am a British national, and I intend to do my PPL and then do some travelling around America afterwards. Do I have to get one and if so what?
Will I be able to rent some planes in America when I have passed my PPL or will I have to wait before I can fly?
Thanks in advance for your help,
James
Im going to go to the US next January to do my PPL, and I was looking for some advice on good schools. I was thinking of going to Florida and at the moment I am leaning towards Ormond Beach Aviation because their overall package seems good and economical. It includes accomodation and a night rating. Does anyone recommend this school, and if not, where do you reccomend?
Also, where do I stand with a Visa? I am a British national, and I intend to do my PPL and then do some travelling around America afterwards. Do I have to get one and if so what?
Will I be able to rent some planes in America when I have passed my PPL or will I have to wait before I can fly?
Thanks in advance for your help,
James
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: UK
I am doing exactly what you are doing this summer at EFThttp://www.europeanflighttraining.com in fort pierce. I have an interview for a visa (which you have to have) soon. I will post what it was like and how i got on in august.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Outlawed
I went to OBA last year and got a PPL.
If you look around on PPrune then you'll see that reviews for OBA are mixed to say the least. Having said that I had a great time and would go back.
They are the cheapest and in some ways you get what you pay for. The price they quote is inclusive except for 'optional' insurance (about $100) and a small amount for the cleaning lady. Plus your flights and food etc. I also found that some of the niggles there helped create an 'all for one and one for all' attitude amongst the other students (nearly all British or Irish) and I made some good mates.
One tip: if you've already got some hours logged, negotiate with them to make sure you get the full 45 hours. Also, don't piss Bill off or you'll be starting at 6:30 every morning!
If you look around on PPrune then you'll see that reviews for OBA are mixed to say the least. Having said that I had a great time and would go back.
They are the cheapest and in some ways you get what you pay for. The price they quote is inclusive except for 'optional' insurance (about $100) and a small amount for the cleaning lady. Plus your flights and food etc. I also found that some of the niggles there helped create an 'all for one and one for all' attitude amongst the other students (nearly all British or Irish) and I made some good mates.
One tip: if you've already got some hours logged, negotiate with them to make sure you get the full 45 hours. Also, don't piss Bill off or you'll be starting at 6:30 every morning!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: UK
OBA
So in your opinion would you say OBA is a good way of going for a British person if money is a little, shall we say tight
? (obviously safety and quality considered also)
Also, how much money did you take altogether to cover the flying, living, food etc etc?
? (obviously safety and quality considered also)Also, how much money did you take altogether to cover the flying, living, food etc etc?
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Outlawed
Yeah I would, but then I don't have any other USA flying schools to compare it to.
If you're pretty easy on timings you could get a flight to Orlando for around £250. Food in the States is pretty cheap and you won't be doing much drinking if you want to pass in three weeks(!) You'll also need around 4 hours afterwards to check-out in the UK as your RT will be rubbish and it's a bit more crowded here.
There's a lot on this site about other schools, but make your decision and go. You won't regret it.
If you're pretty easy on timings you could get a flight to Orlando for around £250. Food in the States is pretty cheap and you won't be doing much drinking if you want to pass in three weeks(!) You'll also need around 4 hours afterwards to check-out in the UK as your RT will be rubbish and it's a bit more crowded here.
There's a lot on this site about other schools, but make your decision and go. You won't regret it.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Qatar mainly & Sometimes Oxfordshire or Texas!
Hiya,
All I can say is that if you go to OBA then good luck. I went there to do my IMC and Night ratings a couple of years back and from what I hear they haven't changed much since then. Granted I did get my course completed successfully, but more by my hard work than their help I think. I'm not going to run them down or give bad press, but I do honestly believe you can find much better schools for no real difference in cost out in the states.
I am now doing my Multi IR and am doing most of that out in the States. The school I am at here is fantastic, a complete contrast to the last one I went to! The instructors are very good and you are always very well looked after, both during and out of "office hours".
If you'd like to know more about them feel free to get in touch. As for Visas, they are only required if you are doing professional flight training, so for a PPL all you need is an I-94 visa waiver the same as when you come here on holiday as it is recreational flying (as long as you don't intend to stay longer than 90 days of course!).
All the best with your future training.
All I can say is that if you go to OBA then good luck. I went there to do my IMC and Night ratings a couple of years back and from what I hear they haven't changed much since then. Granted I did get my course completed successfully, but more by my hard work than their help I think. I'm not going to run them down or give bad press, but I do honestly believe you can find much better schools for no real difference in cost out in the states.
I am now doing my Multi IR and am doing most of that out in the States. The school I am at here is fantastic, a complete contrast to the last one I went to! The instructors are very good and you are always very well looked after, both during and out of "office hours".
If you'd like to know more about them feel free to get in touch. As for Visas, they are only required if you are doing professional flight training, so for a PPL all you need is an I-94 visa waiver the same as when you come here on holiday as it is recreational flying (as long as you don't intend to stay longer than 90 days of course!).
All the best with your future training.
