Perhaps someone has been there recently, who can give you up to date information, but if you run the search there is tonnes of stuff on this one. I asked the same questions about a year ago - so it may be worth checking out.

Best of luck,

Maz

I was there for a few days a couple of weeks ago.... its a busy training school so check with them regards block booking aircraft for a few days at a time.... could be tricky if they are busy (they lost a couple of aircraft in the hurricanes but still have a pretty big fleet).

I turned up at short notice and said what I wanted to do and they bent over backwards to help me out and I pretty much got all the flying done I wanted.... this is the second time I have been back to them and have yet to have any major issues with :D

Oh and if you learnt in the UK and have a JAA PPL make sure you have a current FAA medical etc the relevent paperwork to convert that to an FAA license.... one person I was there with learnt that lesson the hard way :)

Hi there i was out in orlando about a year a go to do my PPL training. Absolutely fantastic school its great crack and theres a great atmosphere about it. Plenty of fun places to fly the company do block rates but when i phoned up last week they just multiplied standard hourly rate by 100 which made 9300 dollars (PA-28 161) there does not seem to be a discount. Hopefully going to be heading out there in the new year for hour building i recommend them.

Hi

Thanks for the information about OFT.

I believe as long as you have a current JAA license and medical you dont need a FAA medical.

As apart of the verification process the CAA release your license and medical certificate validation and currency information to the FAA.

The FAA then confirm this in writing to you.

So then when you arrive in the states you should take along your JAA license, JAA medical certificate that are current along with the letter from the FAA confirming this the flight standards office to collect the temp american license.

I believe then after 120 days, the FAA provide you with a U.S license.

Also regarding the medical certificate.

I believe that if you have a foreign license that has the license and medical certificate on one piece of paper and the medical has expired, you have to renew this in your license issueing country.

But if the license and medical are seperate documents, which U.K JAA PPL licenses are and the medical has expired. It is possible to get a FAA medical certificate.

Actually I am wrong, just called a FSDO to clarify that and you need the FAA class 3 medical for solo flying with the license.

Thanks for telling me, I will get a medical exam booked as soon as I get their.

Hour Building in USA - New Rules
 

Hi All,

I am just about to start my hour building. I would like to do this in Florida or California.

I have been researching the new rules that came into effect in October, however have to admit still a little confused. The more I talk to people the more unsure of what the rules are I become.

My plans are to:

1. Do 100 hours of hour building.
2. I would like to do an MEP rating.
3. I would also like to do 10 hours or so aerobatics.

At the moment I believe that I can go to the states without a Visa and hire a plane for my hour building ?

Is it easier to just say I am there for a holiday and not mention fkying full stop to avoid the confusion

I would like to know if this is correct. And weather I can do either or of the other two. Or will they both be considered training ?

Thank you very much.

Hour building presents no problem, just say you're on a flying holiday. You will need to go through the process of getting an FAA PPL however, which involves a bit of paperwork to CAA and FAA, and a visit to a convenient FSDO when you get there.

MEP = training.

Aerobatics, not sure.

G

I would not mention that you are on a flying holiday. All I have done is say that I am on holiday and will do some travelling. Unless you are specifically asked, I would avoid the subject altogether with regard to flying.

Once you have your FAA licence (based on your UK licence), then hour building requires no further details to be given to the FAA.

I have flown from California, at Rainbow Air, in Long Beach. David Parsons is the owner of that school, and is a very nice chap.

I have not done aerobatics, but I am aware of a school in Phoenix called Jet War Bird training. They have a T-34 for Aerobatics, which I have always fancied doing. I believe this is all dual time.

http://www.jetwarbird.com/t34.html

Hi Mark,

I came back from LGb end of Novemeber flying with ACF who are based next door to Rainbow.

Both schools were getting hacked off as they had just been told that it looked like they were going to be given the responsibilty of both fingerprinting and background checking students even for Bi-annuals. something which to them would drown them in paperwork and make make the who thing completely unworkable.

I believe the schools had gone back with their concerns and were awaiting an outcome but something else to be aware of as you may get through customs to have another hurdle to contend with.

If you are doing the MEP then you wont have a problem as you should already be turning up for a nice shiny visa in your passport.

Julian.

Don't lie to Immigration....
 

If they think you smell funny and find all sorts of aviation goodies in your luggage after you lied to them...your in the big house.
For a while at least till they put you back on the big plane you came in on.
They know you do not need a visa for time building.
So just go time build.
A lot of schools are TSA compliant and are not in any sort of trouble.
The new visa rules and TSA check are
explained here...:ok:
http://www.pprune.com/forums/showthr...hreadid=151934

I would just like to mention that changing your caa licence over to an faa licence is not just a short matter of paper work .

when I arrived in florida my licence still had not been approved even though they told me that it was on the phone before I left which ended up with me being unable to fly till I had a meeting with the faa in ft lauterdale .

In total It took me two months to get that letter of authenticity that approved me to fly in the US .

my advise would be just to go over and sit the faa ppl flight test and then your dual rated . The test Is pritty easy , it costs $250 and its much quicker and easier than going through the paper work with the caa/faa ..flighttime ..

Hour Building Los Angeles!
 

Hi, I have checked the archives re this one, but I could not find what I was looking for exactly so apologies for treading old ground here!

I am going out to Los Angeles mid April of this year and I am wanting some information on the best/cheapest places to hour build. Price is key, but quality of aircraft and maybe some additional instruction would be high on the list also. I obtained my PPL at Long Beach (Rainbow) but I was hoping to get an alternative perspective from some other schools/people. In addition, can anyone recommend some cheap places to stay out there for a period of 5 weeks?

Thanks for your time!

Which do you want? cheap aircraft or quality aircraft? the two don't combine! If you want cheap then Air Desert Pacific, the aircraft are serviceable and cheap but don't expect new aircraft. The instruction is pretty good too. Cheap accoms. well, ADP have a deal with a local hotel and have a house where you can rent a room. Otherwise go off into the desert and try hotels in Loughlin which are generally cheap to attract the gamblers. Check before you go that there are no special events because the room prices rocket then! If you want quality aircraft well, you can try just about anywhere really and negotiate a deal.

Have fun!

Used to work for air desert pacific and it is an OK school. Did about 1000 hours in their fleet and worst thing I ever had was losing an alternator coming back from vegas one night. Because they have (had?) a high turnover of instructors there are also usually people looking for flat mates and it works out cheaper sharing for a month rather than going into their accommodation, you would also benefit from living with instructors.

Thanks for the info guys, I have been in touch with ADP and they do have some great rates and have booked with them as a result. Thanks for your reply!

WWW.universalairacademy.com is cheaper.

ADP's aircraft are fine.

Hour building in Phoenix Arizona
 

hi all, im planning on doing some hour building in the states in summer and would like to ask if others from experience can recommend any good flying clubs/schools that one can do structured hour building with.
any comments or suggestions appreciated
regards
g.n.

I went to www.sunstateaviation.com in Kissimmee Florida and they were excellent. Theres not many companies over there that will let you keep hold of an aircraft away from base and fly into other states etc because of insurance restrictions, however you will have no problems with them. They are very friendly and theres no 'hidden extra's'.

I paid $74.50 p/h dry for a 2004 C172 with all the bells and whistles, which worked out to £20 per hour based on two sharing (exc fuel which is about $2.90-$3.60 per gal. depending where you go) They're not the cheapest (but only by maybe a couple of dollars per hour) but it is reflected in the standard of the place.

Have fun!!

Jim

G.N.

I spent two months in Phoenix, flying with Chandler Air Service, back in Dec 2001/Jan 2002. Had a fantastic time. Brilliant instructors - some of the best I've found anywhere. Not the cheapest prices in the world, but the wide range of aircraft and the excellent instruction more than made up for that in my book.

They didn't do any specific "structured" package. I had to decide for myself what I wanted to do, and make sure I did it. But once I told them what my requirements were, they helped me as much as possible, and I left having done absolutely everything that I wanted to do.

FFF
------------

flying in Phoenix AZ
 

I too have flown at Chandler Air Service on 2 occasions. First time I hired a C182, second time a PA28R. I flew to LA, San Fran, Big Bear, Chino, St Catalina Island and lots of other destinations. If you want to tour, they can be a bit funny about taking the aircraft away for more than a few days. But its possible to plan a couple of trips with a return in the middle. Nice folk, reasonable facilities, great diner on the field. Try their Great Lakes for aeros.