Hour building (USA)
 

Hi folks,

A friend and I are looking to hour build in the USA in a multi-engine piston.

Ideally we want to take the aircraft away from base for a couple of weeks at a time to do the grand tour and make a bit of a holiday out of it.

Can anyone recommend anywhere that'll allow us to do this?
We both have CPL/IR's and about 200 - 250 hrs

Thanks!

Air Desert Pacific in Los Angeles are a good place to start. Cheap Seneca's and they will let you take them out of California. Check their web site for more details

http://www.airdesertpacific.com/

Hour Building
 

ADP won't give you the Seneca's unless there is a safety pilot on board. However they have a seminole that is much better with auto pilot and GPS. You will need a ten hour check out in the Seminole but it is a great aircraft and cheap too.

They will allow you to fly into Nevada and Arizona as well but they do not recommend you take the aircraft further.

Birdseed - one of the rules of engagement (that you agreed to when you signed up) is NOT to duplicate posts on more than one forum.

I've locked this one - left the one in Private Flying open.

Please - no duplication or adverts (either to buy or sell) - otherwise...welcome to Pprune.

Building Hrs in USA (together!)
 

Hello,
I'm looking for fellow pilots who are thinking about or better said are willing to built flight time together with others to share expenses ....
I'm thinking about California/USA in july/august this year.
Need some info on where to rent too.
Someone out there with the same idea?
Regards,
R.

FAA/CAA checkout rides (hr building), visas and stuff
 

Sorry if this has been asked before, but:

1) Does the checkout ride for hour building (coming from the UK) constitute instruction and hence necessitate a student visa?

2) Has anyone managed to get a letter from the US consulate (or eqv) stating that a visa is not necessary for hour building. I’ve heard that it can be done, but you have to show them (provide them with the info) that a visa is not actually needed. This would greatly help at passport control with an unhelpful immigration official.

3) How long is the validity of the FAA check on my JAA PPL, i.e. can I fly say a year after the check has been done or is there a validity issue associated with it.

4) Can I have the FAA issued licence sent to my school after it has been cross referenced? (in Florida, or do I have to physically turn up to a FSDO – if so how many are plenty littered around a State, i.e. do I have to chose a school that is close to a FSDO or is there sure to be one near a major town?).

Yes, I know, I’ve searched all of the posts on the subject and the majority of my questions have been answered, but these ones have managed to escape me. I know FFF and Charlie Zulu have written some excellent stuff, could they throw any light on the matter?

Thanks a bunch in advance, W.

Hi Winkiepinkie,

Many thanks for the words above! :O

1)

No. You require a BFR / checkout but a BFR is not seen as flight training. It is merely a revalidation of your FAA PPL. All FAA pilots must have a BFR every two years to keep their certificate valid (even FAA PPLs based on ICAO PPLs).

If however you wishes to have an hour in a seaplane (assuming you don't have a seaplane rating already) then you would require a visa in that case as this would be classed as training for the seaplane rating. (Oh okay a ASES rating. Land based singles are ASEL).

2)

Er... never tried, so hopefully someone else will be able to answer that one!

3)

The FAA PPL that is based on your JAA PPL (FAR 61.75) is valid for your lifetime but in order for it to remain current your JAA PPL has to stay valid.

However all FAA pilots, that includes FAA PPL holders that are issued in accordance with FAR Part 61.75 are legally required to have a current Bi-annual Flight Review, otherwise known as a BFR which as the name suggests is a flight "review" every two years.

A BFR consists of some ground school and flight exercises of *your* choice. When you obtain your FAA PPL 61.75 you will require the BFR to validate the certificate even though it is based on the validity of your JAA PPL. So your first BFR groundschool will probably be based around the differences between the UK and USA, local procedures etc.

If during the 2 year validity of the BFR you pass an FAA checkride for an FAA IR, CPL etc then that will count as your BFR and you will have a further two years from the date of your checkride until you require another BFR.

4)

All applicants for FAA PPLs based on the ICAO licence (61.75) must obtain their certificate in person at an FSDO. You will need to take your passport, logbook, ICAO Licence and medical and present yourself at the nominated FSDO. The FSDO will have a copy of the same letter you had sent to yourself from the FAA in Oklahoma, they will match the two letters, check your ICAO licence, help you fill in the FAA PPL application form (8170) and will take no payment whatsoever. Half an hour you will walk out with your new certificate.

A list of FSDO's are located on the following link:

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/fsdo/index.cfm

If it is your first time in the USA then the school will probably have you fly a cross country as part of your checkout so ensure you are taken to the FSDO to pick up your certificate!!! There are a few FSDO's in each State, normally in most major towns / cities.

Word of warning: Telephone the FSDO to book an apppointment before you visit them as they don't allow anyone without an appointment into the building like they used to.

Have a great time in the USA!

Best wishes,

Charlie Zulu.

Since you specifically asked for my comments, here they are: I have very little to add to CZ's excellent reply, and agree with everything he says!

The only thing I would add is that, before filling in the paperwork for the license, check with your school which FSDO is their nearest. It may be that you can fly there, as CZ says, or it may be close enough to not be worth flying, you can sort that out later, but you need to know which FSDO to put on the forms for the FAA.

Have fun!

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

Wonderful. Thank you both very much. Thoroughly appreciated.

Alll the best.

Hrs Building in the U.S. .............
 

Hi,
I'll be heading for California in 2 weeks for some hour building.
Who's out there and wants to share expenses?
Regards,
R.S.

Hour building South Dakota
 

I will be heading out South Dakota in the near future and was hoping to do some cheap hour building. Can anyone recomend any schools in the brookings area? Or anywhere in that area I have searched these forums and nobody has mention south dakota.

What do I need to do to fly in the USA on a JAA PPL and will I need an FAA Medical, if so how long does the FAA Class2 last?

Thanks
NT:ok:

Hi Nottelling

Whereabouts are you going to be in South Dakota, it's a huge state.

I spent some time at University in Vermillion SD, there is an airfield there with a school but that was 6 years ago, and a lot has happened in those 6 years.

Try this link for a start

http://www.bluebound.com/States/SouthDakota/flying.htm

I would be looking in the Brookings watertown soux falls area where I will be visiting friends.

Hi,

You require an FAA PPL to fly N Registered Aeroplanes.

This can be obtained either by passing the full written and flight test, however this will require an M1 Visa.

The other method is by obtaining an FAA PPL based upon the validity of your JAA PPL, this is covered under the Federal Aviation Requirements (FAR) Part 61 Subsection 75.

How do you go about obtaining an FAA PPL based on your JAA PPL? Well you need to go through the following process, which in short is:

1) Obtain and fill in the FAA Form. Then Fax it to the FAA in Oklahoma.
2) Obtain and fill in the CAA Form. Then Fax it, together with your credit card details (£15) to the UK CAA.
3) The FAA will then request your information from UK CAA.
4) Once verified the FAA will send both you and your chosen FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) a copy of a verification letter.
5) Phone your selected FSDO and arrange an appointment.
6) Turn up at the FSDO with passport, JAA PPL and medical, logbook, etc...
7) After about half an hour walk out of the FSDO with your new FAA PPL!

You will then require a BFR (Bi-Annual Flight Review) with an Instructor to validate your FAA PPL. This is not treated as training and thus you do NOT require an M1 visa. You can enter the States on a visa waiver program (ie fill in the form on the plane).

If you're going to obtain the full FAA PPL then you will require at least an FAA Class 3 Medical (for PPLs) which is valid for up to 3 years.

However if you are obtaining an FAA PPL based on your JAA PPL then you will NOT need an FAA Medical. But your JAA PPL *and* JAA Medical (Class 2 at least) must remain valid and current.

I did write a thread a good few months ago which explains the verification process in a lot more detail. I'll try and find that and will post it here later.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Charlie Zulu.

For anyone infuture looking for CZ's detailed description the link is Here

Thanks for the useful info.

NT:ok:

Say Hi to Air One Express for me please from the French expat...they have the office by the hangar....good chance theyll l let you jumpseat in their metros as they have empty right seats..

ENJOY!!

M>85

Just out of interest, would you be liable to get a bit of heat from the immigration guys in the USA (well... more than usual) if you turned up on the VWP and said I'm here to a bit of flying, given the current climate?

NW3

PPL then Hour Building in FLorida
 

I am thinking of going over to Florida next month to finish my PPL. I am ready for my QXC but cant seem to get the weather. I am probably going to go to EFT but have a few questions about training in Florida.

I am hoping to take my girlfriend with me and once i have my PPL she could come along on the 25 hours i plan to do afterwards. I know that in the UK this would be impossible as i would have to wait for my licence. Is it the same over there?

Also i am presuming that i can get a visa sorted in the 6 weeks i have until i plan to go, is that realistic or would it take longer. I dont want to go much later as i heard the weather is not as good.

Prophead,

Didi a similar thing myself. No probs flying your other half - the bit of paper the examiner signs at the end of the flight test IS your licence (until the plastic one comes through the post - which takes even lomger than the CAA!).

6 weeks for a visa is certainly do-able, but I would apply now - always leve plenty of time when dealing with US immigration (use search for info on what to expect when down in London town for your interview)

And finally, if you have a connecting internal flight in the US - also leave plenty of time! They don't like foreigners coming in on an 'M' visa to learn to fly! Expect to sit in a room for an hour while they call your flying school (an hour:mad: !) to verify who you are and ensure you miss your connection:mad:

Enjoy and good luck
RP:ok:

Whoa!! - the piece of paper that an AMERICAN flight examiner gives you will allow you to carry passengers (girlfriends).

If Prophead only continues training towards, and sits the skill test for, a JAA PPL then he will NOT be allowed to carry passengers, as the piece of paper given by a JAA flight examiner is NOT a licence and carries no passenger privileges.

Six weeks should be enough for visa - GET ON WITH IT (as said above).

Enjoy the flying.