recmommended flight school: south/central CALIFORNIA
 

Reading since a few years this exciting forum I now decided to enter the forum to contribute to the community as well as get some answers to my questions. =)

I live in europe and have a valid JAA CPL IFR ME (FI) frozen ATPL with about 1500 hrs of which about 60h are ME and about 500hrs are IFR.

I intend to visit the US this summer to obtain a FAA PPL IFR or FAA CPL IFR depending on what I have to afford for it.

While I would be pleased if someone could explain the best way how to achieve this I would be more interested in flight schools in southern/central california which you can recommend for my needs.

I intend to stay about 3 weeks to get this done and to explore some places by plane on my own. :ok:

Best regards and always happy landings!

Mark

Hi aviamark
 

check out Cal Aggie Flying Farmers in Davis (university town) near Sacramento and close to San Francisco.

Very nice area to fly around. You have Lake Berryessa in Napa Valley and Sacramento Intl close by.

Its a while ago I did my FAA PPL there (1997) but I went there few more times to fly ME while visiting my uncle who was living in Davis and he also did some flight training with them.

The staff was very helpful and nice and they made my stay very pleasant. I think all the instructors at that time are not there anymore but just give them a call and check it out. Having said that, my PPL instructor that time ( James N) is/was still one of my favorite instructors I had throughout my flying career! :ok:

Hope you will find what you are looking for and just enjoy your time over there!

Greets Andi

How about American Aviation Academy in San Diego?

California Aviation School, San Diego Flight Training, California Pilot School, San Diego Pilot Training

Think it's changed hands recently but still a good place to go.

You'll need to do all the Visa/TSA stuff if you're training out there - and CFA can help/advise.

San Diego is a wonderful city - lots to see and do.

HTH

DD

Aviamark, you actually have the option to do the FAA ATP if you meet the hour requirements
You DO NOT need a US CPL in order to apply for a US ATP.
You can use a foreign ATP or a foreign CPL as long as it is issued by an ICAO member state.
The regulation is 61.153(d)(3)
FAR Part 61 Sec. 61.153 effective as of 10/20/2009

You do need to pass the one (1!) FAA written test :ok:

@B2N2
That sounds great! So the FAA ATP entitles me to fly around IFR and to charter planes everywhere in the US =) ?

As i have the JAA CPL that should be sufficient for their requirements - but what exactly are the hour requirements?

kind regards and thank you all for your answers - will give them a closer look!

To be issued an FAA ATP, you must meet the requirements in FAR 61:

You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English Language
You must be able to obtain a 1st class medical certificate
You must be 23 years of age
You must hold at least a commercial pilot license with instrument rating
You must have*1500 hours total flying time
You must have 500*cross country flight time
You must have 75 hour of actual or simulated instrument flight time (this is equivalent to sole reference to instruments)
You must pass the FAA*ATP written exam
You must pass the*ATP Oral*and Practical Exam
You must be able to lookup FARs on your own

You must be able to lookup FARs on your own :ok:

As I have also done in the meanwhile on my own - there is also some night experience you did not mention ^^

Ahart Aviation
 

Ahart Aviation
Livermore, close to San Francisco
http://www.ahart.com
Been there last summer. Good aircraft, available, was able to take one out for one week to Mojave, Vegas, San Diego.
Beautiful places to see around: the Bay, the coastal area, lake Tahoe, many more.