FAA or EASA cpl/ir or both....
 

Hello all, was hoping to trawl the forums for some ideas for CPL/IR training. I have done my 14 EASA ATPL exams (Bristol GS- highly recommended) and have now found myself living in the west side of the USA for next year or so. Debating whether to do an FAA cpl/ir while I am here, or wait until I am back in UK to do an EASA cpl/ir or would it be worth doing the FAA license and converting to an EASA?

With recent news announcements with AA and so on is it even worth doing an EASA license and just stay in USA to do flying here? (ability to work in states not an issue) Although it would be a shame to let the ATPL exams go to waste.

Any thoughts or ideas from anyone or people who have found themselves in a similar situation, would be gratefully appreciated.

Why waste time? Just do the FAA licence while you are there, do the JAA one later. I'm a great believer in using opportunities when they arise.

FAA licence has a little added bonus, any type ratings you add to it stay permanently, on the new EASA licence they lapse after three years.

Get the FAA licences while you are there. FAA CPL ASEL/AMEL, INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE.

If you then need to go to an EASA CPL/IR, you only need an abbreviated course for the IR (typically 15 hours in the UK), and, I believe but am not sure, training as required for the CPL (worst case 15 hours - full course for IR holders).

With the flying in the US being much cheaper, it might even cost the same as doing the CPL/IR in western Europe, so you effectively get both FAA and EASA tickets for the same price...

Just make sure your visa status is ok for the training, also you will need TSA approval for the IR and the ME rating (but not for the CPL). Unless you are a US citizen or green card holder, that is.