Pilot Training Advice
 

I’m planning to go to Florida to complete my FAA PPL and hour‑building at Paragon Flight Training, and I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has trained in the US or converted back to the UK/EASA system. My plan is: FAA PPL at Paragon (6–10 weeks), then 100–120 hours of hour‑building, return to the UK for the CAA PPL conversion, complete ATPL theory with BGS, then move on to CPL + MEIR with Bartolini Air, followed by APS MCC and later EASA license conversions. For those with experience at Paragon or with the FAA‑to‑UK/EASA route, does this plan look realistic and sensible, and is there anything major I should be aware of before committing to it?

It isnt sensible, get an FAA IR, do as much IFR building PIC as possible. THEN come back to the UK and crack on with the rest

MiggHD makes a reasonable point - IR training in the USA is high quality, and much cheaper than doing it in Europe, then you can sort out a lower cost conversion.

Also, why do a UK or EASA PPL? The FAA PPL is an acceptable pre-requisite for going straight into the UK CPL course; unless you've particular desires to fly recreationally in the UK between the FAA PPL course, and the EASA CPL course, you don't need it, and even if you do a 1-year licence validation would be quicker and easier. When you get the UK CPL, it'll have embedded PPL privileges anyhow.

Don't bother with EASA licences if you don't have the right to work in EASAland. If you do have that right, find somewhere to do a joint CAA/EASA CPL course, rather than doing one then the other.

G

Thank you for the advice!

Hi Genghis,
I wasn't aware that a FAA ppl could go towards a UK CPL , would you suggest keeping my FAA PPL . I was planning on doing a EASA And a UKCAA ATPL to be more desirable to airlines as in the future I'd like to work for British Airways or a Saudi Airline. How would you recommend I take my path?
Many thanks.

BA require a CAA ATPL, Saudi will take any ATPL. They all start the same way: Go and get your class one medical(s) then come back here and we'll tell you what your options are.

You are only appealing to airlines where you have the right to work in that country. So, that defines a reslly important question.

G