instructors rating in UK or US??
 

Ok so if I was to do an FI(R) JAA instructors rating hopefully costing between £20k and £25k from scratch, then would it matter if it was all completed in the US or should I try and do some modules here in UK. If so which ones (PPL, to gain a good basic familiarity with UK procedures??)???

(My eventual aim is to work in the UK)

Please help!!

You can't do a JAA FI rating in the US yet, and I believe that there is only one place where you can do the CPL which is not any cheaper that flying in the UK. Check the CAA web site for approved training organisations.

Don't try and cut costs by doing JAA CPL groundschool instead of ATPL. It is not worth it. The course is not much shorter or easier, and it is still an unknown entity.

I was one of only a few people who completed the FI course in USA. I also did a PPL there and both were towards CAA licenses, not FAA.

Much of my experience from PPL to FI was spent in the UK, plus my night rating, IMC and CPL GFT were completed on British soil.

I was pleased with my decision to do some training in USA. I had a very bad exerience with weather when I did my CPL (BCPL) course, plus my instructor went AWOL shortly afterwards, so I was a little disillusioned with UK.

The USA can provide an excellent and demanding flying environment depending on where you go and who you do your training with. Of course things have changed and you'll need to check how much training can be done in USA.

Flying in UK is quite different and also valuable so a good mix would be best, particularly if you're looking to teach over here. My advice is to do a PPL in USA, get some hours over there too, then return to UK to get some more hours, preferably flying with someone knowledgable about flying in UK.

I don't think there's detriment in doing the FI course in USA if this is still allowed. I allowed 2 months as a contingency and not only did I come home with the FI but also as a qualified night and aerobatics instructor. My father on the other hand started a similar course in UK and has now given up because the appalling weather just ruined the continuity.

You will also save money flying in USA although not a lot and it's not worth doing it just for the saving. I would say do your PPL out there at least because when I did, I found subsequent flying in the UK a piece of cake.

Good luck

At last!

Some well balanced comments about UK/US training.

I would suggest however that the FI bit would be better done in the UK. There is a lot of negativity here in the UK towards US training (most from those who have never flown there!). This could well be a huge problem when looking for an instructors job. I think it is fair to say that most schools would go for an instructor trained by them then UK trained, followed along way down the line by US.

Great replies, thanks very much..

I was probably swaying towards a PPL in the US and then maybe more hour building in the US before coming back to UK for ATPL exams, and then CPL in UK maybe.

Paul-g -- I was under the impression that it was a lot cheaper to hour build in the states, especially if you block book say 50 hours?? Have I been led up the garden path on this!??

Funkster - no mate I didn't make myself clear about the cost savings. I think you can make significant savings by doing hour building over there which is what I didn't do. The base cost difference between hiring the plane is enormous in its own right. Couple this with no landing fees (in general), very cheap parking (where charged), lots of free information like weather via 1-800 number, cheap accommodation and car hire and the savings just keep growing. You have to pay to get over there which is going to be about 500 quid, and your accomodation won't be cheap unless you manage to rent apartment or stay with friends.

I would recommend that you block book an aircraft which gives you the best rate. Watch out for some real dogs though and avoid paying too much up front. Plan to stay a month or two and aim for about 3.5 flying hours per day average. I think that should be managable. YOu may be expected to fly a minimum number of hours per day if you hire by the hour or a maximum number of days if you buy block time. 3 hours per day is going to be an excellent average.

Savings on your PPL? - well if you're out there to do this and your hour building then your overheads will be reduced somewhat. Careful though because when you pass your PPL tests you can't just start bombing around the air. You need to wait to get the license before you can use it which could take 2-3 weeks.

I give USA the thumbs up because everyone I know who did their CAA licenses/ratings there and then did some flying in UK is a better pilot for it.

When choosing a school/hire company for aircraft ask for opinions on this forum. I'd recommend one of the places I went but they have since gone out of business.