Training in Ireland (Incl Licence topics)
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Jumpin across the pond for a quick fix is not always the answer if you intend to return to Ireland but it does have its benefits, maybe cheaper, although I don't know the going rate in the states but its an excellant experience for sure and most schools are probably well equipped with all the bells and whistles an ideal school/airport area should have!
If I could do it all again, I would do more flying in Ireland to get experience in Irish standard ops, airspace, navigational features, weather etc. before I headed out to the USA so that on return to Ireland it would be a much easier transition I would imagine as this kind of familiarization would certainly be required when you get back anyway, so better of doing it the initial stages of training and baseing your US training around that I'd say.
All the best
If I could do it all again, I would do more flying in Ireland to get experience in Irish standard ops, airspace, navigational features, weather etc. before I headed out to the USA so that on return to Ireland it would be a much easier transition I would imagine as this kind of familiarization would certainly be required when you get back anyway, so better of doing it the initial stages of training and baseing your US training around that I'd say.
All the best
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That doesn't really make sense Blade....
If you go to Florida you will have much more experience in operations on airfields as they are much busier and not often tower controlled meaning an accurate procedure is essentail.
The weather in Florida (this time of year especially) will give our man here great experience. Keeping well clear of viscious thunderstorms etc.
You want to go ahead and get your ticket. Then fly with a experienced helicopter pilot back at home. The FAA route is far more practical for those who wish to own their own machine.
If you go to Florida you will have much more experience in operations on airfields as they are much busier and not often tower controlled meaning an accurate procedure is essentail.
The weather in Florida (this time of year especially) will give our man here great experience. Keeping well clear of viscious thunderstorms etc.
You want to go ahead and get your ticket. Then fly with a experienced helicopter pilot back at home. The FAA route is far more practical for those who wish to own their own machine.
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True enough and I did say 'its an excellant experience' but its a PPL (H) were talkin about for recreational purposes and I assume this chap will come back to live in Ireland and fly here, I spent some time in Florida, completed training out there and found some differences when I came home and thats really what I'm getting at, carrying out some training in Ireland at the moment in an airport which is as equally as busy as the airport I trained at in Florida, and to a certain extent, it is 'controlled', also it's probably has more commercial operations out of it aswell, providing as equal experience of such traffic! But accurate procedures in the airport I trained at was not essential or so it seemed
I was at a CAA school with the majority pilots operating under FAA regulations, not sure what they consist of but it sure is practicable. Am not sure whats not making sense either, the lad will be coming back after training in USA, first of all the climate over there is probably twice that of the ISA which, as you know, affects performance- human and machine we certainly wouldn't get such hot weather here, probably by average usually less than ISA although this summer season is the exception! The airport I trained in had all the luxuries a pilot could imagine i.e ground, tower, atis, unbeliavable weather data at the touch of a button, runway lighting, PAPIs, NDB,a rake of VORTACs in the area etc which are great for experience but as I was told by an instructor when I got home, I was spoilt making it alot easier. The weather this time of year I would consider to be quite dangerous to an inexperienced student and usually only catering for flight in the morning to early afternoon because of such aggressive thunderstorms. I loved the regular clear blue skies in the morning..if only we got them here more often instead of more marginal like ops!
Ive learnt quite alot since I came back, even such little but important things as calling tower before engine start up which I never had to do in the US,RT is alot stricter here and how to collect Irish data for a pre flight even...anyway looking back, to be more aware of flying conditions in Ireland before training in such exceptional conditions offered the US is the only thing I would of changed about my training so that as a student returning to Ireland, I would of got the maximum benefit 
I was at a CAA school with the majority pilots operating under FAA regulations, not sure what they consist of but it sure is practicable. Am not sure whats not making sense either, the lad will be coming back after training in USA, first of all the climate over there is probably twice that of the ISA which, as you know, affects performance- human and machine we certainly wouldn't get such hot weather here, probably by average usually less than ISA although this summer season is the exception! The airport I trained in had all the luxuries a pilot could imagine i.e ground, tower, atis, unbeliavable weather data at the touch of a button, runway lighting, PAPIs, NDB,a rake of VORTACs in the area etc which are great for experience but as I was told by an instructor when I got home, I was spoilt making it alot easier. The weather this time of year I would consider to be quite dangerous to an inexperienced student and usually only catering for flight in the morning to early afternoon because of such aggressive thunderstorms. I loved the regular clear blue skies in the morning..if only we got them here more often instead of more marginal like ops! Ive learnt quite alot since I came back, even such little but important things as calling tower before engine start up which I never had to do in the US,RT is alot stricter here and how to collect Irish data for a pre flight even...anyway looking back, to be more aware of flying conditions in Ireland before training in such exceptional conditions offered the US is the only thing I would of changed about my training so that as a student returning to Ireland, I would of got the maximum benefit
Last edited by Blade Sailin; 25th Jul 2006 at 22:32.
Join Date: Nov 2005
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I partly agree with Bladesailing. The USA is much more than only Florida. Florida is nice to get a license quickly, but doesn't prepare you for flying in Ireland. It will however only take a few hours to get used to Ireland (under instruction obviously) Getting training in a mountainess area is important though and I would suggest, if you go over to the US to go to say Oregon.
You'll still have to do a few hours of training in Ireland. However Ireland is one of the nicest and easiest countries in Europe to fly in. I fly a lot in Ireland and it's not complicated, neither busy and ATC is friendly.
You'll still have to do a few hours of training in Ireland. However Ireland is one of the nicest and easiest countries in Europe to fly in. I fly a lot in Ireland and it's not complicated, neither busy and ATC is friendly.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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100% Hillerbee!! Its an honest opinion Ive provided from my experience which I did not understand until I got back to Ireland myself but by absolute no means am I suggesting that training recieved is invalid, its just a case of getting used to the differences which I took under instruction and ideally if that could of been reversed i.e familiar with Irish conditions initially before commencing training in the USA and keeping that in mind during, flying here might of been that bit easier to transition to or more familiar even when arriving back on home turf All the best with your skills test nouseforaname!
All the best with your skills test nouseforaname!
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...sure thats brilliant so, has it all sussed out...just thought I'd post positive criticism of my experience that may help anyone considering training, and how to make the most of it in my opinion. Good luck
