CPL(H)- JAA or FAA?
 

Hi! First thread here as i just joined today. I'm desperate to be a SAR or air ambulance pilot only costs are looking grim in the UK. Has anyone done an FAA course in the states and converted? Opinions are varied as to if this is worthwhile in the long term. Also, do JAA states accenpt the FAA qualification at all? Again, opinions seem to vary.
Any comments about learning fly choppers will be v appreciated.
Thanks:ok:

You could try doing the JAR licence in the states, it may keep the cost down a little...try www.heli.com. I did mine there and can recommend it. You can also do the combined JAR/FAA route and stay out there instructing. The students from there used to be highly sought after.

I guess you need to consider how you will accumulate the hour requirements to get into SAR and Ambulance work too.

Try the search function too, I'm sure most of your questions have been asked before, so see if any past threads help.

Whichever route you choose, good luck and if I can be of any further help PM me.

Here's a good place to start!!

However, a quick answer to your questions:- Yes, quite a few people train in the US and convert to JAA licence. However, it is not always cheaper in the long run and may not be as straightforward as some schools make it out to be! Secondly, in general, JAA aircraft cannot be flown on an FAA licence (there some exceptions but special authorizations are required and are rare) so, if you want to work in Europe (because you are only entitled to work in Europe for example), then you really need to have a JAA licence.

Cheers

Whirls

Doesn't matter what country you train in, it's going to cost you £70,000+

Take a look at Bristow Academy - they do a combined course in Florida and you'll gain both JAA and FAA licenses. May be others that do the same too.

"lucyhoneypot"

Luv ya name BTW! ;)

Thanks so much for all the advice! It's all a very expensive shot in the dark without any recommendations. Bristow is certainly well spoken of on here and i think i'll take the leap (and the grad loan) and apply there.
Thanks again! :O

Better get in there quick as places fill up quick...I'm booked in for the JAA/FAA combined CPL to start September 2009; that was first available slot when I booked in Jan!

Better not too quickly. Consider all the options you have and do a lot of research before you invest a fortune in your training. Seems to me (might be wrong) that you are making a hasty decision (2 days after your post).


good luck!:ok:

I'm not in an EMS or SAR position but I have looked at them as civilian work a bit.

First suggestion I'd make is to go Military since that is the most sought after experience for SAR and Med at the moment and there is no monetary cost to you (does cost liberty and might cost your life, but that's aviation in the civil world too!).

Otherwise, I went the FAA route at HAI (as it was called then) and found the JAA conversion to be straightforward if lengthy (and expensive for the JAA IR conversion). Personally I enjoyed the process since living for a couple of years in the US suited me (in fact if I could go back I would!). It may not suit everyone though...

Note that I didn't do the JAA/FAA route in the US - I just did the FAA and converted it when I got back. As a result I got more hours since I was able to get the FAA stuff done quicker and start working on the time left on my Visa (about 12 months as opposed to 6 months or less if you do the JAA course). The downside was about 8 months back in the UK converting while not being able to work.

As has been stated - don't expect to save much money overall but I found I ended up with more hours for that money (having gained experience in the US) and therefore closer to employable than spending the same money and time the UK.

Good luck anyway!

BG.

Very true- there are loads of factors to consider thouroughly. I can't join the military as a pilot because of my eyesight but i have been a VR for the RAF for 3 years now and have some FW experience. There's no purpose in VR flying though as i won't be called up unless there's a world war and i can only still train with them for another month due to the eyesight thing.

Has anyone tried UK Flight Training? It also offers the JAA/FAA combined course.

Such a shame it's so expensive. Has anyone found a good bank/training loan?

Guess it's just a case of weighing up what suits best as it looks like the cost will probably mount to pretty much the same. Think the hr building benefit of the US schools is definitely a bonus though.

Gotta love you guys for being so helpful!
Thank you!:ok:

LucyHP, do you know whether you can pass a Class 1 medical (either JAA or FAA?) if you have eyesight problems? Before you embark on any professional training, I would recommend you do the medical first otherwise you could waste a fair amount money.

I've not heard of UK Flight Training as a JAA/FAA school; as far as I am aware, Bristow's are the only JAA school in the US. Some school advertise themselves as "JAA compliant" and that ain't quite the same thing. Please just be careful to read the small print.

Cheers

Whirls

Think it's looking a bit clearer thanks to your help and lots of searching and enquiring. The medical shouldn't be a problem- it's the same i had to be an RAF Reservist, my eyesight just isn't quite 20/20 for military regulars.
I've found a professional studies loan which might work out if i also keep working for about a year too to ensure i have enough savings to complete a Bristow 1yr course- plus this is the soonest i can get a place there.

Any further advice is very very welcome and much appreciated as always.:ok:

Lucy,

When you say 'Bristow 1yr course', does that include either an IR or FI?

Because if it doesn't, the best advice is to keep saving until you can afford either of those (on top of the CPL(H)). The chances of getting a job with just a CPL are very, very low.


Best of luck with everything.

I went out to HAI in 2004 with the idea that one needed to do the FAA licences to get the magic 1000 hours before returning back to the UK. In hindsight I should have come straight back to the UK, done the IR and got a job. I've been lucky as the North Sea has recruited heavily since the start of 2007, but all indications suggest that the main 3 companies willl continue to recruit until the end of this year and then they will all have reached their pilot quotas. There will be a lot of people in front of you in the queue for jobs (Bristow Academy churn out 18 JAA qualified pilots every 3 months) so be careful before you invest your money!

Best of luck

Barotrauma

I am doing my FAA licence right now in Oregon, at www.hillsboroaviation.com
And I am quite happy that I went here instead of Bristow, we have mountains, coast, good and even bad weather here.
I like the school here, the instructers are freindly and they are good pilots.
I also heard about guys doing their complete FAA/JAA and not getting a job with not much time left on their visa, but that can happen as well here.

Thanks.
So, it seems like it's all about magic IRs over hr building. Bristow do offer IR(H) with their programs but maybe i'd be more employable if i got that in the UK?
Does anyone employ pilots? What are you looking for? You're right that it'd be financially stupid to just get a CPLH and expect to land a job but i was thinking hrs would help...is a good IR with fewer hrs better than a CPLH with more hrs?
Really admire anyone who's got where they want to be as it sure seems competitive out there!
:cool:

Better eyesight.
 

Lucy (and all those with eyesight that could be better), if you would like to try and get into the forces, check out:

"The Bates Method for better Eyesight without Glasses" by William H. Bates,

Once again available at all good bookshops. A method of retraining the eyes and highly recommended!

dp

You can only do a JAA IR(H) in JAA airspace - the Bristows IR training is at Norwich!!

Cheers

Whirls

You guys are so much more helpful than google alone! I won't rule out the eye exercises but i think that's quite a long shot. Hillsboro aviation looks great to me- can you tell me more about it? Do they really take you on as a CFI after your training? Do you think the Oregon conditions give you an edge in applying for SAR/air ambulance type positions because your training shows you're used to diverse conditions?
Bristow in Norwich looks perfect for JAR IR training. :ok:
Thanks again!