Where/How to fly in Asia with FAA PPL
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Shanghai, CN
Age: 40
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Where/How to fly in Asia with FAA PPL
Hi there,
I just got my FAA PPL in the US, and since I'm based in Asia (Shanghai), I am looking for some tips on how to continue my flying experience around here.
Does anybody have suggestions on:
- What is the most convenient country to be flying in with a FAA PPL in Asia?
- Should we expect the Philippines authorities to be easier on the FAA licensed pilots now that the FAA has upgraded their airlines rating back to Category 1 (very recently)?
- Is there a list of N-registered aircraft that one can lease anywhere?
- How about Guam, Micronesia, American Samoa -> Any schools / Flying clubs??
I've done some research on my side but I'm quite desperate by the poorness of the info i got from Google. Any help will be appreciated.
I just got my FAA PPL in the US, and since I'm based in Asia (Shanghai), I am looking for some tips on how to continue my flying experience around here.
Does anybody have suggestions on:
- What is the most convenient country to be flying in with a FAA PPL in Asia?
- Should we expect the Philippines authorities to be easier on the FAA licensed pilots now that the FAA has upgraded their airlines rating back to Category 1 (very recently)?
- Is there a list of N-registered aircraft that one can lease anywhere?
- How about Guam, Micronesia, American Samoa -> Any schools / Flying clubs??
I've done some research on my side but I'm quite desperate by the poorness of the info i got from Google. Any help will be appreciated.

Can you be a bit more specific? are you looking to fly as a PPL and build hours
with a view to Flying as a career? either way might be worth posting on some
other forums to help. Dont give up on google either.
with a view to Flying as a career? either way might be worth posting on some
other forums to help. Dont give up on google either.
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Shanghai, CN
Age: 40
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Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
I'm just flying as a hobby, have no intention on building time or passing any other ratings for the moment. Just want to keep flying to keep skills as much as possible. Single Engine land.
I know it's pretty basic for most of you experienced pilots, but it seems only that is a nightmare to achieve in Asia.... hence the difficulty of the research and the lack of feedback/experience online.
Thanks for your reply.
I'm just flying as a hobby, have no intention on building time or passing any other ratings for the moment. Just want to keep flying to keep skills as much as possible. Single Engine land.
I know it's pretty basic for most of you experienced pilots, but it seems only that is a nightmare to achieve in Asia.... hence the difficulty of the research and the lack of feedback/experience online.
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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N Reg in Kuala Lumpur
The club that I fly with - Air Adventure has a C172 on the US register which is available to rent. There are others in MY - but often private owners.
There are no FAA Instructors in MY anymore - I knew of 3 but they have either left the country or their ratings have lapsed.
Quite a few N regs in SG. As mentioned above try WingsoverAsia.
I don't know of any in Vietnam (I have tried).
No idea about TH or KH or Laos.
Good Luck
There are no FAA Instructors in MY anymore - I knew of 3 but they have either left the country or their ratings have lapsed.
Quite a few N regs in SG. As mentioned above try WingsoverAsia.
I don't know of any in Vietnam (I have tried).
No idea about TH or KH or Laos.
Good Luck
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Faa cpl recurrent.
Hello sir, ive read one of your reply and you said that you are FAA CFII and live in malaysia. I am Iftitah Baharudin and also live in malaysia. I graduated as a certified CPL back in the states.
I havent flown since i graduated and I really would like to do my recurrent.
Are You still live in malaysia and is it possible if I wanna do my recurrent with you sir?
Here is my contact details
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +60192498698
I am looking forward for your feed back any soon.
Have a nice day
I havent flown since i graduated and I really would like to do my recurrent.
Are You still live in malaysia and is it possible if I wanna do my recurrent with you sir?
Here is my contact details
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +60192498698
I am looking forward for your feed back any soon.
Have a nice day

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Faa CFII
Hello sir, ive read one of your reply and you said that you are FAA CFII and live in malaysia. I am Iftitah Baharudin and also live in malaysia. I graduated as a certified CPL back in the states.
I havent flown since i graduated and I really would like to do my recurrent.
Are You still live in malaysia and is it possible if I wanna do my recurrent with you sir?
Here is my contact details
Email: [email protected]
I am looking forward for your feed back any soon.
Have a nice day
I havent flown since i graduated and I really would like to do my recurrent.
Are You still live in malaysia and is it possible if I wanna do my recurrent with you sir?
Here is my contact details
Email: [email protected]
I am looking forward for your feed back any soon.
Have a nice day

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Hello,
Sorry for the late join in this thread. I am a little puzzled by your question and some of the answers because it gives me an impression that you are looking to fly in Asia with your FAA PPL. From what I know, whichever country you wish to fly in, you will need to conform by that country's civil aviation authority by doing a conversion or validation (if their regulations allow for foreign license conversion). After you have done a conversion to the local PPL, you can fly the locally registered aircraft there by joining a flying club or getting your own plane (probably the former!).
The only reason why you will need an N-registered and CFI to do your flight review or IPC is to refresh your FAA PPL, which is redundant in the case of the above because you would have already converted to the local PPL and will need to conform to the local regulation for renewal.
Hope I have made sense above! Thanks
Sorry for the late join in this thread. I am a little puzzled by your question and some of the answers because it gives me an impression that you are looking to fly in Asia with your FAA PPL. From what I know, whichever country you wish to fly in, you will need to conform by that country's civil aviation authority by doing a conversion or validation (if their regulations allow for foreign license conversion). After you have done a conversion to the local PPL, you can fly the locally registered aircraft there by joining a flying club or getting your own plane (probably the former!).
The only reason why you will need an N-registered and CFI to do your flight review or IPC is to refresh your FAA PPL, which is redundant in the case of the above because you would have already converted to the local PPL and will need to conform to the local regulation for renewal.
Hope I have made sense above! Thanks

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Flying on FAA PPL
I'm not so sure that that is entirely correct that you need to convert your FAA license to that of the host country where the plane is located, prayaviation.
Given that one is an FAA certificate holder you are allowed to fly a N tail no matter where it is. It's the equivalent of flying US to mexico or the Bahamas. One wont need to convert their license to do that flight, bear in mind you need a radio telephony license for flights outside the US.
I believe you are perfectly within your rights to fly an N-tail aircraft wherever it is located in the world without converting your license. Simply because it's an american registered plane and is under the FARs. So is your certificate.
If you want to fly a plane in a different country that isnt an N -tail. You will almost always have to convert your license to the country where the plane is registered.
Nowhere in the far/aims says one needs to do an IPC in a N-tail. As long as you meet the requirements set out in the PTS you're good. It does however need to be done by a CFII.
Given that one is an FAA certificate holder you are allowed to fly a N tail no matter where it is. It's the equivalent of flying US to mexico or the Bahamas. One wont need to convert their license to do that flight, bear in mind you need a radio telephony license for flights outside the US.
I believe you are perfectly within your rights to fly an N-tail aircraft wherever it is located in the world without converting your license. Simply because it's an american registered plane and is under the FARs. So is your certificate.
If you want to fly a plane in a different country that isnt an N -tail. You will almost always have to convert your license to the country where the plane is registered.
Nowhere in the far/aims says one needs to do an IPC in a N-tail. As long as you meet the requirements set out in the PTS you're good. It does however need to be done by a CFII.

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Agreed CRAFT, my bad. With regards to his question, if the intent is to gain long term experience, unless there is ready and easy access to N-registered aircraft, I think it should be more practical to convert to a local license and fly with a local flying club.
There is an FAA flight school in Guam called Sky Guam Aviation where they have Cessnas for rental.
There is an FAA flight school in Guam called Sky Guam Aviation where they have Cessnas for rental.