FAA 737-NG Type Rating

[flybywire380]

Guys and Girls,

I'd appreciate it if anyone who has completed a self-sponsored FAA 737-NG type rating could provide me with some guidance as to where the "best" place would be to go. Does anyone have any personal experiences, either good or not so good?

Thanks very much in advance,

fbw380

[MarkerInbound]

There is no separate NG rating in the FAA world, it's just B-737 for all of them.

[G-V]

On FAA license there is only B737 type, but if you plan for a 737NG job, you should be flying 737NG sim and learning 737NG systems.

Another option would be to do it on the 737 classic and than to do a differences.

Noone will let you fly 737-800 if you did your type on 737-200 without differences course.

Be careful: there are TONs of jobless B737 pilots arround with 5000+ hours on type.

Good luck.

[Spooky 2]

I have no first hand experience with Higher Power in Dallas, TX but they seem to have the shortest course out there and the price seems to be very competitive.

There can be some real TSA hassles for non citizens coming to the US for flight training so be prepaired.

Boeing has an FAA approved 737NG sim down in Palma so you might want to check that option out as the total costs could be offset by not having the travel/TSA issues

[flybywire380]

Guys,

Thanks very much indeed for the replies and advice so far.

Spooky 2 - do you know if the FAA-approved Boeing sim in Palma operated by Boeing themselves, or by some other outfit?

Cheers,

fbw380

[G-V]

Normally the TSA is not a big problem. You just need to start the process 3-4 weeks in advance.

Another option would be to spend extra 130 $ and request approval for any type with any any training organization. After you receive you first TSA approval for a big jet airplane, all other requests will be approved within a week.

[Spooky 2]

The Palma 737NG is owned and operated by Boeing. Alteon has ONCE AGAIN changed their name back to Boeing Training Services although I'm sure if you Google; Alteon you will find what your looking for. There may be some training organizations dry leasing this device but I don't know who that would be.

GV; I can tell you for a fact there are at least a dozen ways to run afoul of the FAA/TSA when a non resident shows up for training. It happens all to often at Boeing, Seattle. Even with the best minds working on this issue, students still show up only to be sent back home awaiting proper credentials/Visa's, etc. Not a big problem when the student is employed by an airline, but it could a real problem for the poor guy who is writing the checks himself.

[flybywire380]

Guys - again thanks very much for the info.

The Boeing place in Palma is indeed Alteon, or as Spooky 2 pointed out, Boeing Training Services. Just for the record, in case anyone else is interested, they don't do FAA ratings in Palma, the only places they can do FAA ratings are in the US.

I have previous experience of the fun and games with the TSA, so fingers crossed! I do however believe that CAE will do an FAA rating in Dubai, so could be worth a shot.....

Cheers once again,

fbw380

[Spooky 2]

Upon a little more checking it appears that the issue is that Boeing does not have a FAA TCE based anywhere in Europe. They drop in from time to time to do some BBJ checkrides for N registered aircraft but it's not a regular event. The sim is FAA approved but the manpower is unregulated. Go figure!

There still are TSA issues when using this sim for a FAA check but they are mitigated by not having the TSA/Visa issues being as paramount.