Hour building in the states
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Hour building in the states
Hi guys looking to see if anybody has done anything similar to what I’m trying to do and if they have any advice.
im a uk caa ppl holder working towards a uk caa commercial and onwards to atpl, I’m trying to get the 150 hours I need for the commercial licence but trying to hour build in the uk is painful. That’s why I’m looking to go the states to get it done cheaper and have a lot more fun, first question is will these hours count towards the uk licence, I’m assuming they do but just checking. secondly how simple is it to convert to an faa licence and start flying out there.
im a uk caa ppl holder working towards a uk caa commercial and onwards to atpl, I’m trying to get the 150 hours I need for the commercial licence but trying to hour build in the uk is painful. That’s why I’m looking to go the states to get it done cheaper and have a lot more fun, first question is will these hours count towards the uk licence, I’m assuming they do but just checking. secondly how simple is it to convert to an faa licence and start flying out there.
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You'd be better asking in the wannabes forum, a few things I've noted from pals who have been flying over there though. It's very easy to get licenced, there's 1000s of posts and places you can get this done.
On hour building, DO NOT hire your aircraft from the cheapest place you can find, a friend went out there and had to deal with multiple engine failures due to sus maintenance.
It's not going to be terribly good experience if your plan is to fly in the UK so you'll still want to get some experience here as well.
On hour building, DO NOT hire your aircraft from the cheapest place you can find, a friend went out there and had to deal with multiple engine failures due to sus maintenance.
It's not going to be terribly good experience if your plan is to fly in the UK so you'll still want to get some experience here as well.
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You'd be better asking in the wannabes forum, a few things I've noted from pals who have been flying over there though. It's very easy to get licenced, there's 1000s of posts and places you can get this done.
On hour building, DO NOT hire your aircraft from the cheapest place you can find, a friend went out there and had to deal with multiple engine failures due to sus maintenance.
It's not going to be terribly good experience if your plan is to fly in the UK so you'll still want to get some experience here as well.
On hour building, DO NOT hire your aircraft from the cheapest place you can find, a friend went out there and had to deal with multiple engine failures due to sus maintenance.
It's not going to be terribly good experience if your plan is to fly in the UK so you'll still want to get some experience here as well.
thanks for the info, yeah I was looking at doing half here in the uk whilst I’m studying for atpls, then the other half in the states for something a bit different.
Also consider flying around New Zealand, there are lots of places to visit. Hourly rates are still acceptable, sort of. At the moment they are at about 150 EUR per hour for a Piper Warrior or similar.
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thanks for the reply, didn’t even think of New Zealand but I’ll go have a look
Ask at places like the Canterbury Aeroclub in Christchurch or the Waikato Aeroclub in Hamilton for advice. Over the years I have rented aircraft from both of them. Maybe you can strike a deal with them if you buy a block of hours. 10% should be a sensible discount. I can share some more information if you find this route interesting. Clearly, the area in NZ is somewhat limited, compared to the USA, so maybe it will be more interesting to rent and fly there, though!
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Having your UK PPL converted to a NZ PPL is a rather painless and straightforward process and (at least used to) does not take super long. I did it in 2003 (a life time ago) and it took 7 days to receive my permanent NZ PPL.
Ask at places like the Canterbury Aeroclub in Christchurch or the Waikato Aeroclub in Hamilton for advice. Over the years I have rented aircraft from both of them. Maybe you can strike a deal with them if you buy a block of hours. 10% should be a sensible discount. I can share some more information if you find this route interesting. Clearly, the area in NZ is somewhat limited, compared to the USA, so maybe it will be more interesting to rent and fly there, though!
Ask at places like the Canterbury Aeroclub in Christchurch or the Waikato Aeroclub in Hamilton for advice. Over the years I have rented aircraft from both of them. Maybe you can strike a deal with them if you buy a block of hours. 10% should be a sensible discount. I can share some more information if you find this route interesting. Clearly, the area in NZ is somewhat limited, compared to the USA, so maybe it will be more interesting to rent and fly there, though!
https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certifi...e_verification
You will need a proficiency check (aka Flight Review in FAA speak) with a local instructor.
This can be combined with the rental checkout.
Dual with a US Instructor can be logged PIC under FAA rules but NOT under EASA.
Find a flightschool in a State that interests you and make it your home base.
Start with some day trips then overnights.
You can start easy with 5 hrs/ day ( two 2.5hr flights) then ramp up to 6-7 on out of State trips.
Make agreements with the renter about breaking down away from home base.
Things like starters and vacuum pumps are wear items, same as brakes and tires.
If you bald spot a tire who pays for the replacement and who gets what reimbursed.
You don’t have to fly all 50(100?) hrs at the same place either.
If you don’t like the airplanes or availability then pick up and go somewhere else.
Florida is flat as a pancake but has 80+ airports, Arizona and New Mexico are gorgeous. Same for Utah or Montana.
As far a record keeping, keep all the rental receipts including fuel receipts and hotel stays.
If the authorities question a logbook entry you can go here is the rental receipt, here is the fuel receipt at the other airport and here is the hotel receipt from the overnight.
I did that back in my day also because CPL training was partially tax deductible as vocational training expenses.
Just toss it all out after CPL issuance.
You will need a proficiency check (aka Flight Review in FAA speak) with a local instructor.
This can be combined with the rental checkout.
Dual with a US Instructor can be logged PIC under FAA rules but NOT under EASA.
Find a flightschool in a State that interests you and make it your home base.
Start with some day trips then overnights.
You can start easy with 5 hrs/ day ( two 2.5hr flights) then ramp up to 6-7 on out of State trips.
Make agreements with the renter about breaking down away from home base.
Things like starters and vacuum pumps are wear items, same as brakes and tires.
If you bald spot a tire who pays for the replacement and who gets what reimbursed.
You don’t have to fly all 50(100?) hrs at the same place either.
If you don’t like the airplanes or availability then pick up and go somewhere else.
Florida is flat as a pancake but has 80+ airports, Arizona and New Mexico are gorgeous. Same for Utah or Montana.
As far a record keeping, keep all the rental receipts including fuel receipts and hotel stays.
If the authorities question a logbook entry you can go here is the rental receipt, here is the fuel receipt at the other airport and here is the hotel receipt from the overnight.
I did that back in my day also because CPL training was partially tax deductible as vocational training expenses.
Just toss it all out after CPL issuance.
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You will need a proficiency check (aka Flight Review in FAA speak) with a local instructor.
This can be combined with the rental checkout.
Dual with a US Instructor can be logged PIC under FAA rules but NOT under EASA.
Find a flightschool in a State that interests you and make it your home base.
Start with some day trips then overnights.
You can start easy with 5 hrs/ day ( two 2.5hr flights) then ramp up to 6-7 on out of State trips.
Make agreements with the renter about breaking down away from home base.
Things like starters and vacuum pumps are wear items, same as brakes and tires.
If you bald spot a tire who pays for the replacement and who gets what reimbursed.
You don’t have to fly all 50(100?) hrs at the same place either.
If you don’t like the airplanes or availability then pick up and go somewhere else.
Florida is flat as a pancake but has 80+ airports, Arizona and New Mexico are gorgeous. Same for Utah or Montana.
As far a record keeping, keep all the rental receipts including fuel receipts and hotel stays.
If the authorities question a logbook entry you can go here is the rental receipt, here is the fuel receipt at the other airport and here is the hotel receipt from the overnight.
I did that back in my day also because CPL training was partially tax deductible as vocational training expenses.
Just toss it all out after CPL issuance.
Has this changed? In 2016 I got my EASA PPL validated in KSGJ St Augustine and it was merely a "training flight" with an instructor, that was all that was required (apart from some paper work in advance). You'll then have a FAA PPL validation that is based on your foreign licence, totally sufficient to build hours at PPL level.
One bit of advice if hours building - get checked out for night flying, and do as many night hours as you can. Depending on what type of flying you end up doing later on, shortage of night hours can be a real pain when it comes to upgrading to your ATPL - as I found out part way through my career, and another couple of friends are finding out as they reach that stage.
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One bit of advice if hours building - get checked out for night flying, and do as many night hours as you can. Depending on what type of flying you end up doing later on, shortage of night hours can be a real pain when it comes to upgrading to your ATPL - as I found out part way through my career, and another couple of friends are finding out as they reach that stage.
Has this changed? In 2016 I got my EASA PPL validated in KSGJ St Augustine and it was merely a "training flight" with an instructor, that was all that was required (apart from some paper work in advance). You'll then have a FAA PPL validation that is based on your foreign licence, totally sufficient to build hours at PPL level.
The moment they issue the FAA certificate you are due for a Flight Review.Still possible your CFI signed your logbook as such just didn’t bother explaining it to you.
If not you were in violation.
Here’s a letter from FAA Council
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...rpretation.pdf
They usually require you to pay all upfront in order to get the “discount”. Now if you decide to leave because you don’t like aircraft availability they may not return the funds.
Buyer beware, ask what the requirements are, back before nightfall, no out of state, all monies upfront yadayadayada.
You’re probably better off finding a small mom-n-pop place grateful for your business.
You have no TSA/DHS visa requirements for time building so you can go anywhere.
This is probably a once in a lifetime event so maximize the experience!
I don't think so. The flight school would never do something illegal and they are specialized on these conversions/validations. It could be that they combined the "training flight" with a "BFR" and that ticked all the required boxes. After all, they let me fly the plane for a day, on my own.
I don't think so. The flight school would never do something illegal and they are specialized on these conversions/validations. It could be that they combined the "training flight" with a "BFR" and that ticked all the required boxes. After all, they let me fly the plane for a day, on my own.
A FAA GA Inspector will ask this as a YES/NO question.
The authorized instructor must also endorse the pilot’s logbook certifying that the pilot has satisfactorily completed the flight review
Not a massive need - as far as I remember, UK ATPL requires 1500 hr minimum total time, of which 100 minimum must be night. But you never know which way your career might go - in my case I ended up doing almost all day flying and when the time came to apply for the ATPL, I did not have enough night hours, and regretted not doing more night flying during the hours-building stage.
Last edited by farsouth; 6th Jun 2024 at 09:04.
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I just checked and yes, he did. The point I was trying to make is that it is not an examination flight, but just a simple flight review, which is like a training flight with an instructor on the right seat. It is very casual (if you know what you are doing).
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shortage of night hours can be a real pain when it comes to upgrading to your ATPL - as I found out part way through my career, and another couple of friends are finding out as they reach that stage
