British citizens getting PPI in Texas

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HollyBeckett

Filing Flight Plan
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Jul 6, 2015
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HollyBeckett
Hi everyone, my husband and I are planning on visiting relatives in Houston over Christmas and trying to get an accelerated course while we're out there, as flying lessons are so much cheaper in the USA than the UK.

We just want our private pilot's licences as we only plan on flying as a hobby, but I just wondered if anyone knew whether we'd need to do extra/other tests to be able to fly in the UK when we get back? Basically, I'm trying to work out whether it's worth us using up our vacation allowance on learning to fly in Houston in one go or whether we're going to get back to the UK only to find that we won't be able to fly over here without going through a load more tests!

Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Holly
 
I'm not sure there's a lot of expertise here regarding converting it to a UK pilot license, but there seem to be quite a few brits who do their training in the US so it's not impossible. Good luck!
 
Brit here. You've a couple of options.

One is to attend a flight school that offers the EASA licence. I did that in Florida back in 2005 (when it was still JAA) and it was great. However, I don't think there are any around Houston so you'd need to go to Florida or Arizona for that.

Second is to get the FAA PPL, and then use it in the UK. To train for a PPL here you'll need to go through the TSA approval process, and get a student visa (I think it was an M-1) for flight training, including a visit to the US embassy for an interview. It's a bit of a tedious process but not too difficult.

Once you arrive back in the UK you can apply to the CAA for an individual validation to use your FAA licence on UK registered aircraft. That's valid for up to a year and can be renewed each year. Best to convert to an EASA licence though, for which you'll need:

(2) The holder of the licence shall comply with the following minimum requirements, for the relevant aircraft category:

(a) pass a written examination in Air Law and Human Performance;

(b) pass the PPL, BPL or SPL skill test, as relevant, in accordance with Part-FCL;

(c) fulfil the requirements for the issue of the relevant class or type rating, in accordance with Subpart H;

(d) hold at least a Class 2 medical certificate, issued in accordance with Part-Medical;

(e) demonstrate that he/she has acquired language proficiency in accordance with FCL.055;

(f) have completed at least 100 hours of flight time as a pilot. (If you have less than 100 hours then you need to complete all 7 exams, training to proficiency, and the skills test)
 
There are condensed courses in flight training. What do you have so far in hours, instruction, or ground school?

You may have to widen the search beyond Houston.
 
Doesn't the TSA still have to do the background checks regardless of EASA or CAA path ?
 
A couple of EASA schools here in Florida have closed due to the excessive and ever-changing rules, regulations and paperwork that are required. But if you can still find one that is open, that is probably your best bet.
 
Scrabo said:
The Brits need a visa..?

I though the 90 day visa waiver form was sufficient for them
Click to expand...

The visa is needed for the flight training, as you're counted as a student.
 
OP should be able to bang out their written exam in advance, no? Most accelerated courses (I've only looked into IR) advise to have that done before starting in earnest. I don't know if there are any CATS testing sites in the UK, but even if there are none convenient, you can do an online or remote study course that includes a sign-off to sit for the written; then take the written as soon as you arrive.

Sounds like a great 'vacation,' good luck!
 
Holly,

I would suggest you contact Harvey Rihn Aviation if your coming to Houston they are located on the east side and handle international students as do most. they can tell you if it can be done and what time frame. Debbie has a huge following and caters to females in aviation...time/weather is really the biggest issue.

http://www.harveyrihn.com/
 
I would suggest ignoring everyone suggesting a local mom-and-pop school, here is how it is;

First of all, time left to fly in Europe with a FAA license is running out - you can still do it in the UK, but with Part-FCL approaching quickly, I would recommend against this - current derogation from the regulation extends to April 2016. Conversion from FAA->EASA is not too difficult after you have 100 hours of total time, "training as required", a couple of written tests, and a checkride.

So if you intend to use your pilot privileges in Europe, I recommend doing an EASA course. There aren't many EASA ATOs left in the US. Couple in Florida and I think one in Arizona. EASA has an up-to-date list on their website (ATO = Approved Training Organization).

You WILL need an M-1 visa for flight training. You cannot do ANY flight training towards any license/certificate as a non-citizen/permanent resident in a Part 61 school. Only Part 141 schools can issue the I-20 form, required for your M-1 application. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - it is what it is. TSA won't check, you most likely won't get caught, but if you do, you will be violating your status, and won't be eligible to enter the US for 5-10 years.

The visa process is as follows:
You enroll on a course with a P141 school - they will take some money off you and issue an I-20 form. You then get your SEVIS approval, and get approved at the TSA foreign flight student website.
Then, you fill up the DS160 form for the visa application. It's a bit ridiculous but it only takes about an hour to fill up.
Then, you call your local embassy and take a day off work to sit through the "interview". The interview means you sit in a stinky room for 3-11 hours (some embassies have CNN, some have nothing. Belfast is better than London btw...), you end up giving your forms, answering a "so you want to be a pilot?" question, and thats that. Your passport is mailed to you in a day or two with the visa stamped to it.
Remember to have proof of funds, they will ask for it. A printed bank statement is enough. Also remember to have the postage envelope from their sponsored postage company, they only accept one kind of env...

I've been through an INS check at a flight school once, they do happen. Don't risk it without a visa. It sounds a lot worse than it is. A day to fill out the forms, a day to sit the interview.
Fingerprinting is done in the US, that only takes a few hours, no big deal. Usually the clearance to start flight training comes in a couple of days after the prints have been taken. (some places start training before the clearance comes through, up to you).

After all this, you'll start the flight training. On a good school, it is a great experience. You end up sitting the exams at the school in the US, and then doing the checkride with an examiner the school knows.

After all this - you go to the UK, and you go to a flight school that teaches you how to fly in the UK. It is a completely different world, and you will need some hours to get used to the European way of doing things, especially if you are in the UK with the weirdest ATC oddities in all of EU.
 
Would I do it again? Hell No. Was it one of the best experiences ever? Hell Yes.
 
Somebody chime in here....I always thought Lufthansa pilots were trained here in Arizona or maybe New Mexico. So it's not something new or impossible. I think they used a bonanza.
 
Lufthansa used to do their ab initio training of new pilots in Goodyear Arizona. They started from scratch and worked their way up. That doesn't mean they were flying to FAA Regs....might have been German regs for all I know. .....


Frank
 
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