EASA to FAA PPL conversion - NYC

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ecamax

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Ecamax
Hi, this is my first post on an US pilot forum since I just moved from France to NYC. I might no be in the appropriate category, but Pilot Training seemed to be the best one! I have done some research but couldn't find answers applied to my case.

Here is my question:

I had my PPL check ride this August in France, so I have a PART-FCL EASA PPL issued in France. I have around 80 hours and 15 solo. I moved for a graduate year in a College in NYC and I plan to stay a few years in US, that is why I want to fly here and convert my license! I see GA airplanes and helicopters all day long in the sky and this is killing me !!

Converting my license is basically some paperwork and a check ride with a FAA FE. As I don't know the area and English is not my mother tongue -I can almost say that i'm fluent, but even if I worked english ATC over pdfs, videos and live-atc I need to build up some flying experience arround NYC and ATC-, so I would like to know if you know some good flying schools around NYC where I could fly couples hours a month and then take my check ride; and see after if I feel confortable flying on my own in US, even if I can do it with no problems in France).

The system seems to be different from France so I am a bit confused on finding the appropriates places to fly here.

What I "need" is a school where a FI could really take into account the fact that I'm foreign and could help me improve both flying and ATC skills.

I am looking forward to reading your answers!

Max :blueplane:
 
Someone has misinformed you. If you hold an ICAO-recognized PPL from another country, you can get a restricted FAA PPL based on your ICAO PPL without any further demonstration of proficiency before an FAA examiner. You need only fill out an FAA Form 8710-1 and present it to the local FSDO along with your ICAO PPL and either a US medical certificate or one issued by the country which issued your ICAO PPL (in your case, France). Your ICAO PPL should already state that you are English Proficient, so there is no English language test required.

That said, before you can exercise Pilot in Command privileges here in an US-registered airplane, you will have to complete a Flight Review with a US-licensed flight instructor. Since anyone who rents you an airplane is going to require a local checkout anyway, this doesn't add much to the process, which will include enough ground training to satisfy the instructor about your knowledge of US flying rules, and enough flight training to satisfy the instructor with your proficiency as a pilot on VFR flight operations in whatever type aircraft you will be flying. I suspect that this will take more than the regulatory minimum of 1 hour of ground training and 1 hour of flight training required for a Flight Review, so there should be no trouble getting the instructor to provide that endorsement in your logbook once you complete their checkout process.

Since you're in the NYC area, depending on where you live, Nassau Flyers at Republic Airport on Long Island might be one place to start with this process. I know they give a good bit of training to foreign students (I've heard them in the pattern there), so their instructor should be familiar with "English as a second language" students. Their instructors should be able to help you fill out the 8710-1 and have a good working relationship with the NY FAA Flight Standards District Office for the processing of the paperwork to receive your FAA PPL. If you don't have a French medical certificate, they should know some local medical examiners who can get you that certificate. I'm sure others will suggest other flight schools on the New Jersey side or up in Westchester if those are more convenient to you.
 
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Thank you for your quick and quite complete answer!

I understand now that it is not a check ride but a flight review!
You are right, I will definitively not fly as PIC with 1hr ground and 1hr flight training.

I actually live in the Bronx, so Weschester would be easier for me, but I only found a flying club over there, no flying schools.

Max
 
ecamax said:
Thank you for your quick and quite complete answer!
Click to expand...
Happy to help.

I understand now that it is not a check ride but a flight review!
Click to expand...
...and it's with a regular flight instructor, not an FAA Inspector or Designated Pilot Examiner.

I actually live in the Bronx, so Weschester would be easier for me, but I only found a flying club over there, no flying schools.
Click to expand...
Well, stand by, because I'm sure others will be posting in the morning with some suggestions up that way. But you could try here, as I see three possible airplane flight training/rental providers, and if you explore the site further, you'll learn that AirNav is a valuable aviation information resource.
 
Go to either Nassau Flyers or Global Aviation. Both are top notch schools.
 
Welcome to the forum,hope you enjoy your stay.
 
Thanks for your answers! The problem is that I don't have a car here, so a public transportation ride to and airfield in long island is 3 hours or so ! That is why Westchester would be better as I live in the Bronx.

I have seen that Academy of Aviation as a facility in Westchester, I will look into that.
 
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