Flying in Washington DC

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cello.ch

Filing Flight Plan
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Jul 5, 2010
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Switzerland
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Cello
Hi

I'm a Swiss pilot who finished the PPL last year.
This week I will come to Washington DC to attend the worldwide partner conference of Microsoft. But before the conference I would like to get some airtime. Does anybody know some Flight Schools in the surrounding of Washington who rent planes with FI or safety pilots?

I would be able to fly this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks for any hints,
Marcel
 
I'll be out that weekend, but there are flight schools around. If you have wheels, it's easy to get to Leesburg, Manassass, or Gaithersburg airports with flight schools.

I can recommend Aviation Adventures in Leesburg and Manassass - www.aviationadventures.com. Now I don't know what TSA hurdles there mey be - I don't THINK you need to go through the alien flight training screening if you're just going up with a safety pilot. Do you have a US certificate?
 
Thanks for the fast reply.
I do have the JAR-PPL. According to my FI here there should be no problem to get a FAA license with that.
 
Email the schools in the area and ask about sightseeing flights. That's so much easier both on paperwork and dealing with TSA. I've taken sightseeing flights all over the world without any problems.

Now, taking a lesson or being able to rent an airplane in those places? Forget it - I never had the time to jump thru those hoops.
 
No hoops to jump through for a checkout for a PPL-holder -- the Alien Flight Student rules don't apply.
 
It does require a brief trip to the FSDO to obtain the temporary certificate.
 
cello.ch said:
Somebody told me this could be done at the International Airport (IAD).
Is there a FSDO in Dulles?
Click to expand...

There is a FSDO in Herndon,VA immediately accross the highway from the IAD boundary fence.

13873 Park Center Road
Herndon, Va 20171
Phone: (703) 230-7664 Fax: (703) 230-7720 Email the Office
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Office hours by appointment only

If you pick up a rental car, it is a 5 minute ride. At the same time you can go to the Udvar Hazy center which is the large aircraft exhibit facility of the National Air and Space Museum and worth a visit all by itself.

You may want to check on the FAA website. I believe you can do the FAA validation of your JAR license by mail in advance. You have to send in a copy of your medical and some sort of form that is submitted to your home civil aviation authority to validate your ticket. Once everything checks out, they send you a validation letter.

This would only be important if you want to fly without an instructor. It sounds like you are in town only for a couple of days, as long as you have the instructor on board I don't believe that you need a validated license.

The airspace around DC has some additional quirks that require additional training and awareness. If pilots violate those security procedures, it tends to create a big hoopla with national media attention, customs helicopters chasing you down and police greeting upon landing. Taking an instructor along to know the landmarks and get used to the procedures is imho a good idea.
 
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Since any rental outfit would require dual with an instructor for a checkout before you could go solo - you might as well get the checkout done this trip, and get your FAA ticket if you can. If not, get the FAA ticket before your next visit. That way you'll be all set next time you come to rent from those guys again.
 
weilke said:
It does require a brief trip to the FSDO to obtain the temporary certificate.
Click to expand...
True except the FDSO must have supporting documentation from the country issuing the current certificate before they issue the temporary.

I researched this for a Swiss pilot. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for the Swiss Government to send the necessary paperwork.

You can start the process from home but don't expect anything to happen quickly with 2 governments involved.

Joe
 
Areeda said:
True except the FDSO must have supporting documentation from the country issuing the current certificate before they issue the temporary.

I researched this for a Swiss pilot. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for the Swiss Government to send the necessary paperwork.

You can start the process from home but don't expect anything to happen quickly with 2 governments involved.

Joe
Click to expand...
In other words, since Marcel wants to fly this weekend, it will all be done with an instructor. He can start the ball rolling for an FAA certificate, but won't receive one for this trip. That about right?
 
Thanks guys for all the info!
I made some inqueries with Flight Schools and will keep you posted on the outcome.

Marcel
 
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