simon1969 Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 Hello everyone,I've not posted for a while now due to working away and of course this also means i've not been flying regular either, Anyway here's my quandry... I've paid for 55hrs here in the uk i'm with a great school but due to lack of continuity (basically 1 flight per month) I've now flown 29hrs and am still nowhere near going solo, would i benifit from going to the states and getting some time in there i could get my hands on £5000 which i think is about $8500 how much flight time would that give me? or do i stay loyal to my school and use the 5 grand to get an extra 20hrs, I'm sure i'd get more hours flying time for my buck in the US.I must repeat that my training school and staff are all very professional indeed, i just feel that i might be better off spending my £5k in the states where i could benifit with a lot more flying hours compared to here in the uk.Any suggestions welcome.thanks Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyby_heli Posted March 2, 2007 Report Share Posted March 2, 2007 (edited) Sure you would get more hours for $8500 in the US than in the UK. It should give you close to 40-50 hrs.But remember, it costs money to get to the US, get all the paperwork done and get approved for flight training, accomodation and transportaition while in the US, and all the other small stuff. It all adds up really quickly. Unless you come over to the US to get all your ratings, or get a big chunk of say at least 100 hrs, i don't think you are saving a whole lot! Edited March 2, 2007 by flyby_heli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1969 Posted March 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2007 Hi flyby heli,I would only have 2 weeks holidays available to me so probably 10 days flying time so not enough to achieve much, i only want to progress as i suffer from lack of confidence and there are some good posts on the subject on this forum, Imagine having nearly 30 hrs in the r22 and you still could'nt hover properly?it's gonna mess with your head, Am i ever going to do this? anyway i know i'm lucky to have £5k available to me but i'm not going to waste it.I have a lot of thinking to do.thanks again for your thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasbonsimon Posted March 3, 2007 Report Share Posted March 3, 2007 find a flight school in the states that can give you some concentrated flight time, although 2 weeks isn't very long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1969 Posted March 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2007 I take it florida's the best place to train or is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristol Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 I've been at Tomlinson Aviation for a while. Lot's of "across the pond" students. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossman Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 I take it florida's the best place to train or is it?Do you only want to fly Robbie's?bossman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1969 Posted March 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 Yes Bossman the R22 is the only aircraft i can afford to fly, Especially back in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHIRLYDUDE Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 If you are only doing 1 hour per month , 12 hours per year go to the states and get some valuble flight time . I have done this a few years ago . I picked Los Angeles for my training but Florida seems good as well . I have done you a breakdown of the costs involved Flight 400 pounds car hire for 2 weeks 300 pounds accomadation 400 pounds food 300 pounds Leaves you 3600 pounds for training which is 7000 dollars block rate dual 245 dollars dual times 20 = 4900 dollars solo block rate 190 dollars times 8 = 1600 dollarsinsurance around 450 dollars per year = 450 dollars These are rough prices but not to far off . So in 2 weeks you would have gained another valuble 28 hours 8 of them solo and alot more confidence . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossman Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 Yes Bossman the R22 is the only aircraft i can afford to fly, Especially back in the UKSimon,If you get to the USA look us up. You can fly everyday the weather allows. We don't do Robbies.bossman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyby_heli Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 Simon Remember, since you are not a rated pilot and not a US citizen, if you want to do training in the US you have to be approved by the TSA. They will take your fingerprints and conduct a background check, and they will also collect a fee of $130. If you don't have this done prior to coming to the US for training, you might be in for a big surprise, as noone are allowed to give you training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 Simon Remember, since you are not a rated pilot and not a US citizen, if you want to do training in the US you have to be approved by the TSA. They will take your fingerprints and conduct a background check, and they will also collect a fee of $130. If you don't have this done prior to coming to the US for training, you might be in for a big surprise, as noone are allowed to give you training.Yeah, that big suprise sucks. I wasnt looking to fly much just a couple of hours while on my vaction out in Florida but it would have been time to go home before the paperwork was ready. I think that as stated above somewhere, it will work out a lot cheaper in the states IF you are doing a substantial amount, as i believe you are. I live in Farnborough, UK and i could cycle to the airfield and sleep in my own bed every night. But if i were to do a rating, i would have to go to the states because here its just too much. It should work out quite well for me. My father works for BA (so thats a free flight out there and back), I have friends in Florida, so thats free/VERY cheap accommadation. And i would borrow a bike and cycle to the airfield and back. So if you can try and use most of your money for pure flight time, then you can really get a lot out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1969 Posted March 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 Whirleydude,Thanks for sharing that. Do you fly in the uk now or do you still go to the states and fly block time when you can? simon Simon Remember, since you are not a rated pilot and not a US citizen, if you want to do training in the US you have to be approved by the TSA. They will take your fingerprints and conduct a background check, and they will also collect a fee of $130. If you don't have this done prior to coming to the US for training, you might be in for a big surprise, as noone are allowed to give you training. That's useful to know flybyheli, I will certainly get that done if or when i decide to go to the US.I wonder if the same is true of students of other countries coming to the uk to study? I doubt it as its so expensive over here.thanks for letting me and others know about that. simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHIRLYDUDE Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 Whirleydude,Thanks for sharing that. Do you fly in the uk now or do you still go to the states and fly block time when you can?simonThat's useful to know flybyheli, I will certainly get that done if or when i decide to go to the US.I wonder if the same is true of students of other countries coming to the uk to study? I doubt it as its so expensive over here.thanks for letting me and others know about that. simon No i do block time in the states . Off to the states in may fo more hours and then on to the robinson safety course on 23th of july which i am looking forward to . I am also in the process of dealing with the tsa and getting my approval to fly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AIR9ENG Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 I highly recommend Group 3 in sunny Southern California - Los Angeles area http://www.group3aviation.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1969 Posted March 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 Thanks for the Info AIR9ENG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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