Helicopter Flight Information
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Helicopter Flight Information |
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As a JAA Flight Examiner, I have been asked to pass on some info about FAA to
JAA conversions and a little advice about training toward JAA CPL(H) and
Flight Instructor qualifications. One of the best reasons to go to the USA for some or all of your training is
quite simply the reduced cost. I am sure you have already done the arithmetic
yourself. Unfortunately, the catch is the conversion to JAA licences and
ratings, more of which below, but the first thing to remember is that the FAA
Private Certificate is valid in the UK for flying UK registered aircraft as
pilot in Command. This is allowed because of international agreement by
nations to accept each other's private licences on face value, without further
training or testing. The US authorities reciprocate, but insist that you have
an FAA certificate issued on the basis of your foreign licence again with no
further training or testing (complicated somewhat by security concerns after
the 9/11 events, but the principle holds good.). Needless to say, you can
expect a thorough checkout at any school or club on either side of the
atlantic before you are allowed to self fly hire! However, some UK operators
choose not to allow FAA certificate holders to SFH their aircraft for their
own reasons. The conversion to a UK JAA PPL(H) involves some ground exams a skill test and
at least 100 hours of flight time! Since both the CPL and FI require more
flight time than that, the conversion to JAA PPL is not necessary in the
beginning, for the reasons stated above, since you can hour build on your FAA
certificate. There are two routes to the JAA CPL Integrated and Modular. the basic
difference is that Integrated corses are long, full-time, intensive and can be
very expensive, but are a great way to learn, whereas the Modular involves
more 'project management' on your part to organise courses, training, tests
and exams but requires fewer flight training hours and hence the cost is
reduced. This route has the advantage you can spread the cost over a longer
period, and is what used to be known as the 'self-improver' route! The
FI(restricted) rating is a standalone course that can be completed after the
integrated or modular courses. It has been possible in the past to gain some
reduction in the course length if you hold an FAA FI rating. Your main concern will be logbook hours. PPL training and hours building in
the US to enable you to meet JAA minimums is likely to be the most cost
effective route for you. You might like to investigate the schools in the US
that offer JAA training and compare prices with their UK counterparts. Finally, always remember that without the qualifications you are never going
to be in a postion to be employed in the helicopter industry, so at some stage
you have to, essentially, make a leap of faith! I have been in that position
and it can be a tickler on a tight budget...( I was a self-improver, undertook
training and hours building in the USA, and haven't regretted it! Yet.) |
Send email to
rb@helicopterflight.net with
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