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I have held a Private Pilot's Licence
since 1984, and make use of it as much as possible. I have flown in
the UK, France, USA and South Africa and intend to add to that list as soon
and as much as possible.
Handy Information for UK General Aviation Pilots
 | How do I know if my PPL is valid and/or if I'm Current?
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| Crossing the Channel - I
have attempted to collate all the information that is required for a
UK General Aviation Pilot to fly across the Channel (or the Irish Sea)
in order to explore the World by personal air transport.
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| VFR
Flight Plan Form
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| How
to fold an Aviation Chart
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Weather and Flight Planning
| Aviation Weather and NOTAMs -
UK pilots are always preoccupied with the weather,
and it is also necessary to review Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to
ensure that the planned route does not pass through an airshow or
similar..
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| Flight Planning - Useful sites for Flight Planning Software
and Information. These products are thoroughly recommended: I
have no connection with them other than as a satisfied customer.
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PPL Flying in the United States
| With a little forward planning, you can very
easily receive an FAA license based on your CAA or JAA PPL .
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| You can then exercise your licence privileges
in the United States so long as your CAA/JAA licence and medical are
current, and you fulfill the US currency requirements. (Essentially a
Biennial Flight Review - minimum one hour ground school and one hour
in flight with an FAA instructor every two years). |
| Note that you do NOT require a
visa UNLESS you are visiting the USA to undertake
further "...training that a candidate could use toward a new airman’s
certificate or rating." See
Transportation Security Agency letter to AOPA |
| Step-by-Step
Process for obtaining an FAA PPL based on your CAA or JAA PPL.
- Send the
form linked below to the CAA, not forgetting your cheque for £38.
(Correct as of Feb 2006)
- Give it
time to get there (couple of days), and then fax the FAA form (also
linked below) to Oklahoma City. (Fax number is on the Form)
- Sit back
and wait for the letter from the FAA to drop onto your doormat. (The
letter that you will then present at your designated FAA Flight
Service District Office (FSDO) in order to get your Temporary
Airman's Certificate, which you can fly on immediately - the "real"
license (sic) will arrive in UK a few weeks later).
For me, elapsed time between Stages 1 and 3 was 13 calendar days.
Pretty good, I thought.
You don't actually get any docs from the CAA - your form and funds
are to to authorise the CAA to respond to an enquiry from the FAA.
CAA Form:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/FORSRG1160.pdf
FAA Form:
http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/media/verify61-75.pdf
Other Handy Info:
Locate an FSDO:
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/
FAA info "Foreign Pilots: U.S. Certification"
Note that the letter you get back from
the FAA to present at your chosen FSDO is only valid for 6 months.
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| FAA
Certificates for ICAO Pilots (based on Info from
PPL/IR Network)
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My Flying
| Jodel - I have
shares in two Jodel aircraft...
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| Wing Farm Airstrip - Information for operating from
Wing Farm in Wiltshire. |
| Yak 50/52 - For a short period, I had a
share in a syndicate that operated Yak 52 and Yak 50 aerobatic
aircraft. Superb fun, but sadly I didn't have the time to remain
current.
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Historical Info
| World War II Luftwaffe bomber shot down
in Hill Deverill, Wiltshire - In 1944, a Luftwaffe
bomber intent on raiding Bristol docks was short down by the Royal Air
Force and crashed within a few hundred yards of where I now live.
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Photographs
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Aviation Photos
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