getmyppl.blogspot.com: Next Up

Monday, November 28, 2011

Next Up - TSA Clearance

Good news from the Flying School. They say I can complete my flight training on my current VISA. I was worried that I required a M1 which would have delayed my training ($ impact too). Additional good news, they also confirmed my JAA hours count towards my FAA ticket.

Next I need to get TSA clearance and a medical complete. Plan to drop into the flying school one evening this week to start the process.

In the mean time, I am studying the local sectional to get an idea of how airspace is structured. I love the www.skyvector.com website. I prefer the paper sections spread out on the table, but the @skyvector website is a great alternative.

I am also carrying my handheld scanner with me in the car so that I can learn the different between FAA and JAA terminology. I am a little worried about the radio's over here, but I have flown enough hours to know I should just fly and be confident in my ability.

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Tracker

LICENSE

Private Pilot / Airplane Single Engine Land.

TOTAL HOURS (FAA/JAA)

221hrs Total / 126hrs PiC

AIRPORTS VISITED (FAA)

KPAO, KCHD, KCGZ, A39, KDVT, KSDL, KIWA, KTUS, KRYN, KPRC, KSEZ, E25, KRHV, KSTS, KHWD, KHAF, KMFY, KMYF, E60, KMZJ, P19, KLUF, KPHX, P08, E67, KFLG, E77, 7S3, 2S6, KPAN, KAUS, 50R, KSLE, KAOU, KTMK, KAST, KKLS, KCLS, KEUG, KPDX, KRNT.

SEAPLANE PORTS VISITED

0W0 (SEATTLE)

AIRPORTS VISITED (JAA EUROPE)

EIWT, EGNT, EGNV, EGPN, EGPJ, EGNC.

AICRAFT FLOWN

C152, C172N, C172P, C172SP (G1000 + Dial), C182S, PA28-161, F16 Sim(!), C172D, C172M, FLOATPLANE C172

Why learn to fly?

Ever since a child I always had an interest in aviation. Living next to a front line RAF base in the 80's fueled my interest. But becoming a pilot was never on my radar. That just didn't happen to "average Joe's" like me.

In 1999 I was living in Dublin, Ireland. My wife suggested that I go for a flying lesson at a local airfied (EIWT). Then I realised how simple it could be to get a Private Pilot License.

Over the last 10 years I have struggled to complete the hours for my PPL. Work and most of all money always seemed to get in the way. One lesson set me back £200 in a C172 for 1 hour dual. That just wasn't substainable.

Since 1999, I have managed to total 31 hours dual instruction. That all important solo eluded me. In 2008 I was ready for solo but I put my medical off and off. Then work took me abroad and my flying stopped.

In 2011, I started flying again. Solo'd in September. In November, work brought me to Phoenix, Arizona in the US. On the 27th June 2012, I passed the FAA ASEL checkride.