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VALUE FOR MONEY
Let’s be brutally honest: helicopter flight training is really expensive. I remember when I was converting my FAA PPL(H) to, at that time, a JAA PPL(H) in England, the cost per hour and overall requirements were eye-opening. Even though the costs in the United States were still relatively expensive, they were less than half the amount I was forced to pay back home. I couldn’t believe that my instrument-rating certification had to be done in a twin-engine turbine in Europe when I knew I could do it in a little R22 in the U.S. I thought if I stayed in the U.K., I would be in debt up to my eyeballs for decades or not even be able to afford to start. Certainly, the cost of flight training has gone up in the U.S., especially with post-COVID inflation, but the fact of the matter is that it is still far more affordable than the majority of options around the world.
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English is known as the language of aviation around the world, and while that’s not exactly relevant to me since I’m English, it is nevertheless important for those for whom it is not a first language. Learning to fly in an English-speaking country like
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GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION
The United States is a large country offering diverse geographic locations and weather conditions that provide a wide range of training experiences. Personally, I came to California because of the nearly year-round flying weather. I also found that the Los Angeles area offered a diverse flying environment, from incredibly complex urban areas with all classifications of airspace, to sparsely populated desert areas and mountainous terrain. I foresaw that by learning and getting used to flying in this diverse environment, while it’s a lot to initially take in, would stand me in far better stead in the future. This turned out to be true, as I’ve still not flown anywhere else that is as challenging as the Los Angeles Basin. I am convinced I am a far more proficient pilot because of where I trained.
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QUALITY TRAINING
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all schools that want the opportunity to apply with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for visa-issuing authority to be a Part 141 certified flight school. In essence, being Part 141 requires you to go through an extremely thorough and rigorous process whereby every part of your program needs a stamp of approval: your written teaching syllabus needs to be approved, your aircraft and instructors need to be approved, and you even have to have to get out your measuring tape and have the approved, correct-sized classrooms! This qualification, ironically, cannot be even applied for until your company has been in business for two years, as the FAA is trying to make sure that economically viable companies apply instead of those that are nonviable and go out of business during the certification process.
FAA CERTIFICATION
The FAA is known for rigorous standards and is highly respected worldwide. The certification it provides is valid, or relatively easily transferable, in a lot of countries around the world. This makes it directly relevant and applicable for foreign students who want to go back to their home countries and
continue flying. At the time I was making my decision, I did not have a clear picture of where I might end up living. So getting an FAA certification gave me a lot of future flexibility, which was important.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
the United States can improve your English language skills, which is crucial for pilot safety and will greatly enhance future career opportunities.
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