Stunning weather and beautiful views coupled with significantly lower costs drive many people to conduct their flight training overseas. Popular destinations include Florida, California, Canada and New Zealand.

Pilot training in the UK can be expensive and at times frustrating, especially because of the weather. British weather means that you are not guaranteed to fly week in week out when you turn up for your flying lesson. This potential inconsistency as well as the cost turns many students to look overseas for training.

Currently the most popular destination for students is the USA, especially Florida and California. The weather in these locations is pretty consistent throughout the year and provides excellent conditions for flying training.

Cheaper fuel costs in the USA as well as a strong British currency makes the cost of training in the USA considerably cheaper. Although the cost of training is cheaper it is important to bear in mind the other costs such as flights to the USA, visa fees etc.

Flying in a location like Florida can be very exciting with wonderful sights and almost unrestricted airspace. The weather is fantastic with a strong atmosphere between your fellow students.

There are numerous flying schools in the USA which cater for European students. Many overseas schools offer JAA training which is to European standards. Thus when you get back with your new license it will be valid in the UK an you can start flying straight away.

How much will it cost?

The cost of training overseas will depend on what you are training for, below is an estimation for gaining a JAA PPL in Florida.

• Cost: Flight Training overseas can provide significant savings compared to the UK.
• Weather: Overseas pilot training can offer great weather perfect for training, saving you the hassle of all those delays caused by British weather.
• Speed: Pilot training at specialized overseas flying schools is designed to be quick, you can gain a PPL in three weeks at some schools.
• Great Experience: Overall obtaining your wings in a place like Florida is a tremendously exciting experience which can't be beaten by UK flying schools.

• To Quick? Doing a PPL in three weeks may be too much for some, if you don't start flying quickly when you return home a short packed course means you can forget just as quickly.
• Up Front Payment: Pursuing a PPL in one go overseas will usually require you to pay all the money in one go, where as in the UK you can spread the cost and training over a longer period.
• UK Adaption: There's no substitute for getting used to flying in the UK with British weather than by doing your flight training here.
• Time Off: For those of you with families and full time jobs it can be a challenge to take a month off to pursue pilot training, in these cases part-time UK training may be a better option.