Supplementary memorandum submitted by
G A Alliance
COMPARISON OF
COSTS AND
TIME TO
OBTAIN A
PRIVATE PILOT
LICENSE INSTRUMENT
RATING (PPLIR) FOR
SINGLE ENGINE
AIRCRAFT IN
UK AND USA
Response to a question from Clive Efford MP.
Assumptions:
(a) The applicant has a basic PPL licence
and a reasonable amount of flying experience.
(b) The applicant has to travel to each training
location and stay in a local B&B or hotel accommodation, (B&B
assumed in costings).
(c) That food costs are equivalent in each
Country.
(d) The applicant would take three to four
weeks holiday time to obtain a licence in USA but would have to
agree additional time in UK with consequent loss of earnings.
(e) UK applicant initially has to obtain
a USA basic PPL (but as the applicant will have a UK PPL this
should be a relatively short procedure).
(f) The UK licence to be acquired will be
a JAA IR licence. Note that the control/issuance of these licences
will be taken over by EASA in due course.
(g) The licence is obtained on, and limited
to, single engine aircraft operation.
(h) A first time pass is achieved in both
ground and flying exams.
(i) Dollar exchange rate $1.70 to £1.
1. UK COSTS
| £ |
| Course price—including aircraft hire |
9,850.00 |
| Aircraft hire for test (approx two hours) |
390.00 |
| Approaches practice other than at base |
250.00 |
| CAA flight test fee | 691.00
|
| Ground school course costs | 1,300.00
|
| Ground school compulsory two x five day week revision attendance accommodation costs
| 250.00 |
| CAA Ground school exams fee (seven exams over two days)
| 420.00 |
| Time for course—seven x five day weeks—accommodation costs
| 875.00 |
| Exams at Gatwick two days—accommodation costs approx
| 140.00 |
| Total | 14,166.00 |
NB. Allowance for loss of earnings for c4 weeks not included.
Total time commitment = 9 and a half weeks.
2. USA COSTS
| $ |
| Allowance for converting UK basic PPL to USA basic PPL three days aircraft hire + instruction. Ground test is computerised.
| 300.00 |
| Course price including aircraft hire | 5,100.00
|
| Ground instruction costs | 625.00
|
| FAA written exam fee | 80.00
|
| FAA flight test fee | 350.00
|
| Time for course—three weeks—accommodation costs approx
| 735.00 |
| Total | 7,190.00 |
| Cost in £ | 4,229.00 |
| Plus cost of flights to/from USA (BA in Feb/March) approx
| 350.00 |
| Total say £ | 4,580.00
|
Total time commitment = four weeks.
Comment
Whilst the direct comparison of costs shows that the JAA
IR licence costs are three times the cost of that in the USA,
it is by far from the only consideration.
Applicants who are self employed or hold senior positions
in business find it difficult to devote the concentrated time
required to do the JAA course.
Furthermore the content of the JAA ground school with, seven
exams, is more demanding that that of the USA and is recognised
as including subject material more related to commercial air transport
flying. As the private pilot wishing to improve his skill base
does not intend to continue to take up a commercial career (if
they did they would be taking a different and specific commercial
course), we argue the ground based examinations should be more
geared to the private pilots' needs. Discussions have been held
with the authorities concerned and they are finding it difficult
to agree to incorporate revisions that would make the rating more
suitable for the private pilot. This is most unfortunate and as
a result only some 2% of UK private pilots have an instrument
rating compared to some 50% of USA pilots.
19 January 2006
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