SSSavage64

Hello all,

I had originally started my PPL in 2013 but I had to stop due to finances like many others. I am now 30 and in a financial position where I can retake my pilot career and I am trying to obtain different perspectives from people that have already gone through the learning process.

I've been doing research for the last few months on different options for re-taking my ratings from scratch and have overall determined two most likely possibilities: Obtaining the ratings either in my home country of Costa Rica [CR], or US (FL or AZ based on likeliness).

I've discussed the different options with friends and acquaintances and have received overall balanced feedback on both options. The ability to study in the US allows for more hours to be accumulated in less time. I have heard however, that the terrain and weather conditions in the US compared to CR are far more calm on average which means that the majority of practice will be in near optimal conditions without terrain considerations. CR on a normal day will have 5-10+ mph winds and a lot of mountains.

There are differences in terms of cost and hours as well. Almost all ATP programs I have seen in the US allow for a total of 250h upon completion. Despite Costa Rica being decently cheaper to fly than the US, most programs here graduate with around 150 maybe 200 hours but the availability in fleet in each school is far less compared to the US and results in flying maximum 2-3 days per week causing a longer time frame towards completion. Also, going through CFI and obtaining a role in the US would accrued far more hours than a CFI in CR for the same reason: volume.

Taking into consideration my current age factor, is it more valuable to accumulate hours as fast as possible even if it is in optimal conditions the majority of the time; or is it more important to develop skills and get challenged with weather on a more regular basis even if it means not flying as frequently?

Looking forward to any advice you can give a newbie like me and I appreciate your time in reading this.

Thanks!

TiredSoul

I’m assuming you have dual citizenship?
Do your training in the USA.

SSSavage64

Hey! Thanks for the response, I appreciate it. Unfortunately I only hold a CR passport w/o dual citizenship. I'm decently confident I could get an F-1 visa for a possible CFI after completion, but I doubt I would able to obtain a work permit afterwards to work for a US airline, so it means I would eventually be flying in CR or heading to a location with higher demand for Latin-American pilots.

CR's MROC just dropped to CAT 2 airport so I doubt local airlines will be hiring in volume any time soon.

I'm not sure if not having dual citizenship would change your perspective though.