No. All you need is the financial means (loan, personal finances, etc) to pay for the program and a valid FAA medical (1st Class I believe). If you have a PPL, you also need at least 80hrs.

Foreign nationals will need additional paperwork, clearances, etc.

Hey there. I started at ATP in Vegas this month. Hit me up if you have any questions. I'll PM you my number.

~ Dan

Any advice or guidance ?
 

Greetings Experts. This is my first post so please forgive my ignorance.

A brief background : Me: Australian non-pilot, living in Colombia, married to a Colombian, adopted three Colombian girls. The eldest (who's very smart) has just graduated from H.School at 16, and SHE is fast tracking English now, to then move on to pursue (with our help$$$) her career as a Pilot (Commercial). I started researching forums and found this one with 10 pages of very interesting and useful info. Thank you all, in advance !

But, may I bore you all with several questions ?

1. Now, in the current Trump era, VISAS to enter the USA would seem to be a shot in the dark, moreso if you're from South America. Jerry is ! Or am I wrong and there are ways for flight training students to get in still ?

2. If you could get a (student) visa, where does one look for flight training ? There are so many schools in so many states, and add to that, Universities; with fees ranging from $75000 to well above. We of course have to add housing etc to the costs... Any recommendations ? I've read here about ATP (not viewed too well), VGT and a few others.

3. The growth numbers mentioned in the posts in the forum at pprune.org (2016) showed significant growth numbers for pilots in the years ahead. Is that still foreseen ?

4. If not the USA as the location for flight training, would you recommend Australia or New Zealand ? Being a Australian citizen I "should" be able to get her a visa there (though my own govt is becoming as xenophobic as the US).

5. It's been recommended to us by local AVIANCA pilots here in Colombia, to do the theoretical studies here (good school they say is the AAA in Medellin) in Colombia, then accumulate flying hours in the USA. Does this seem to be an option, experts ?

I'd greatly appreciate ANY suggestions from any and all.

As a thanks for wading through all this, here's an old joke I remember : A guy gets on a brand new Japan Airlines A399 Airbus. He's shown around by the "hostie" who demonstrates the super features in the toilets, which includes a bidet style spray of warm water followed by a soothing burst of hot air to dry one's toosh. He was not however informed about the ATR button and as most of the instructions were in Japanese, he didn't understand them. Sadly, he used the ATR button and awoke in a hospital bed the next day. Next to him on the night stand was his penis in a jar. When asked what the heck happened, he was told by the nurse that he pressed the Automatic Tampon Remover.

OMG if it's not nerve-racking enough buying a used CAR, with all the potential "hidden" issues, you're suggesting buying a used PLANE ?

I looked here (CESSNA 150 SERIES Single Engine Piston Aircraft For Sale - Used & New 1 - 25) and whilst the prices seem great, a lemon at 4000 feet will more than likely kill the pilot and unlucky passsenger !

I'm not suggesting anything, but merely offering it as an option. The purchasing process is more through than buying a car. Done properly, one would have the aircraft thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic to ensure the aircraft has been properly maintained and to discover any potential future problems.

The refurbished 152s I mentioned earlier are being offered by Aviat Aircraft.
http://aviataircraft.com/152-reimagined/

***

With regards to your daughter's training, I'd recommend confining your search to schools that have experience training foreign nationals. Everyone's "favorite" bunching bag ATP is one, so is FlightSaftey Academy.

I don't have any first hand knowledge/experience but seeing that Colombia isn't on a super special lists, I can't imagine that there would be any extra steps in acquiring the visas and such. For any foreign national seeking flight training in the US, there is one extra step and that is TSA clearance for flight training:
https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/


Getting as much of the "theoreticals" done prior to flight training is always a good idea, no matter where she eventually goes for training. It will be one less thing to contend with during actual flight training.

I am calling major BS on the failing a written test and out 75k with a PPL. ATP or any flight school will not kick you out for failing a written test. No way! That may have been the straw that broke the camel's back, but that is not why anyone gets kicked out of a flight school.

If a visa is needed then you will be needing to go to a "part 141/142" flight school vs a "part 61".

The school will help you get your visa for flight training.

Finding a flight school is going to be easy, however selecting one that best fits your needs may be a challenge. I can't really recommend one flight school vs another because they are very different and can change over time.

Things to consider:
1. Weather - you want a place where weather will not be an issue. Seattle vs Phoenix.
2. Housing and transportation- some schools provide housing and transportation to and from the school.
3. Cost what's included in the cost. Books, head sets, testing fees, examiners fee, etc.
4. Equipment- this will be very difficult to determine because they all say they have excellent maintenance and equipment.
5. Timeline- how fast or slow is the course. Can the pace be slowed down or speed up depending on the students need. Are their enough aircraft and instructors. Will your daughter fly with the same instructor? All these things can have an impact on delays.

The need for pilots is very strong right now and for the next 10-15 years.

You could do theory in Columbia but, I still think the flight school will provide its own ground courses. So she may end up going through two ground courses. But it might be a good introduction before you spend so much in the US.

Just to clarify btw; a foreign student can go through Part61, but to sponsor the visa, the school has to have Part141 as well. You just don't have to follow it if you don't want to (and you really shouldn't as a foreign student).

I can't do any PM's... but really interested to see how you like ATP vegas! Do they have a lot of students there? How are the staff?

Is it typical for ATP to treat their students like crap or is it just the Jacksonville, FL location? I know someone who has been there to do the SE COMM/CFI/CFII. At this point my friend has only the CFII ride to do, and they have cancelled and rescheduled the checkride 3 times now. And not because they are not ready, but out of pure stupidity on the school and examiner fault. They have not flown in 19 days and get no more additional time for flight prep. Seems to me they do not do a good job at all of taking care of their people.