Hi Ric, I am also in England looking to go to the US for flight training. There are some very good deals out there if you look around. The biggest schools are not necessarily the best, it depends on how much you want to spend, and what you want to do after your training. There can be a BIG difference in price between schools, which in the end offer you the same thing. By the time you have instructed for a year - 2 years, you should be in a good position to join the regionals (providing you have the minimums & are able to work in the US)... If you want to return to the UK you will have to satisfy the JAR's for converting your licences, or you can do the JAA licence (but only a few selection of schools do this).Minimums for the regionals vary:ASA's - 1800TT and 350ME. ACA's - 1500TT and 250ME and can go down to 1000TT and 375 multi if you have an aviation degree. Comair is 1200 Total Flight Hours - 200 Multi-Engine Hours Mesa is 1000TT and 100ME SkyWest is 1000TT and 100ME, 100 hours instrument time Island Air is 1500TT and 500ME although we hire with lessGreat Lakes - Have a minimum of 500 hours Total time, 250 PIC , 50 hours of Multi, 10 hours of instrument (actual), and have flown at least 50 hours in the last 90 daysAir Wisconsin Airlines Corperation(AWAC) - 1500 hours total flight time 500 hours multi-engine, ATP written by date of hireGreat Lakes and AWAC ARE hiring at the moment, which is a good indication of how strong their growth and stability is.A very good site that offers alot of info is http://www.flightinfo.com. Good luck.JB.
