Flying in the UK vs USA: Which is Better? AVIATION SHOWDOWN!
2024 ж. 22 Мам.
17 229 Рет қаралды
I have a lot of hours flying in both the US and UK, but it's time to reveal which country wins when it comes to general aviation and private flying as a PPL!
Superb run down of both nations pros and cons. Seems that the USA has it handled well
Thank you!
Noel, thanks for this comparison. As someone born in England whose lived in the US since I was 4 years old, and has a US private pilot license, I've been very interested in the differences between the US flight rules and UK flight rules, especially since following your flight vlogs. One of the things that seems quite foreign to me is the whole QFE, QNH thing, and the far lower and variable Flight Levels in the UK versus the standard/unchanging FL180 transition in the US. A comparison of airspace classifications and the requirements to operate within them between the two countries would be neat as well. UK (and European) airspace always looks so daunting to me when I see the charts as compared to the airspace structure over here. The differences in filing of flight plans (and the requirements to do so) would also be interesting. Thanks again for the content.
I really enjoyed this informative video. I'd love to have the freedom to be able to fly around and enjoy what your PPL offers.
Another great video Noel 👌
Very interesting and informative well done!
Thank you for the content. Head to the mountains in Colorado, Washington state, or Idaho and you will find a back country challenge. My wife is from the UK and I will eventually get some time over there. Scotland, Wales, and the West Country are all on my short list! If you ever make it to Florida stop by 7FL6 on a Friday evening. Dinner at the Downwind and an outstanding airshow almost every week.
This is really cool thanks for sharing :)
Wonderful comparison video. Had never really thought about these differences. Thanks Noel 👍🏼
Also having flown in both countries, I think it can be summarised as a view on the part of the UK that GA is a sort of unavoidable nuisance that must be tolerated, but heavily managed. Airfields are left to live or die on their own, and are under constant threat from developers who want build housing. The US views GA as a source of income for towns and cities that one might not otherwise have easy access to, and thus airfields are supported, and controllers view it as their job to facilitate GA flights. Obviously, there are population density considerations that differ, but overall I think it comes down to attitude.
Great video but remember that cost also varies significantly in the U.S. A Piper Arrow in the northeast can be $230 - $240 an hour. Granted, however, there are generally no landing fees.
As a GA pilot, I still enjoy being cleared into "Bravo" airspace and/or Centerfield over DFW or KDAL. This is good information. Thanks for all you do.
Great video!
Thanks Noel just to say both channels provide great entertainment for me. On the flying front I have taken lessons but never completed. I have so much respect for how you are continually challenging and developing your skills. I am originally from Leicestershire (Newbold Verdon) but moved to Aus in 1999 (in-laws followed soon after and for awhile had a similar situation as you in terms of family on one property but all good) work moved us to Singapore for a few years but back in Aus now We supply a range of AirData test instruments for PS test and cal and our pressure sensors are on 90 % of commercial aircraft. I fly a lot for work in bkk tonight but just wanted to say thanks really 👍
Even though I personally do not fly planes yet, I would probably say that USA might be better. It has more options with the mountains, beaches, and more all in the same country. There are also more airports in America. So with my non-pilot opinion, I would say that flying in the USA is probably better.
Oh for sure, you can see and do so much here that you can’t back home. There’s airports in every small town somewhere so it’s certainly more available over here.
If circumstances permit consider flying to Lee's Ferry, AZ. It's a spectacular location adjacent to the Grand Canyon. I flew there on a small commercial flight almost 30 years ago.
you should fly to Alaska and take a ride with the Bush Pilots....it's rare to see a legit runway up there....off airport is more normal then on airport its also the most dangerous place to fly in the US
I don’t think you have been to Alaska
Serious question , how does fueling logistics and costs compare? Yes, please do more of these videos!
Very informative !! When I first Started flying in the '70is an hour of PA140 was £18 ! Good old days !!
Wow! When I learned in 2000 it was £90 an hour in a 152. Went up to £110 when I started on the Warrior!
In the summertime, while flying around Boston, I commonly instructed my students to climb to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The specific altitude was less relevant.
Thanks, Noel. The last time I watched a video on this channel, you mentioned training for Instrument Rating. Are you there yet? How different is it in the U.S. from training in the U.K.? I would also like to hear from you with respect to differences in night flying between the U.S. and the U.K.
Hi Noel it would be great if you did a video about the most economical place to learn to fly!
Really enjoyed that. I am curious what motivated the move from the UK to the US. I understand, of course, should you prefer not to answer...it is a very personal thing.
Hope you take full advantage of the freedom to fly where you want over here and get to explore more of the country soon!
I'm definitely looking forward to some interstate trips!
I think you need to do a true cross country, head west and try some mountain and bush flying
I'm heading to California for Jan & Feb 2024 to do my hour-building, would love a video detailing the differences in RT. The subject feels impenetrable to me at the moment!
It did to me at first but you soon get used to it (and always get complimented on your RT when you learned in the UK). That's a great idea for a video - will put something together soon!
East Coast US flying is a lot more varied. That's where I learned and then moved to the West Coast US. Airport density in the East is much greater, giving a lot of choices for adventure.
But there isn't a Greggs sausage roll for 5000 miles. Swings and roundabouts.
True. We do have Taco Bell but probably not the best idea before spending an hour in the confines of a PA28.
You have to make your own sausage rolls here in the US (unless you have a British food store somewhere nearby). Frozen puff pastry and some Jimmy Dean sage sausage works great!
I've been flying around on my PPL for a couple years here in the US and I've never ever heard of the free car thing.
Great video Noel, and I agree. After spending 9 months in the states flying, I finally understood the whole freedom thing that the US is always going on about. Flying into Yuma AFB, being marshalled in, getting a free mercedes courtesy car from the Millionair FBO to explore the town and subway or pizzahut for $1. It's honestly brilliant! You can actually use GA as a mode of transport and it is celebrated and supported in the states. Whereas in the UK, it's just something you do as a hobby or to build hours to go commercial. The locals hate you because you're noisy, the council wants to turn the field into housing and UK ATC just see you as a nuisance. I can't tell you the amount of times i've had an instrument approach, which you have to book and pay for in advance in the UK cancelled because Southampton had its one daily arrival 737 on approach 50 miles away, to then essentially be told by ATC to go away. It was nice to see G-PHOR and G-PHUN! G-PHUN was the aircraft I did my first solo in back when they were based out of Netherthorpe!
Absolutely agree! In the UK it's seen as a hobby for the rich (sad to say). Here it's a way to get around and they treat it that way - making it as easy as they can for you to just get around.
Great video Noel! I loved seeing these comparisons especially since I’m almost completed with my PPL here in Jackson MI 🇺🇸 Also It is very true that even though the entire world of aviation uses English as it’s language, the ICAO and FAA set parallel rules and regulations across countries and you can pretty much know the concepts to fly worldwide it doesn’t matter what you know but where you are. Also the fact that here in the 🇺🇸 USA you do get to occasionally find small uncontrolled airports or grass strips it’s much more uncommon. Also I flew a Cessna 152 from Ann Arbor airport (KARB) to Detroit Metro Airport (KDTW) and I got to do a touch and go on a runway that was more than 10,000 feet long! 😮 Here’s the link to that video if you’re interested in seeing it. kzhead.info/sun/ddpscZmwm3WnZ30/bejne.html Finally the weather here is certainly “fun” to deal with and negotiating weather is the part of being a pilot I really hate especially swapping from VFR into IFR is not fun considering I have to get a new clearance every time I want to use IFR in poor weather! 🌧️ T-Storms are my favorite to fly through however as you get beautiful view’s especially at night my favorite! Also I still rent all my aircraft I use a Cessna 152 is about $100 an hour and a C172 costs about $130 an hour! 😣 Great video as always and cheers my friend can’t wait to fly together someday. 🥂
Noel - how do I see your friend Terry’s videos?
can we get a loo review of the sirrus and the piper?
Have you considered purchasing an airplane? How is airplane ownership different on each side of the pond? Or is it largely the same? Re: clear of clouds in the UK, is that because you're always under radar contact? In the US the reason that we have multiple rules for cloud clearance - or at least the reason that the FAA advocates - is to reduce the risk of an airliner popping out of the clouds and (literally) running into a small GA aircraft that isn't under radar service. I do very much wish that the US had a "restricted IFR". Do you think that exists as a necessity there, given the consistently cloudy weather that you mentioned?
The restricted IR was introduced primarily as a means for people to become proficient in instrument flying with the inevitable crap weather the UK enjoys. That way people wouldn’t be caught out and not know what to do. Something like that here would be amazing, so people are at least proficient on flying on instruments even if a bit rusty! Honestly about buying planes I’m not sure as I’ve never done it. I believe FAA regs give a bit more freedom as to doing some of your own maintenance vs CAA.
How about fuel prices?
What you ought to fly to Hot Springs and take your Children to Murfreesboro and dig for Diamonds.
USA also has private airports, but not nearly enough of them.
Cost. FAA costs are reasonable but EU/UK costs are crazy high because of the bureaucracy. Amateur aviation is in a much better state in the US and you can do som much more for your Pound/Euro/dollar. Americans think they have the dead hand of bureaucracy on them but thye are infinitely freer than UK or European pilots.
Are the rental amounts you quote wet or dry? fwiw a C172K I rented out of KVNY was USD140/hr dry. Here in Australia I can rent a C172R for USD230/hr wet
I rent wet. But when we refuel we only get up to the rate at home base.
Someone offers a QNH you gotta request it in freedom units. 😂
Why do British pilots not sit on the wrong side like they do in their cars?
Great comparison and I concur with your assessments. There is no doubt flying GA in the US is considerably easier and cheaper, the socialist aviation system in the US just works very well. (Now if only the US could apply the same principles to their healthcare system they might just realize what they are missing).
Good video but terrible conclusion :) you pay £ for character (grass) , terrible facilities and services. Just accept that US is wat better. Dont have to be politically correct, its aviation. I am from UK FYI