Flying while traveling Internationally?

[MarkH]

I'm planning an international vacation for next year and I just had a thought that it would be cool if I could do some flying during the trip. The initial thought is finding a CFI and a rental to do an exploratory flight in a local plane.

But that lead me down a rabbit hole of "What would it take to fly a local plane with my PPL?". Is there any reference that I can use to look up what it would take to fly in different ICAO countries? While I know there are the ICAO standards, there seems to be some variability that may impact applications, for example, some Caribbean countries, allow flying with BasicMed (though its not ICAO accepted, but I don't know if this applies to local planes or just N registered) and Mexico has different registrations for private aircraft vs commercial (and I don't know where rentals fall, or if that impacts the ability to fly with a US PPL).

Right now, my vacation planning is focused on Mexico, Ireland, Chile and a couple other Latin American options, but I am asking more "where I can find the answer for <insert country here>", than "what is the answer for <insert country here>".

 

[midlifeflyer]

If it’s an N-numbered airplane, I think you are good to go, except for understanding how their rules, especially airspace, are different. Sometimes markedly so. For their registered aircraft you may need their pilot certificate. I’ve flown twice in Europe while on vacation. Both times with a local pilot.

 

[murphey]

If you have the CFI (or equivalent) no need for anything else. I “took a lesson” in Australia, in my logbook, c152. Had a great time. Tried to do the same in England, weather was crummy.

 

[MarkH]

If you have the CFI (or equivalent) no need for anything else. I “took a lesson” in Australia, in my logbook, c152. Had a great time. Tried to do the same in England, weather was crummy.

If its an N-registered airplane or if I have a CFI, then I don't expect there is anything to worry about.

But I am curious about where I can look to find what it takes to fly a locally registered airplane with my US PPL.

 

[Katamarino]

If its an N-registered airplane or if I have a CFI, then I don't expect there is anything to worry about.

But I am curious about where I can look to find what it takes to fly a locally registered airplane with my US PPL.

Every country is different and typically it's more of a hassle than it's worth. Australia for example is a multi-month paperwork process. South Africa needs an exam and flight test, as well as the paperwork. Given that local procedures will all be very different to what you're used to, and inevitably more complex than the US, going with a CFI is really the best choice unless you're specifically going for a flying holiday.

 

[M20K]

You can take your Pilot Certificate if you want, but no need. Just like the time you showed up at the Airport to take your first flight, you had nothing.

You could take your Logbook if you really wanted the CFIs signature as a souvenir. But otherwise just log it when you get home for the memory. And yes, you can Log time in a non N# plane flying as the Sole Manipulator of the Controls. You don't need all the requirements to BE PIC since you had a CFI onboard acting as The PIC.

I thought about it while in Paris a couple of weeks ago, but we didn't have the time.

 

[Sierra_Hotel]

Looked into it in Paris and London as well, but trip was too short to pull it off. Considered doing a warbird flight in the UK, too, but with as bad as the weather ended up being I'm glad I didn't schedule one.

 

[murphey]

There are commercial organizations that arrange "flying safari" types of activities in Africa, but that's the transportation, it's rare that you get to do the flying. A few years ago I was supposed to be at a conference in France, and arranged my travel to return by way of Iceland. I started by tracking down flying clubs in France and Iceland. The clubs will tell you the details, some will help you with the details but almost 99% of the time it's easier to make it a lesson with a CFI. No hassles, just your credit card, and they'll sign the logbook. Being able to rent one for extended period, such as a week or more without the CFI is more trouble than it's worth, at least it was for me.

From another aviation website, if you have USA or Canadian cert, and want to fly in France:

First, you have to validate your licence. You will get a temporary French licence enabling you to fly a F-reg plane. This opportunity is limited to people who are NOT citizen of a EU country, or who are permanent residents of a country which is not a member of the EU. If you're German, living in Germany, flying with a FAA license in your country, you won't be able to get the temporary french licence, and you will have to rent a N-reg plane to fly here. If you're german, living in the USA, then no problem.

This temporary, VFR licence will be usable for private and leisure purposes only. It won't in any case exceed the privileges attached to the original licence. To get it, you must go to a local office of the DGAC with :

your pilot licence, including a end of validity date your medical certificate (do they accept Basic Med?) your logbook, an ID card or a passport, and a certificate to prove that you live in a non-EU country, if you're a EU citizen.

If only paperwork is to be done, it should last a week. It might be careful, however, to expect much more. The bad news is that you may have to be checked out by a FE, or even undergo a bit of extra training if your experience is considered to be insufficient. Unfortunately, it seems that there is no rule there, and that you will depend on the good will of the guy in charge of issuing the licence. Having no feedback yet about this problem, I can't tell you what to expect in reality.

The next bad news is that the issuing of a temporary french license, which used to be free, is now (from 2007 on) charged 80€ (2007).

Other bad news : your non-JAR instrument rating is not valid in France. If you want it reported on your French license, you will have to pass the complete theoretical Instruments exam and be flight tested by a FE. It's not something you can consider doing in a few days. If you really want to fly IMC in France, you'd better rent a N-reg aircraft

Don't forget the insurance!

It's enlightening when you start researching this to realize, despite how much we complain about the FAA, we really do have it good.

 

[M20K]

From another aviation website, if you have USA or Canadian cert, and want to fly in France:

Nay, don't bother with all of that. Just fly your N Registered plane to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the French Islands off the coast of Newfoundland.

I should have flown there when I lived back east. But I did make it to Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine north of Prince Edward Is.