Calgary Flight Training Centre
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Calgary Flight Training Centre
Hello im new to this forum. I have used the search function to find information on CFTC, but i only managed to find old threads from a couple of years back, seems the flight school has a bad reputation.
I want to know if the flight school, instructors, and staff any good at the moment ? Any students studying there currently ?
Im a PPL holder and i would like to get my night rating somewhere in Calgary, thanks!
I want to know if the flight school, instructors, and staff any good at the moment ? Any students studying there currently ?
Im a PPL holder and i would like to get my night rating somewhere in Calgary, thanks!
Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
I did my night rating last year at the Calgary Flying Club. There's lots of planes to choose from, but they're all long-in-the-tooth 172s.
Clear skies and calm winds...
Trevor
Trevor
Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Trevor wrote:I did my night rating last year at the Calgary Flying Club. There's lots of planes to choose from, but they're all long-in-the-tooth 172s.
Calgary Flying Club and Calgary Flight Training Center are two different places. The latter is out of the Olds-Didsbury airport. Flying Club is much better.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Not quite - they have a 172S available.I did my night rating last year at the Calgary Flying Club. There's lots of planes to choose from, but they're all long-in-the-tooth 172s.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
So basically when the airspace got revamped, the international stopped allowing flight training all together, but there just wasn't room from everybody at Springbank. Evenc now, Springbank can be at capacity on nice wx weekend days so schools are flying to Sundre to do circuits, which in turn can be very busy. From a student stand point flying to Sundre isn't a huge deal, you can do hood work back and forth, or work on navigation exercises, the time isn't wasted, but you pay for it.
At Springbank there is the SATC, and the club. What I found is that both are comparable in terms of instructors, and aircraft. Both have older 172's for primary training, and both have newer more modern machines available if you want to pay a little more. There are a few subtle differences, I found the club busier and more difficult to get rental times, but they have a better currency requirement when it comes to licensed renting. The club also puts you with whatever instructor is available, not necessarily "your" instructor. Not ideal IMHO.
Calgary Flight went to Olds Didsbury, which is a big drive, especially if you live in the south of town, in which case I think High River has a school. If you live north and don't mind the drive, then you get to fly at a less busy airport. I did my PPL with Calgary Flight in 96 and am not aware of anybody being ripped off since then but keep your eyes open. Calgary Flight used to give a bonus if you put all of your money on account from day one that amounted to you getting a david clark headset for free. Enticing but be very very cautious about doing this. Once they have your money chances are you're not getting it back so you have to fly it off. You are also going to want to count every 0.1 of an hour and make sure the account balance is exactly where it should be.
Prior to 96 (I'm not sure exactly when) there was an instance where calgary flight went out of business, and all of the student account money went with it. I am not aware of this ever happening since, but like I say a $300 headset might be well worth just buying up front, and paying for flying as you go. Any business in any industry can go under.
At Springbank there is the SATC, and the club. What I found is that both are comparable in terms of instructors, and aircraft. Both have older 172's for primary training, and both have newer more modern machines available if you want to pay a little more. There are a few subtle differences, I found the club busier and more difficult to get rental times, but they have a better currency requirement when it comes to licensed renting. The club also puts you with whatever instructor is available, not necessarily "your" instructor. Not ideal IMHO.
Calgary Flight went to Olds Didsbury, which is a big drive, especially if you live in the south of town, in which case I think High River has a school. If you live north and don't mind the drive, then you get to fly at a less busy airport. I did my PPL with Calgary Flight in 96 and am not aware of anybody being ripped off since then but keep your eyes open. Calgary Flight used to give a bonus if you put all of your money on account from day one that amounted to you getting a david clark headset for free. Enticing but be very very cautious about doing this. Once they have your money chances are you're not getting it back so you have to fly it off. You are also going to want to count every 0.1 of an hour and make sure the account balance is exactly where it should be.
Prior to 96 (I'm not sure exactly when) there was an instance where calgary flight went out of business, and all of the student account money went with it. I am not aware of this ever happening since, but like I say a $300 headset might be well worth just buying up front, and paying for flying as you go. Any business in any industry can go under.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Have you thought of starting at a gliding club. Flying gliders is way more fun than cruising in a 172. You are always hunting lift like a cat stalking a mouse. The instructors tend to be passionate about flying and they are volunteers who love teaching. Gliders a agile and really fun to fly. I did almost 10 full turns at 3.5gs last week and haven't even soloed yet. I also climbed to 13000feet and would have gone higher if I had clearance over 12500 for more than 10 min.
If only people knew how awesome it is and how fun advanced gliders are to fly.
I know an F18 pilot who's youtube channel description is "Fighter pilot who loves to fly gliders."
If only people knew how awesome it is and how fun advanced gliders are to fly.
I know an F18 pilot who's youtube channel description is "Fighter pilot who loves to fly gliders."
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Calgary flight training center does not ask for money up front like it sounds like they used to. Believe it to be under new ownership from the days that took place. It is nice being 4 minutes from the practice area, and it is cheaper to drive than fly unless you have more money than time.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
If you go gliders CU NIM is a great place to glide. It is a true club and feels like it. Near Black Diamond south west of Okatoks. They only operate in summer season I think.
Calgary Flying club is more of a business but it's been around for a long time. I got my ppl there and would go back.
403-288-8831
I currently drive farther to High River for my yearly hour. They are good.
I don't need to pay a yearly membership fee.
They let you fly in a cross wind if you are able. (You won't be able at any FTU with instructor X-wind cut offs because you have to do it to learn it.)
The airport is quiet. I have been all the traffic in the circuit a few times.
403-652-5520
I wanted to try out the DA-40 at Calgary Flight Center but, they never answered the phone, so I gave up.
Calgary Flying club is more of a business but it's been around for a long time. I got my ppl there and would go back.
403-288-8831
I currently drive farther to High River for my yearly hour. They are good.
I don't need to pay a yearly membership fee.
They let you fly in a cross wind if you are able. (You won't be able at any FTU with instructor X-wind cut offs because you have to do it to learn it.)
The airport is quiet. I have been all the traffic in the circuit a few times.
403-652-5520
I wanted to try out the DA-40 at Calgary Flight Center but, they never answered the phone, so I gave up.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Good to hear. And an excellent example of the benefit of training at a smaller aerodrome. Ask questions and don't hesitate to do discovery flights at more than one school to find the one you are happy spending 8 grand with.Oldguystrtn2fly wrote:Calgary flight training center does not ask for money up front like it sounds like they used to. Believe it to be under new ownership from the days that took place. It is nice being 4 minutes from the practice area, and it is cheaper to drive than fly unless you have more money than time.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
I wish I had only spent 8... The rental rates in the diamonds are a bit steeper than other schools flying Cessnas is my understanding. I live very close to Olds Didsbury so I was not going to another school. I have a long list of criticisms but I would guess every training unit has critics.co-joe wrote:Good to hear. And an excellent example of the benefit of training at a smaller aerodrome. Ask questions and don't hesitate to do discovery flights at more than one school to find the one you are happy spending 8 grand with.Oldguystrtn2fly wrote:Calgary flight training center does not ask for money up front like it sounds like they used to. Believe it to be under new ownership from the days that took place. It is nice being 4 minutes from the practice area, and it is cheaper to drive than fly unless you have more money than time.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Did all my training this far at SATC at CYBW. I have 175 hours under my PPL with a night rating. The instructors I flew with at SATC have all moved more into the industry but I have nothing bad to say. UNLESS you plan on doing ground school there, the classroom is small so I did my ground school at the club since I like more space and to breathe.
The dispatch procedure is smooth at SATC. They have lots of computers and a few iPads for WX, flown all my hours on their planes and never really a problem. All maintained by Cavalier Aviation as opposed to an "in house" MRO. Also, they are quite close to runway 26 which I have used for 80% since wind is always out of the rockies from the west. I haven't really heard anything bad about CFC though. Just saying I had a good experience at SATC and would recommend it to anyone, if I continue my training privately i'll go back there to finish.
The dispatch procedure is smooth at SATC. They have lots of computers and a few iPads for WX, flown all my hours on their planes and never really a problem. All maintained by Cavalier Aviation as opposed to an "in house" MRO. Also, they are quite close to runway 26 which I have used for 80% since wind is always out of the rockies from the west. I haven't really heard anything bad about CFC though. Just saying I had a good experience at SATC and would recommend it to anyone, if I continue my training privately i'll go back there to finish.
Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Classroom expanded to a larger space within the building. Big breathers now accommodated.triplebarrel wrote: UNLESS you plan on doing ground school there, the classroom is small so I did my ground school at the club since I like more space and to breathe.
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Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
Right On!!
JAHinYYC wrote:Classroom expanded to a larger space within the building. Big breathers now accommodated.triplebarrel wrote: UNLESS you plan on doing ground school there, the classroom is small so I did my ground school at the club since I like more space and to breathe.
Re: Calgary Flight Training Centre
from experience
extremely unprofessional place to go to. so many good school out there, stay away from this one.
''degan'' is one of those aviation scammers that will tell you any lie for money. but very unprofessional and they just don't know what they're doing.
it's such a huge investment, go somewhere where they will help you succeed and not just squeeze money from you
extremely unprofessional place to go to. so many good school out there, stay away from this one.
''degan'' is one of those aviation scammers that will tell you any lie for money. but very unprofessional and they just don't know what they're doing.
it's such a huge investment, go somewhere where they will help you succeed and not just squeeze money from you