CZBB instructor rating

fromeasttowest · Post by **fromeasttowest** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:33 pm

I'm thinking of doing my instructor rating at Pacific Flying Club, does anyone have any information I should know about? What are your thoughts on other schools at Boundary Bay?

SkyWolfe · Post by **SkyWolfe** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:50 pm

I like PFC Im a student there - Nice people - I like CZBB too

fromeasttowest · Post by **fromeasttowest** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 11:52 am

thats it? No one else has any input?

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:49 pm

PFC has a good reputation, as does Cdn Flight Centre, as does Pro IFR/VFR, as does Montair. The airport is busy in the summer, but good place to train in the winter with marginal weather where....omg.....you might have to make a weather decision!

the most important thing with getting your instructor rating, is not so much the school (unless you plan to work there when you complete) but rather the class 1 that is instructing you. all schools mentioned above have numerous aircraft, reliable mtce, and are at zbb. go to each one, meet the class 1, decide who you like the best and go with that one.

JW · Post by JW » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:08 pm

PFC has 3 class 1 instructors, pick the one that you think you'll get along with the most.

JW

laticsdave · Post by **laticsdave** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:53 am

Why ZBB?
1) Unless you live in Delta or Ladner, ZBB is a pain in the butt to travel too. It takes less time to travel from North Van to YNJ or YPK than to ZBB, even though the distance (by road) is less!
2) ZBB flights have to transit for 10 mins before arriving at CYA126 (Glen Valley), so there's 14 -15 minutes of additional flying time required on each flight compared to departing from YNJ.
3) ZBB can be a zoo. I've just about given up on requesting Simulated Forced Approaches in the circuit at ZBB - circuit too busy.

fromeasttowest · Post by **fromeasttowest** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:24 pm

Isn't an extra 14-15 minutes good if your an instructor trying to build time? I live in Vancouver and it's about a 40min drive to zbb, I've never driven to ynj or ypk but about how long does it take? Never thought of doing my rating there.

FlyYukon · Post by **FlyYukon** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:57 pm

I'm flying at pro-ifr.. for my CPL and Multi- multi-ifr, great instructors, but yeah, busy circuit, been full on me a couple times. The trip to Glenn Valley isn't really that bad of a flight, and it keeps your attention up, being so busy, aircraft and airspace. I'm living a 20 min walk from the school, so that no worry for myself. Cheers!

air-heart · Post by **air-heart** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:07 pm

PFC is great! Great and friendly atmosphere and fun people to work with. There is alot of movement at PFC right now and it's good to do an instructor rating at a place in which you feel you could get hired. Thumbs up for PFC

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:53 am

The mgmt at PFC are morons -

5 years ago their planes sucked I'm sure they still do and most of the other pilots don't give a shit -

Now there are all those BCIT kids running around, sounds like a frat house in there most days -

They will take your money wherever they can for stupid shit -

They have that stupid membership fee BS... but they say you get to vote! I vote you can Pat and Clark and get someone in there who isn't full of shit...

I'd take any school at czbb over that joke.

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:48 pm

air-heart wrote:PFC is great! Great and friendly atmosphere and fun people to work with. There is alot of movement at PFC right now and it's good to do an instructor rating at a place in which you feel you could get hired. Thumbs up for PFC

Yea...PFC seems like a nice place...BUT preference is DEFINITLY given to BCIT students

.....maybe a bit more then there should be...BUT that being said...I still think that they are one of the better places out there

laticsdave · Post by **laticsdave** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:57 pm

Vancouver to YNJ in 30 - 35 mins, during morning rush hour! I live close to the PNE, so it Hwy 1 to 232nd Street, 200th to 72nd, 72nd to 216th, follow 216th to YNJ.
North Van (Capilano) to YPK or YNJ was about 40 - 45 minutes.

200hr Wonder · Post by **200hr Wonder** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:15 pm

Pandora.., I would not say that prefernce is given to BCIT students, but you do need to book early. though if on the out set you say I want to fly these days at this time, then you will get them. Just if you go for last minute booking it will be tough.

As for getting too and from Glenn Vally, there is always something useful to do in that period to make the transit time useful. Early on I was always made to work on strait and level and was rode hard about keeping my altitude and heading good etc. Later on you can always do it under the hood and there are several beacons to track and so on. Of course just ot break things up you can always do a forced into Langley.

What I am really saying is that the transit time out to the practice area should always be productive.

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:49 pm

[b@200hr Wonder:[/b] You missunderstand...not saying anything bad to them...I can see why they do what they do...BUT I also have seen reg students feel like they are 2nd to the BCIT students...here in lies the problem...

I personaly think they are one of the better schools around...I just wish they wern't in Boundry Bay....that area is a bit busy for training students.....on the upside...their students REALY know how to deal with high traffic/radio issues

Sideshow · Post by **Sideshow** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:25 am

Especially if they all keep flying around cresent island all the time...

JW · Post by JW » Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:29 am

Especially if they all keep flying around cresent island all the time...

Cause those are only students from PFC, no one from CYXX or CYNJ or even CYPK...Or the other half a dozen schools from CZBB. Yup, only PFC. Stupid stupid PFC.

JW

canpilot · Post by **canpilot** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:05 pm

"The mgmt at PFC are morons -

5 years ago their planes sucked I'm sure they still do and most of the other pilots don't give a shit -

Now there are all those BCIT kids running around, sounds like a frat house in there most days -

They will take your money wherever they can for stupid shit -

They have that stupid membership fee BS... but they say you get to vote! I vote you can Pat and Clark and get someone in there who isn't full of shit...

I'd take any school at czbb over that joke"

Altiplano,

You nailed this one dead on..GO TO PRO!..personally, unless ur not BCIT nobody gives a s***&..btw...What "atmosphere"? Answer, there is none.

SkyWolfe · Post by **SkyWolfe** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:42 pm

Wow- Ive only got like a few hours there - is it REALLY that bad? If I go soemwhere else is it REALLY going to be any different?

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:13 pm

SkyWolf :

If you like your instructor and are happy where you are don't move.

Just get the PPL license then you can re evaluate your next move.

Cat

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:02 pm

SkyWolfe
Trust me it's not that bad there..infact they are (in my opinion) the best school at that airport. Their only problem is their location....& there's not much you can do about that...airspace is REALY tight in the lowermainland

However if you want a slower pace...try Altair....They have the best airport around for training...& are prety good too.

........ifonly PFC would start a satalite school @ Pitt Medows Like Harvs did @ St Andrews...THAT WOULD ROCK

BUT your still going to have lots of traffic...just not as much as you would @ boundry Bay. Also your right beside the training area wich is a BIG Bonus

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:48 pm

Cat Driver wrote:Just get the PPL license then you can re evaluate your next move.

Good call Cat - Everything aside, the quality of instructor and your rapport with him/her is as significant a factor as any... and consistency is good while you finish your PPL...

I have stated my thoughts on the school in general - enough said - but SkyWolfe go check out other schools too - ZBB is a good place to train and has lots to offer. You may decide to stick where you are but at least open you eyes to other possibilities...

JW · Post by JW » Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:22 pm

The mgmt at PFC are morons -

5 years ago their planes sucked I'm sure they still do and most of the other pilots don't give a shit -

Now there are all those BCIT kids running around, sounds like a frat house in there most days -

They will take your money wherever they can for stupid shit -

They have that stupid membership fee BS... but they say you get to vote! I vote you can Pat and Clark and get someone in there who isn't full of shit...

I'd take any school at czbb over that joke

I've trained at PFC and other schools at czbb and I think PFC is great. I also work here now, as far as I can tell Pat and Clark aren't full of shit and I actually enjoy working for them. I should be able to tell because I've been here for almost 4 years, not working that entire time but in close contact with them throughout all of my training. I think they do a great job of running the club.

Yea...PFC seems like a nice place...BUT preference is DEFINITLY given to BCIT students

I'm not really sure what you mean by this, I can say first hand that preference is definitly not given to BCIT students, they make bookings just like everyone else. Its not like a BCIT student can take your plane or booking. The only time your booking can be changed or cancelled is if someone else needs that plane for a flight test, which I'm sure you would have appreciated when you were flight testing. Each instructor is only given 1-2 BCIT students so they don't make that big of an impact with the instructors other students. I like working for PFC and I like the club, if you have a suggestion (that is constructive!) on how to make the BCIT students less of an impact on your flight training I would really like to know. Or anything else that would improve the atmosphere.

JW

Justwannafly · Post by **Justwannafly** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:05 am

justwork wrote:
Yea...PFC seems like a nice place...BUT preference is DEFINITLY given to BCIT students
I'm not really sure what you mean by this, I can say first hand that preference is definitly not given to BCIT students, they make bookings just like everyone else. Its not like a BCIT student can take your plane or booking. The only time your booking can be changed or cancelled is if someone else needs that plane for a flight test, which I'm sure you would have appreciated when you were flight testing. Each instructor is only given 1-2 BCIT students so they don't make that big of an impact with the instructors other students. I like working for PFC and I like the club, if you have a suggestion (that is constructive!) on how to make the BCIT students less of an impact on your flight training I would really like to know. Or anything else that would improve the atmosphere.

JW

@justwork:

preference is DEFINITLY given to BCIT students .....maybe a bit more then there should be...BUT that being said...I still think that they are one of the better places out there

not saying anything bad to them...I can see why they do what they do...BUT I also have seen reg students feel like they are 2nd to the BCIT students...here in lies the problem...

You gota read all my comments

During the school year (fall especially there are times that preference is given to BCIT students. This makes sense...they have a lot of other class's & can't be sporadically booked all over the place. The problem isn't the preference that’s given...its how its perceived by some of the other students. Because people walk into the club & see BCIT everywhere & everyone getting ready to send 15 BCIT students up, people feel like their $ isn’t as good as BCIT’s…I’ve heard a lot of people complain about this. They FEEL that they are being treated differently & thus are upset. Even though they aren’t, if they feel like they are, that causes problems. As how to fix this misconception, I’m afraid I don’t know

Perhaps more members events during the heavy BCIT times…who knows
Hope that better explains what I meant by that comment

PS I also think that PFC is a great place to work. I really like Clark, whenever you have any questions he always has great in-depth answers….At least he did for everything I asked him lol

JW · Post by JW » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:58 am

In the fall it is a little BCIT crazy in the club, this is because every September first a new class starts. For the first two months the students are in ground school at the club. They do ground school in the morning and then fly in the afternoon. So it may come across that there is BCIT all over the place but each student is give only one booking per day. The other thing that compounds this misconception is that the previous BCIT class is also at the club in the later afternoon doing multi-IFR. You see, the program is 16 months straight, so from September 1 to end of December there are actually 2 BCIT classes going on. The thing to remember is that having a lot of students around a school is not a bad thing...right?? One BCIT student gets one booking per week day, no more, no less...weather pending.

JW
PS I'll put in a note for more member events in the fall, I enjoy them too

patter · Post by **patter** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:59 am

Would you like it to go the way of Winnipeg Flying Club?