PPL - TAL @ Buttonville or Canadian Fliers @ Markham

[aprilfool]

Hello everyone,

I've decided I would like to learn to fly but I'm having trouble deciding which one of these schools I should use. I've narrowed down to TAL and Canadian Fliers mostly based on their location - both are about 15km from me which is nice.

Has anyone here been trained by by Toronto Airlines or Canadian Fliers at Markham? Likes/Dislikes? Not looking for a flame fest, just some useful information

I don't know anything about this so evaluating the quality of an instructor/school is a challenge.

Thanks for he great site - very informative.

[C-FABH]

I'd recommend Markham on account of the aircraft availability, price, and distance from the practice area.

[aprilfool]

Interesting. I never considered the training area distance issue, I imagine this distance could eat up a few exta $ over the entire course. I'll have to find out more about this from both schools.

Thanks!

[av8tor_assrope]

aprilstool pm me. i've been to both

[TorontoGuy]

Interesting. I never considered the training area distance issue, I imagine this distance could eat up a few exta $ over the entire course. I'll have to find out more about this from both schools.

Thanks!

It is an important point to consider. For instance, the extreme example in the Greater Toronto Area is flight training (with the same outfit as at Markham) out of Toronto Island. Its training area is over Port Perry! When I asked them, they were honest and said probably 1/2 hour each way, to and from training area.

Another consideration: Buttonville's busy. you share it with private flyers and commercial traffic. You want your dollars spent in the air, not waiting on taxiways to take off, or in circles around the airport waiting to land.

[aprilfool]

I think this may put CF in the lead a bit. Since they are a bit north, the training grounds must be closer.

I know what you mean about Buttonville being very busy - I work next to the airport and watch the flights going up and down constantly.

But a short walk and an after/before/during work flight is very tempting

[cyyz]

I'd recommend Markham on account of the aircraft availability, price, and distance from the practice area.

Another consideration: Buttonville's busy

Busy is good, you want to learn in a busy environment, read up on the same question someone asked about Edmonton.

You'll be in the circuit for what the first 15 hours? Switch to Markham afterwards...

And as for prices, yeah, Markham is cheaper...

[RatherBeFlying]

If Markham and Buttonville are South of you, you might want to check out http://www.futureair.ca at Holland Landing. Rates are competitive and the practice area is virtually overhead. Both instructors are good.

The runway's marginal for touch and gos; so, you drive/fly up to Barrie-Simcoe for that.

[CB]

I did all my flight training in Toronto at both flight schools.

The thing about training in Toronto is the price. You could do the same training eles where for a LOT cheaper.

Although the price to driving needs to be considered but the price difference in aircraft can be substantial. I have seen as big as $100.00 for the aircraft alone. The cost for the instructor as well can be a big difference.

Something to think about when you are going to be flying 45+ hours

[Metro2]

Go Markham...nice quiet atmosphere....not the prettiest flight schools but the most efficient...choose your instuctors wisely though where ever you go....they love MILK.

[China Instructor]

I'd have to say Markham. Its good to learn on a 2000x50' runway. The atmosphere is great there to. During the summer its pretty common for instructors and students to fire up the BBQ and crack open a few beers at the end of the day. Its close enough to buttonville that I'm sure you'll get plenty of practice in their busy control zone so don't worry about that. I've flown at YKZ before and its pretty bad when you sit there at the hold short line for 20 minutes watching a long line of planes land one after another. Waste of money.