Island Air instructor course? (YTZ)

helinas · Post by **helinas** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:41 am

good morning,

I would like to know a little bit more on island air and their instructor course. Do they hire the candidate that completes the rating there and how are the working conditions?

thank you

Wasn't Me · Post by **Wasn't Me** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:38 am

Is Island aAir having a class or are you talking about taking a rating there. I know Mel use the people he trains but how busy are they now. Talk to the other instructors and see what is going on. I know Toronto airways is hiring like crazy both at Oshawa and Buttonville. Also Bramton seems to be picking up. check out the rep of the Class one being used as well.

helinas · Post by **helinas** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:55 am

thank you Wasn't Me for the remarks.

I would like to get an instructor rating and I hear that Island air instructors fly an average of 50 hours a month up to 90 hours. Being downtown I am sure it would be busy but they are also more expensive so I don't know how many new students they have. My other choice would be Peninsulair in Hamilton as I did most of my training on the cherokee. I live just 10 minutes from the Hamilton airport but again I am assuming a new instructor wants to train somewhere busy.
I don't know how busy Peninsulair is.

any other info would be appreciated.

How can you find out which Class 1 instructor is better than the other?

mcrit · Post by **mcrit** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:35 am

I would avoid Island Air. I used to work there and most of the stuff they tell you needs to be taken with a grain of salt. I'd really suggest Brampton (Just for disclosure purposes I am a class 1 there), TAL or Burlington like Wasn't Me Suggested.

multiprop · Post by **multiprop** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:22 pm

AVIOD HIM...I mean Island Air at all costs. Many instructors have not been hired byt he owner. Takes your money and says have a nice day.

helinas · Post by **helinas** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:45 am

Wow, it seems that island air is really that bad. I guess I won't be going to island air for the instructor rating. Thanks guys for steering me away from a place that sounds bad.

helinas

Hotel Tango · Post by **Hotel Tango** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:46 pm

Yes... these are not lies (especially about the owner) but John Chandler's wealth of knowledge and experience makes up for it. If you just want an instructor rating and aren't just there to find employment afterwards, Chandler is one of the best Class 1 instructors in the GTA.

Military pilot,
Seneca College Professor,
Instructor rating and MIFR instructor at Island Air

And on top of that, he's a good guy and won't try to drag things out so he can bill for more money.

av8tor_assrope · Post by **av8tor_assrope** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:45 am

chandler doesn't just work for island air. he's also doing the class iv for canadian flyers students as well.

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:07 pm

av8tor_assrope wrote:chandler doesn't just work for island air. he's also doing the class iv for canadian flyers students as well.

Is he just doing it at the island for flyers or will he go to markham?

Golden Flyer · Post by **Golden Flyer** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:21 pm

Chandler is a good guy. The best thing about Island Air though is the instructors. All knowledgeable people, and damn hell of excellent pilots!

av8tor_assrope · Post by **av8tor_assrope** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:52 pm

yyz i'm not sure. if you contact canadian flyers they'll be able to tell you. i'm pretty sure it's up to him. he has so much experience he pretty much does what he wants and works for whoever he wants.

and not to rain on mel’s rainbow but didn’t he loose like half of his staff in the last few months? I heard it’s a bunch of new class iv’s working there now??? I could be wrong. I personally know 3 that left. 2 went next door to the competition, and 1 up north to fly a falcon.

Kilo Whiskey · Post by **Kilo Whiskey** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:24 pm

No comment on the operation itself, but right now Island Air is busy as hell with more students coming than leaving. Yes, the owner is hiring providing you get approval from John Chandler saying you are a going to be a good instructor. John Chandler is excellent for an instructor rating. High standards, and you can tell, because the flight test and written exam with transport seems like a joke when you are done your training.

helinas · Post by **helinas** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:43 pm

So I guess if Mel the owner of Island Air hires me and John Chandler trains me then I should go, no?

helinas

Any words from the owner Mel?

master switch · Post by **master switch** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:54 pm

Kilo Whiskey wrote:No comment on the operation itself

whos the chief pilot there now?

Kilo Whiskey · Post by **Kilo Whiskey** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:32 pm

Either call or go visit the island. Get John Chandlers number and talk to him. That is the best advice I can give. I have heard from other sources that John has a good reputation. So either way, if you work there or not, John is still good to do a rating with.

testpilot · Post by **testpilot** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:02 pm

John will train you out of Canadian flyers or Island Air.
Most of Island Air's instructors didnot do their instructor's rating at Mel's school.
Instructors did go next door to Canadian flyers because Mel was playing favourites in assigning students.
The guy that went up nort to fly a Falcon is now next door at Porter in the q-400.
The CFI now has a lot of flying experience including "heavy" tubes.
He also has a lot of class 1 experience but is now a class 2.

multiprop · Post by **multiprop** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:24 am

WELL.....notice this comment: "Most of Island Air's instructors didnot do their instructor's rating at Mel's school." This just about says it all. If I had a choice I would go to Canadian Flyers and not look back. At least there you will be treated like a human being by the owner. Plus, when you complete the rating you will get a job. Avoid Mell at all costs. He gives aviation a bad name.