Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

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Foo
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Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by Foo »

Hi,

Last spring I have just acquired my PPL licence in the Netherlands and now I am currently around 80 hours of total flying time. There is a chance that I move to Invermere, BC for a period of one year. Now, I've already found out that using an FLVC licence it would be now problem to use my Dutch PPL for a period of one year in Canada. However, I found that there is not much about General Aviation in or around Invermere. Also, as the place is in the middle of the Rockies, I am wondering if it is a good place to fly for someone with not yet very much flying experience. Anyone has advice and or know places to fly around Invermere? Thanks.
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Blue Side Down
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by Blue Side Down »

There's a well established soaring club in the area there that may be worth checking out-

http://www.soartherockies.com

There are many benefits of getting involved with a gliding club- you could expand your horizons a little and learn how to soar, which absolutely benefits power flying technique; build time flying the towplane; and become part of what's usually a close social group who shares a passion for flight. In my experience, it's a good way to gain experience while having a lot of fun.
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iflyforpie
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by iflyforpie »

My home airfield is in Invermere where we run a small charter company.

We don't do flight training anymore but we do rent a pretty little 172M and in addition to a basic rental checkout we can also do some mountain training to show you that it really isn't rocket science to fly in the mountains.

Flying in the trench is similar to flying in the prairies without the horizon. You can't get into too much trouble. Picking good weather days and with a couple hours of mountain training will equip you well enough to check out some pretty neat things around here in the rocks.

The Invermere Soaring Center is a great place to hang out (come hungry) and they have good glider instructors and equipment.

PM me if you want more info.
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Noob
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by Noob »

Foo,
Invermere is a great place to fly. I believe iflyforpie is refering to Babin Air, they have been around for years and would be a great place to rent from. It may be in the middle of the Rockies but if you are there to fly you can easily get to Calgary or Vancouver for a change of pace. The experience you will get bombing around the Rockies will be vastly different to anything you will experience in Holland, I'm sure you have more than enough of busy airports. If its instruction you are looking for Selkirk College is in Castelgaar (also in the Rockies) and I imagine they could help you out with that. I am not very familiar with them but there will be many on this forum that would be happy to help point you to a good school if that is what you are looking for.
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Foo
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by Foo »

Thanks for the info guys, i'll see how it goes! There are at least flying possibilities there and that's good to hear! :D
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Golden Pilot
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by Golden Pilot »

Noob wrote:Selkirk College is in Castelgaar (also in the Rockies)

Um, I believe SELKIRK College is in ...the Selkirk Mtns?

The Rocky Mountains are located East of Invermere.
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BoostedNihilist

Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by BoostedNihilist »

Selkirk is spitting distance from all sorts of rocks...

purcells, and rockies. great terrain
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Airtids
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by Airtids »

Correct me if I'm wrong, but no aircraft rental, and no non-program training at Selkirk, unless things have changed since High Alpine Air shut down...
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by BoostedNihilist »

Correct me if I'm wrong, but no aircraft rental, and no non-program training at Selkirk, unless things have changed since High Alpine Air shut down...
Lame

that is to say you are correct.
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iflyforpie
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by iflyforpie »

Airtids wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but no aircraft rental, and no non-program training at Selkirk, unless things have changed since High Alpine Air shut down...
Who's flying SBX then?
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Airtids
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by Airtids »

iflyforpie wrote:
Airtids wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but no aircraft rental, and no non-program training at Selkirk, unless things have changed since High Alpine Air shut down...
Who's flying SBX then?
Sorry, I should have qualified that... 'since High Alpine shut down the school and rental operation'. Yes, that's us in SBX.
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Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
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iflyforpie
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Re: Invermere BC, flying for a beginner

Post by iflyforpie »

Oh.

RVM :wink:
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