OFF

[Tango01]

Has anyone trained at OFF (Ontario Fun Flyers) here?

Looking for some feedback, good and bad of course.

Appreciated

T

[nightbird]

Hi Tango 01 I did my ppl and part of the cpl at OFF, they have 3 airplanes one c172 one c152 and a c150. Overall it's a great place I enjoyed a lot there, when I left they had 3 young instructors and the CFI but as far as I know he only does the instructor ratings. Airplanes are well maintained but not in the best cosmetic condition, practice area is about 5 min away from the airport. Just let me know anything else you need to know.

[AuxBatOn]

If I were you, I'd stay away from OFF. Worst maintained aircraft I've ever seen, the owner tracks you with GPS in the planes (he can literally go online and see where you are and what you're doing at all time) and you'll get screwed with charges most of the time. A few friends instructed there part time and I their airplanes for a while.

Kingston Flying Club is probably a better option.

http://www.kingstonflyingclub.com

[nightbird]

If I were you, I'd stay away from OFF. Worst maintained aircraft I've ever seen, the owner tracks you with GPS in the planes (he can literally go online and see where you are and what you're doing at all time)

I think the gps is a great tool I used to like it when I was doing x-country to see my track when I got home. With respect to the maintenance I haveto disagree, like I said the cosmetics on the airplanes is close to 0 but they are save to fly. I think Kingston Flying Club have only 1 airplane so if what you're looking is a place to instruct in Kingston go to OFF that is the least of two evils, now if you can go to a school in the GTA area is a lot better, more students, more hours and a better pay, a few instructor I know did that and the ones that are there also want to move, and don't take me wrong I still say it's a great place to train for PPL but you need to know what a school can give you and what not and when it's time to move on, so if what you want is to advance Kingston is not the right place.

[AuxBatOn]

If I were you, I'd stay away from OFF. Worst maintained aircraft I've ever seen, the owner tracks you with GPS in the planes (he can literally go online and see where you are and what you're doing at all time)

I think the gps is a great tool I used to like it when I was doing x-country to see my track when I got home. With respect to the maintenance I haveto disagree, like I said the cosmetics on the airplanes is close to 0 but they are save to fly. I think Kingston Flying Club have only 1 airplane so if what you're looking is a place to instruct in Kingston go to OFF that is the least of two evils, now if you can go to a school in the GTA area is a lot better, more students, more hours and a better pay, a few instructor I know did that and the ones that are there also want to move, and don't take me wrong I still say it's a great place to train for PPL but you need to know what a school can give you and what not and when it's time to move on, so if what you want is to advance Kingston is not the right place.

In the time I was flying with their airplane, I have seen 2 engine failures.

Even from some former instructors (one of which is very close to me), the maintenance sucked. I'm still amazed that they are still in buisness.

[nightbird]

In the time I was flying with their airplane, I have seen 2 engine failures.

Even from some former instructors (one of which is very close to me), the maintenance sucked. I'm still amazed that they are still in buisness.

Seneca has had 2 engine failures in a short period of time and is a good name school, I've never heard of an engine failure at OFF but that doesn't mean they haven't had any. Do you know where they do the maintenance? I know the c150 has a brand new engine, actually I did one of the first flights on it and the performance is owesome for a 150.

[AuxBatOn]

Yup, they fly their aircraft to Mohawk IIRC.

Oh, and on 1 of these engine failures, the owner (which is also the CFI) wanted to charge the pilot with the repairs, and charge him the standard X-Country rates (5 hrs per day) for the airplane because the airplane was stuck in Belleville.

Not to mention the place itself is a sh*thole. My shed is cleaner than the place...

[Invertago]

If the engine failed while i was renting it, I'd bill the company for any expenses I incur while trying to get home. Oh, and I wouldn't be paying for that flight. Another reason why I pay per flight and don't put money on account at a flight school.

I'm assuming the engine failed for non-student inflicted reasons (eg not checking oil or something dumb)

[AuxBatOn]

If the engine failed while i was renting it, I'd bill the company for any expenses I incur while trying to get home. Oh, and I wouldn't be paying for that flight. Another reason why I pay per flight and don't put money on account at a flight school.

I'm assuming the engine failed for non-student inflicted reasons (eg not checking oil or something dumb)

All the procedures were followed and it was a maintenance related issue.

[precision_approach]

I did most of my training in Guelph, but a few flights at OFF. The facility is small and as others have noted the aircraft aren't lovely to look at. I made it back in one piece with no problems, so I can't complain about the maintenance.

They share a nice big hangar which is a welcome thing for walkarounds in winter when it's 10 below and the wind is blowing.

My only observation, as one who flies into Kingston regularly, is that you won't get much significant radio work in and minimal IFR work unless you fly from Kingston to Ottawa, or maybe Cornwall. There isn't any VOR at Kingston, so just an ILS and NDB approach. There is a VOR north of Trenton.

Kingston certainly has nicer airport facilities than Guelph, but the location is just a wee bit off the beaten track.

[Shiny Side Up]

the owner tracks you with GPS in the planes (he can literally go online and see where you are and what you're doing at all time)

Any particular reason this is a bad thing? Seems like a good idea - I mean if I owned an airplane and was renting it out.

[Tango01]

I could not find any TSB/CADORS report on those alleged engine failures that AuxBatOn talks about. Maybe you can provide evidence, dates, someone else can confirm this?

[Hedley]

as one who flies into Kingston regularly, is that you won't get much significant radio work in and minimal IFR work ... there isn't any VOR at Kingston

Huh? You may fly regularly into CYGK, but clearly you don't have
an instrument rating, because you have never even glanced at an
approach plate for CYGK - the ART VOR on 109.8 is referenced on
every approach - it even defines the FAF (CALHY) for the
LOC(BC)/VOR RWY 01 approach, which you have obviously
never flown, and likely never heard of.

Kingston is a dream for IFR training - do you have a clue how much
an ILS costs? CYGK has a standalone NDB approach, an ILS/LOC
approach, and a LOC(BC) approach, with a nearby VOR. All you
gotta do to fly over there and practice some VOR holds is file a flight
plan - try it sometime, it's not hard - and give Wheeler-Sach approach
a holler on 128.25 - they won't bite, they'll just give you a squawk
code.

You can pop on over to Trenton for a PAR, too. It doesn't
get any better than this, for IFR training.

You clearly have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

[AUGER9]

I could not find any TSB/CADORS report on those alleged engine failures that AuxBatOn talks about. Maybe you can provide evidence, dates, someone else can confirm this?

User Name: Donaldson, John
Date: 2004/02/16
Further Action Required: Yes
O.P.I.: Maintenance & Manufacturing
Narrative: The Ontario Fun Flyers Inc. Cessna 150M (C-GHWR) was being flown in the circuit at the Kingston Municipal Airport (CYGK). The Kingston Flying Club Cessna 172M (C-GAIQ) was on approach at the Kingston Municipal Airport. C-GHWR had the engine fail during touchdown on a touch-and-go. The pilot was able to re-start the aircraft and taxied it off the active runway at 1719Z. Ops. impact -- one (1) arriving aircraft (C-GAIQ) had to overshoot.

User Name: Donaldson, John
Date: 2003/01/13
Further Action Required: Yes
O.P.I.:
Narrative: The privately-registered Cessna 150 aircraft (C-GMBO, operated by the Ontario Fun Flyers) was being flown in VFR circuits at the Kingston Municipal Airport (CYGK) on runway 25, starting at 1500Z. At 1558Z, the aircraft was being flown in a touch-and-go but, on touchdown, the engine stalled. The pilot was able to re-start the engine and taxi the aircraft back to the hangar. Ops. impact -- none.

[nightbird]

User Name: Donaldson, John
Date: 2003/01/13
Further Action Required: Yes
O.P.I.:
Narrative: The privately-registered Cessna 150 aircraft (C-GMBO, operated by the Ontario Fun Flyers) was being flown in VFR circuits at the Kingston Municipal Airport (CYGK) on runway 25, starting at 1500Z. At 1558Z, the aircraft was being flown in a touch-and-go but, on touchdown, the engine stalled. The pilot was able to re-start the engine and taxi the aircraft back to the hangar. Ops. impact -- none.

That sound like the idle wasn't set properly and the engine quit when he pulled the throttle out. They don't have that airplane on the line anymore, at least for the past year that was when I started flying there, could you post the link to the report, do they say the cause for the engine failure, I'm curious now, thanks

[iflyforpie]

I could not find any TSB/CADORS report on those alleged engine failures that AuxBatOn talks about. Maybe you can provide evidence, dates, someone else can confirm this?

User Name: Donaldson, John
Date: 2004/02/16
Further Action Required: Yes
O.P.I.: Maintenance & Manufacturing
Narrative: The Ontario Fun Flyers Inc. Cessna 150M (C-GHWR) was being flown in the circuit at the Kingston Municipal Airport (CYGK). The Kingston Flying Club Cessna 172M (C-GAIQ) was on approach at the Kingston Municipal Airport. C-GHWR had the engine fail during touchdown on a touch-and-go. The pilot was able to re-start the aircraft and taxied it off the active runway at 1719Z. Ops. impact -- one (1) arriving aircraft (C-GAIQ) had to overshoot.

User Name: Donaldson, John
Date: 2003/01/13
Further Action Required: Yes
O.P.I.:
Narrative: The privately-registered Cessna 150 aircraft (C-GMBO, operated by the Ontario Fun Flyers) was being flown in VFR circuits at the Kingston Municipal Airport (CYGK) on runway 25, starting at 1500Z. At 1558Z, the aircraft was being flown in a touch-and-go but, on touchdown, the engine stalled. The pilot was able to re-start the engine and taxi the aircraft back to the hangar. Ops. impact -- none.

Oh God. That just tripled the number of engine failures I've had, none of which where reported. Simply tweaked the idle a little more for those hot days and everything was fine; they would never stop in the air. Sure is fun taxiing a Seminole on one engine though.

[AUGER9]

the links won't work for some reason. I just used the search function on the cadors website: http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/applicatio ... hquery.asp

[herethere22]

If I were you, I'd stay away from OFF. Worst maintained aircraft I've ever seen, the owner tracks you with GPS in the planes (he can literally go online and see where you are and what you're doing at all time) and you'll get screwed with charges most of the time. A few friends instructed there part time and I their airplanes for a while.

Kingston Flying Club is probably a better option.

http://www.kingstonflyingclub.com

I'm actually interested in tracking aircraft online like the above quote mentions. Can someone tell me how he does this - with what program - is there something that needs to be installed onto the aircraft to track it? Links and suggestions please.

[flyingreg38]

Hi,

At my school, we use the SPOT tracker, based on GPS localisation.
More information available here : http://findmespot.ca/shop/index.php?mai ... ucts_id=52
It works fine, and is used only for safety reasons during students' xcountries.

hope it helps,

Greg

[herethere22]

Hi,

At my school, we use the SPOT tracker, based on GPS localisation.
More information available here : http://findmespot.ca/shop/index.php?mai ... ucts_id=52
It works fine, and is used only for safety reasons during students' xcountries.

hope it helps,

Greg

Thanks for your quick reply - but I was wondering if there was another option available that you didn't have to "remember" to push the track button etc before take off. Is this what the guy at OFF uses or is there another tracking option available out there? Thank you.