Sea Land Air CZBB

[onehourparty]

I'm looking at doing some training at in BC and really want to train at Sea Land Air, but I keep hearing from so many people how bad the school is and the only thing it really has going for it are their "cool looking" katanas...

Can anyone shed some light on this matter?

[pelmet]

I'm looking at doing some training at in BC and really want to train at Sea Land Air, but I keep hearing from so many people how bad the school is and the only thing it really has going for it are their "cool looking" katanas...

Can anyone shed some light on this matter?

I did a mountain flying checkout there and was quite satisfied. Of course that is very instructor dependent and is much different from a significant amount of training for some sort of licence or rating. But that was my experience. I plan to go back.

[North Shore]

This topic, in general, comes up fairly often: "What do y'all think of XYZ's Flying School?" There's no right answer, really, because, rather like beauty, it's all in the eye of the beholder...

So, go in there, and have a look around. Get the feel of the place. Are you comfortable there? What's the vibe like? Talk to the CFI as to who your instructor might be. Spend a little money, and take him/her for lunch, or if you're feeling cheap, just coffee. Are you going to be able to sit next to them for the 30 odd hours of your PPL, and learn something? Are you going to be their first student? I'd prefer a class 3 instructor, who's been at it for a year or so - enough time and experience that they know their craft well, but not so much that they're bored and jaded and looking for their next job..
Perhaps go to the competition, and go through the same 'interview.' Remember, you are the consumer here, and you're going to be spending a fair amount of (hard-earned?) cash, so don't feel bad about shopping around.

Then there's *you*. A friend once told me that 'he wasn't taught how to fly; he learned to fly by himself, with an instructor showing him the way.' He's a pretty competent guy, so I respect his opinion. You might have the world's best instructor by your side, with all sorts of pedagogical tricks at his/her disposal, but if you're not an engaged student, it'll be a complete dead loss. Get a good night's sleep prior to your lesson. Read the appropriate chapters in the books. Ask questions if you don't understand. Ask again if you still don't get it. The more effort that you put in, the easier it will come..

Good luck!

Oh, yeah, have a read through this, too: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=91620&hilit=unicorns

[Rookie50]

This topic, in general, comes up fairly often: "What do y'all think of XYZ's Flying School?" There's no right answer, really, because, rather like beauty, it's all in the eye of the beholder...

So, go in there, and have a look around. Get the feel of the place. Are you comfortable there? What's the vibe like? Talk to the CFI as to who your instructor might be. Spend a little money, and take him/her for lunch, or if you're feeling cheap, just coffee. Are you going to be able to sit next to them for the 30 odd hours of your PPL, and learn something? Are you going to be their first student? I'd prefer a class 3 instructor, who's been at it for a year or so - enough time and experience that they know their craft well, but not so much that they're bored and jaded and looking for their next job..
Perhaps go to the competition, and go through the same 'interview.' Remember, you are the consumer here, and you're going to be spending a fair amount of (hard-earned?) cash, so don't feel bad about shopping around.

Then there's *you*. A friend once told me that 'he wasn't taught how to fly; he learned to fly by himself, with an instructor showing him the way.' He's a pretty competent guy, so I respect his opinion. You might have the world's best instructor by your side, with all sorts of pedagogical tricks at his/her disposal, but if you're not an engaged student, it'll be a complete dead loss. Get a good night's sleep prior to your lesson. Read the appropriate chapters in the books. Ask questions if you don't understand. Ask again if you still don't get it. The more effort that you put in, the easier it will come..

Good luck!

Oh, yeah, have a read through this, too: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=91620&hilit=unicorns

All + 1

[akoch]

Well, being able to learn and fly on the Diamonds versus the 152/172 is enough of a differentiation in itself. I chose SLA when I was looking to start flying for exactly the same reason. Did two fam flights one at PFC one at SLA and that was it.

I did end up walking away from SLA and buying my own plane to finish the license, which was the best decision I ever made. And yes, it does indicate that I was unable to finish my license at the SLA.

Edit: this was 3 years ago. I don't know if it got better since. And there is plenty of people who finished their training there successfully.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Is Michael P still there ?

[Shiny Side Up]

No he's not, I think he's working for one of the other schools now, not sure exactly when he left. He still haunts this site though, probably be the best sort of info for schools around there.

[akoch]

Michael left a couple of months ago, he's freelancing now and doing lessons for some other schools as well.

[Colonel Sanders]

I hope he is doing well - his heart was in the right place.

[Shiny Side Up]

He still seems to be, one can find him here.

[Beefitarian]

Hmmm.
http://www.mpaviation.com/sopwith.htm

[Tail-Chaser]

Got a check-out on a DA20 with an instructor there. I did my PPL out of Boundary Bay and came to Sea Land Air with my Commercial Multi-IFR done and informed them of my past experience. It ticked me off just a bit when just after we started up the instructor said "So now we're going contact Bay tower and here's what you say..."

Wasn't impressed.