Flight training schools in BC (or elsewhere in Canada)

[utczulugmt]

Check out Golden Horseshoe, in Hamilton. They just started doing CPL training, and it's in Hamilton: a decently big city with a big, controlled airport (not too busy), lots of uncontrolled fields and terminal airspace so you will get very comfortable with both. As for post-PPL time building, there are a lot of owners selling block time in the area, usually from airports like CNC3 and CZBA.

Prices are decent, maintenance and facilities are good, and instructors flexible. Small-school environment, with 2 172s and a DA20, all in good shape. Instructor rate 10 dollars lower than most places in the area.

I know someone who did his PPL there very recently, and he has mostly good things to say about it.

http://flygha.com/

Also, remember that it's OK to do PPL, CPL and IFR in different places.

I have checked out the site, seem like they have not updated it to include details regarding the CPL course you say they just started doing, but the info about PPL course seems good.

I would more likely be leaning towards a school that did all the training/ratings (not just PPL and CPL), as doing the individual courses at different schools would be inconvenient for me and also cost me more.

I note for their PPL course they (and every other flight school) indicate the following or something similar to the following:

It is rare however that a student is able to complete the training in the Transport Canada minimum time period and a more realistic view of the cost is based on 60 hours of flight training and additional instructor time...

http://flygha.com/costs-for-a-ppl-licence/


Do you know what is the national average time for completing a PPL?

What is the likely reason for students not completing in the minimum 45hr? Is it just that most people don't train full time and as a result are having to re-do hrs? Or some people even if doing the course full time still need more than 45hrs?

You said you know someone who did the course recently, what was the not so good part about their PPL training there?

Fully recommend Harvs Air ( either location is excellent ), i did most of mine at Steinbach.
Accommodations more than suitable at both locations, I would say Steinbach Harvs Air little closer to town, and its fun to take trips to Winnipeg too. Aircraft availability at both is more than sufficient plenty of Cessna, 7ECAs, Piper Warrior, Twin
My opinion was more fun flying out of steinbach then flying into Winnipeg Controlled Airspace stopping at St Andrews etc best both worlds. ( controlled / uncontrolled .. Costs are best estimate at both locations based on your level of preparedness and must consider each individual is different in comprehension, hands on ability, full time / part time student etc ... so + - factor always needs to be taken into account.
Pilot training.ca online learning site has had a tremendous upgrade over the last 2 to 3 years and knowledge input and video detail provided along with online flight training video portion is incredible and a HUGE COST saver ... The staff at Harvs have my 100% backing and i hope anyone that chooses Harvs Air gets just as much and more from there as i have been fortunate to achieve.. Hope some of this info helps

Thanks for the advice Viper32.

For Steinbach Harvs where did you find accommodation?

What is the general lifestyle like at Steinbach?

Were you training full time or part time?

[harvsair]

We have accommodations on the airport (St. Andrews and Steinbach), and own a house in Steinbach. It's VERY handy to be able to fly a lesson, go "home" (by walking 200 feet), relax, and then come back for another lesson and back and forth for like that. There are also many places to rent nearby if you want your own place. Details here: http://harvsair.com/about/student-accommodation/ We'll provide the Winnipeg airport pickup and drop off at the school for no extra cost. Other pluses of training in MB include free health coverage for international students well you have a student permit.

Steinbach is a growing and a nice place to live. Very clean, lot of sports (rugby, cricket leagues) Lots of immigrants, the population has more than doubled in the last 15 years or so. Info at www.steinbachonline.com or www.steinbach.ca It's not Las Vegas, or Toronto for "excitement", but if you want a cheap place to live that has everything you need and want to concentrate on the training, it's a great place! (and we have fun too).

The length of the training depends on how much you hustle. As I see it we provide the resources (airplanes, instructors, ground schools, classrooms, simulators, examiners, aircraft mechanics) to guide you and train you. You have to provide the work and effort of learning the material. Showing up 6 days a week working 8 hours a day will get you a CPL with a multi IFR in 6-7 months usually. We have tremendous resources in terms of airplanes, (40 operational), spare parts/engines/radios, in house maintenance, and experience, we will not slow you down!

adam@harvsair.com if you have more questions.

Adam

[utczulugmt]

Thanks very much for the information Adam, I will surely reach out to you further if I have additional questions.

[photofly]

Personally I'd steer clear of anything in Ontario.

This province has a law (the Private Career Colleges Act) which means that any school offering "career" training - which in the area of flight training they interpret to mean CPL and Instructor Ratings - has to pay a stiff "insurance" levy to the provincial government. This is billed by the school directly back to the student.