Full-Time Pilot Career

[. ._]

Well bluejet,

It sounds to me that you really only need to fly at a flight club/school that's not so busy. Go flying as much as they'll let ya, then bam! You're done as fast as you want.

As far as "professional" programs go- they mean jack shit from what I can tell from reading this board for 8 or so years.

The only paper from a "flight college" that is worth anything is an aviation diploma from Sault College, Seneca College or Confederation College. That lets you put a little tick in a box of an Air Canada application. Other than that, those diplomas are toilet paper. The training might be tip-top, but the paper is bum-wipable. You already have a degree, so that's the same box to tick off on the Air Canada application and thus- you don't need an aviation diploma for anything.

Here's what I got at "graduation" from Sault College.





Even your BAs are toilet paper when you have 300 hours and there's a guy with an ATPL applying for the same job, IMHO.

I could be wrong, but that's my $0.02.

In any case, good luck! And if you tell us when you get your CPL, you'll get lots of congratulations on here. I always like hearing good/bad news like that.

-istp

[CanadianEh]

I'm in the UWO program because I want a back up and want to keep my options open for an post-grad (ie. an MBA). There's no wrong way to go about it in my opinion, you just gotta do what's right for you and your goals.

[hew44]

One option is centennial college, professional pilot program. You get everything you need in one year (spetember to august) but getting it done in that time period depends on you and how much you put into it. Myself and a couple others finished in the year, a bunch more took a couple months extra, and some even took another full year :S (laziness).

You can even join the course in early January with you PPL already in hand, from there you will do night, time building, multi, and multi ifr.

Not many people know about the program, its done in oshawa at DFC (durham flight center). One cool thing is that company is attached to enterprise airways. They provide the crew to operate baslers (DC3s with turbine engines fitted) and fly all over the world mainly doing survey work. with you CPL in hand you could ramp for them and work your way up.

[Blue Side Down]

Is it just me or does this thread totally inspire a visual of a dog chasing its tail?

[airbusmam]

hi, i heard pretty bad things about the above mentioned aero academy in london ontario, can anybody confirm or deny that fact?

[YOWza]

Airbusmam,

Let's go ahead and confirm that. The blue school next door too... NO safety culture whatsoever. Stay away.
Besides, training @ CYXU is a pain. Longest waits for takeoff ever ($160/hr to wait!), lots of foreign kids in the air who need better English and PDM skills, and ATC freaking out because a Dash 8 is inbound 70 miles away (these controllers would have a massive coronary at a place like EWR). I realize that this reads like I am the head of the CYXU bashing commitee, still the above is true. If you are thinking of training, there are many alternatives if you are able to drive a bit. It will probably cost you less in the long run.

[pilot555]

If you are thinking of training, there are many alternatives if you are able to drive a bit.

Can you give names of a few such places.
I work in london and would do it everyday part time after work at 5. I have,absolutely, no clue about the schools there. I met a pilot at a pub, he said aero was best among all of them. Also heard AeroAcademy pays $800 base + hourly something if i continue with them as an instructor.

[YOWza]

Can you give names of a few such places.
I work in london and would do it everyday part time after work at 5. I have,absolutely, no clue about the schools there. I met a pilot at a pub, he said aero was best among all of them. Also heard AeroAcademy pays $800 base + hourly something if i continue with them as an instructor.

Try St.Thomas. Huron Flight Centre in Sarnia may even work for you. Stratford? Kitchener?

A strong piece of advice...that aero school may be offering a little base, but be warned...they have no safety culture as I metioned before. They've been known to really skimp on the maintenance. The management chain is a set of scammers from India just like blue bird. The "radio examiner" is really the boss there. He can't hold the OC legally, but make no mistake, he's running the show. You'll be answering to these filthy crooks who will pressure you beyond belief to fly at any cost. This company does not care about flight training, only satisfying Corporate Wings(the pilot placement agency in India-also recruits for blue bird) which makes a handsome $1500 per student it recruits(student pays this on top of everything else). You will be expected to have these students finished with EVERYTHING(Multi incl.) in 200 hours! If not, guess who is at fault? That's right...you!
Word from the inside is that they are trying to start up a 703. The "radio examiner" hasn't finished the PPCs for the pilots who paid for them years ago-Read, he took their money. Thousands from each.

The best school on the field would have to be dfc. The boss is a bit of a dictator, but at least there's a safety culture.

[SuperchargedRS]

At the risk of sounding elitist I have a "real" degree, that is a 4 yr Bsc granted by a recognized University.

X2 , isnt that the truth!


if you want a degree just to have a degree, just do one of those online deals, a BS in BS is the same no matter where you get it lol

[Ground Thumper]

I would recommend go to a real University study something you like and can fall back on. Do your flight training on weekends and breaks. That would impress me much more than graduating from a puppy mill.

[CosmoBuszard]

I recently looked at this very problem. I got my PPL in january and was deciding whether or not to go to moncton flight college, where they do an 'integrated atpl' program. at first it seemed very attractive- just get the training for the atpl now, and rack up 1500 hours over the next 5 years, and bam, ATPL and captain, like that. however, ain't nobody going to hire you straight out of there. best case scenario, you work the ramp for somebody and MAYBE get a right seat, but that means you need to do double the time, and 3000 hours in 5 years (minus ramp time) is not a given by any means. Also, this program was NOT designed for someone with a PPL. they told me i could only count 30 hours toward my total from MFC. they told me i would have to sit on the ground for 3 months while everybody else in my 'class' got their PPLs. oh, and they were going to charge me 53 grand for the year, lodging not included. so i've decided that for less than that i could go to cornwall, live for the year, and get my instructor rating. good luck!

[Pilot_king!]

Aviaton Colleges IMO are far more beneficial to the industry than doing your training privatly. Aviation colleges give easily twice as much training in areas that aren't even covered in TC requirements. And the ares that TC tests on, colleges gives the average student pilot enough info that the student could pass the TC exam with ease.

Not only is the knowledge abundant but the in class instructors in most cases, retired Airline pilots, career instructors, RCAF retirees or avaiton consultants. If you attend your classes everyday, which I did, I received 450 hours of groundschool. Don't see how you get that privatly.

The coolest part about colleges is that you are learning with 20 other pilots in the exact same stage as you. I remember when a bunch of us needed to our 300 NM cross country for our CPL, guess what we did, we planned a NAV to Las Vegas from Calgary. We left oer reading break and had the best time of our life. Flying over the grand canyon, over the strip at night...each got 15 hours, and completed the TC req.

Plus you get to meet lots of people in your program and in the school, tons of girls (who especially love pilots).

Final point - The program keeps you on track - if you want to fly commercially 18 months after you start, you will. O ya and did I mention you get a diploma which can be easily upgraded to BAA.

O yea and operators (so i've heard) know what type of pilot you are based on where you did your training. Senaca, Mount Royal they speak for themselves.

[Pilot_king!]

I should clarify though, just because a pilot goes through the College program doesn't mean he/she will get a job right away after graduation or ahead of someone else. But with the knowledge he/she should be able to put themselve in a better posistion to get hired. Whether it be more contacts, more hours, scholarships, or luck from employers contacting intructors from the program asking for good pilots.

[iflyforpie]

Aviaton Colleges IMO are far more beneficial to the industry than doing your training privatly. Aviation colleges give easily twice as much training in areas that aren't even covered in TC requirements. And the ares that TC tests on, colleges gives the average student pilot enough info that the student could pass the TC exam with ease.

Not only is the knowledge abundant but the in class instructors in most cases, retired Airline pilots, career instructors, RCAF retirees or avaiton consultants. If you attend your classes everyday, which I did, I received 450 hours of groundschool. Don't see how you get that privatly.

The private school I learned at had a 400 hour ground school course. It also had career instructors, ex-military, and ex-airline pilots.

The coolest part about colleges is that you are learning with 20 other pilots in the exact same stage as you. I remember when a bunch of us needed to our 300 NM cross country for our CPL, guess what we did, we planned a NAV to Las Vegas from Calgary. We left oer reading break and had the best time of our life. Flying over the grand canyon, over the strip at night...each got 15 hours, and completed the TC req.

Maybe, but again you can do this yourself in any other school and throw a couple friends in as well.

Plus you get to meet lots of people in your program and in the school, tons of girls (who especially love pilots).

I met tons of experienced pilots at the local flying club, and got hours for free that simply weren't available at any college...

Final point - The program keeps you on track - if you want to fly commercially 18 months after you start, you will. O ya and did I mention you get a diploma which can be easily upgraded to BAA.

O yea and operators (so i've heard) know what type of pilot you are based on where you did your training. Senaca, Mount Royal they speak for themselves.

I did my commercial license in 12 months with a Group 1 IFR. Something that would have been impossible with a cookie-cutter college program. If you need a program to keep you on track, what are you going to do when it comes time for an ATPL or another rating?

The pilot's attitude and flying speak for themselves. A piece of paper by itself will get you nowhere...

[Pilot_king!]

Aviaton Colleges IMO are far more beneficial to the industry than doing your training privatly. Aviation colleges give easily twice as much training in areas that aren't even covered in TC requirements. And the ares that TC tests on, colleges gives the average student pilot enough info that the student could pass the TC exam with ease.

Not only is the knowledge abundant but the in class instructors in most cases, retired Airline pilots, career instructors, RCAF retirees or avaiton consultants. If you attend your classes everyday, which I did, I received 450 hours of groundschool. Don't see how you get that privatly.

The private school I learned at had a 400 hour ground school course. It also had career instructors, ex-military, and ex-airline pilots.

The coolest part about colleges is that you are learning with 20 other pilots in the exact same stage as you. I remember when a bunch of us needed to our 300 NM cross country for our CPL, guess what we did, we planned a NAV to Las Vegas from Calgary. We left oer reading break and had the best time of our life. Flying over the grand canyon, over the strip at night...each got 15 hours, and completed the TC req.

Maybe, but again you can do this yourself in any other school and throw a couple friends in as well.

Plus you get to meet lots of people in your program and in the school, tons of girls (who especially love pilots).

I met tons of experienced pilots at the local flying club, and got hours for free that simply weren't available at any college...

Final point - The program keeps you on track - if you want to fly commercially 18 months after you start, you will. O ya and did I mention you get a diploma which can be easily upgraded to BAA.

O yea and operators (so i've heard) know what type of pilot you are based on where you did your training. Senaca, Mount Royal they speak for themselves.

I did my commercial license in 12 months with a Group 1 IFR. Something that would have been impossible with a cookie-cutter college program. If you need a program to keep you on track, what are you going to do when it comes time for an ATPL or another rating?

The pilot's attitude and flying speak for themselves. A piece of paper by itself will get you nowhere...

A piece paper will get you halfway to a university degree. In your free time you can take extra courses as well, I took Computer sciences, French studies, Business law etc. Pretty much anything that intrests you can expand on to make you a more well rounded student/pilot/individual.

In terms to strictly passing and obtaining your CPL Group 1, you can get that anywhere. So if you are unsatissifed with the availibility and time constraints of your instructors (i think you mentioned that) try exploring...cause I gurantee a college wouldn't do that. Its their job to make sure you fly and graduate with all your licenses and ratings.

[iflyforpie]

In terms to strictly passing and obtaining your CPL Group 1, you can get that anywhere. So if you are unsatissifed with the availibility and time constraints of your instructors (i think you mentioned that) try exploring...cause I gurantee a college wouldn't do that. Its their job to make sure you fly and graduate with all your licenses and ratings.

You can't do both CPL and Group 1 at the same time anywhere. I figure I saved about $10,000 doing it that way and only spent 11 months doing my CPL training, all while working 40 hours per week. As a result, I finished my CPL before others that did their PPL the same time as I did and then went to a college. I also spent less money and worked at the same time so I was able to finish with minimal debt.

I also got something that is pretty much unavailable at most college programs, a flying job with the same company I did my training with that didn't involve instructing or ramp time.

[Pilot_king!]

Obviously you need the equipment to do the Group 1 within your CPL.

Most colleges are structured to pass your CPL flight test and written test at the 150 hour mark, and the last 50 hours is your ME and MIFR ratings. Without the summer break it works out to 16 months of training.

[BoostedNihilist]

Pie: you didn't mention the aerobatics.

[iflyforpie]

Pie: you didn't mention the aerobatics.

The Citabria came online the year after I finished my CPL.

I did get some complimentary EMT training and aero on it though before I left...

[Invertago]

deleted

[SpeedChecks]

I'd suggest getting a EASA license which is a european pilots license. They have an excellent school down in florida can't remember the name of the school. However, i have been told by a friend of mine who is now a FO for Emirates, saying if you have a European passport your gold. Which means your chances of working in an airline in Europe is an amazing chance. Difference between Canadian Airlines and European is somewhat salary is higher in European Airlines as rumoured. Don't quote me on that. Also the European Airlines do not care if you have post secondary education. In Canada, its mandatory unless you have the experience.

Best of Luck!

[esp803]

I really have to learn to look at the dates on all these threads that people pull up... I think... oooooooh something controversial, I haven't seen this subject and it already has 20 responses.... oh wait, it's from 2010....

[JungianJugular]

If you are aiming to pursue flying as a full time career, learn a trade and make yourself marketable across the board. Learn more than one thing. I think there are some worthwhile subsidized programs out there. Unless pursuing post secondary education for a back up career or anything of the sort in case flying doesn't pan out, sure. Think about it this way, there are McDonalds employees with MBA's.

Two degrees later, thousands of dollars and additional qualification courses = waste of my time.

I learned more on Twitter about doing a better job in my current profession than the post secondary courses I took.

University costs + flight training costs = makes no flippin' sense to me. That's an insane amount of debt to be taking on when you are entering a profession with crap wages to start off with.