Best places to train in Canada for weather

[Scott44]

Hello, I was looking at starting flight training and wanted to get some input on where people felt the best place to learn to fly were at. Was planning on going 3-5 times a week sometimes that is impossible to do during the months of septemeber to January to do Rain im in the Vancouver area.

So anyone got any suggestion not just for the vancouver area but all over Canada as to where you may be able to fly 3-5 times a week.

[KenoraPilot]

Winnipeg great in the summer and mostly during the winter.....we get some awsome skys and if the skys come down its great weather for MIFR training, great IMC weather in wpg too. More VFR though

[mikegtzg]

Brandon MB like Winnipeg has good VFR weather most of the time. One local flight school website states 330 VFR days a year. If you are afraid of the cold, you'll get used to it. During a cold snap most flight schools call it quits. But they usually only last about three days at a time before it warms up to flying weather. For example one school in Winnipeg has a mininum temp. is -28C. If it's any colder than that you don't want to be flying

[Hedley]

Why not Florida? The Cdn $ is pretty strong right now, and you'd have to be deranged to want to fly in the Cdn praries instead of FL in the winter.

Apart from the very short days and the continual snow removal, the low temps are hard on the aircraft. Don't fly below -20C unless you know what you're doing.

PFL's with -30C OAT, anyone, anyone?

[Cat Driver]

Kenorapilot:

Further to this..

" its great weather for multi IFR training "

How long do you leave the prop feathered when the temperature is way, way below freezing? Or do they not do full feathering on the multi engine course in the winter?

It must make for some interesting restarts.

Cat

[Luscombe]

When I used to do multi ratings, we left it feathered as little time as possible. Kind of like "well, you've seen it... now let's get-er-goin' right now".

I really didn't like doing it below 0.

[like2fly]

Southern Manitoba

My 2 cents...

[Walker]

I heard a rumor that Victoria was supposed to statistically have the best weather year round for VFR flying in Canada.... however I did hear this from a fellow that was trying to take my money, so how much faith you want to put in it is up too you.....
-walk

[Tholl]

I agree, Winnipeg/St.Andrews is pretty good during the winter months...I fly at Winnipeg Aviation, and never regreted it for a second. The instructors are very casual and you really get to know them as a friend rather than a school teacher. They have an Aarow, Warrior, and 4 Cherokee's. There is another school acress the apron, Harvs air..aka.. ("the dollar store") that is cheaper, they have 152 172's. I have flown with these people before and I found they are more interested in collecting you rmoney rather than training you. As far as theweather goes...it seems they have different minamas from TC. Check out winnipeg aviations website...
http://www.winnipegaviation.com
-Tholl

[Hedley]

Wow! Tholl, you really seem to have it in for Harv's Air. I don't have anything to do with them (or the province of Manitoba, thank goodness) but would you like to fill us in on your experiences with them?

[groundtoflightdeck]

I believe that Saskatoon has the most hours of sun a year. I know when I was there the ATIS would give temp/ DP as 3/-23, not bad when you need fair weather.

[5x5]

From the following Winnipeg, Estevan and Medicine Hat appear to be OK. Assuming you want to live in any of those places. I'm not suggesting you wouldn't want to, it's just that clear, calm weather might not be the primary consideration to use when deciding on places to train. A bit more challenging weather contributes to not just better flying skills (e.g crosswinds) but also dicey weather requires the development of better decision making skills.


http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/learnin ... ather.html

[Hedley]

According to Environment Canada, it was -29C in Regina yesterday, and it's not even officially winter yet (!)