Calgary Flight Training Center Good or Bad?

yyc80 · Post by **yyc80** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:45 pm

Hey,
Just wondering if anyone has heard about Calgary Flight Training Center and their program? Is it worth the money? If not does anyone know of any good flight schools in Calgary?

girlpilot · Post by **girlpilot** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:12 pm

Try reviewing the "Announcement" at the beginning of this topic, Right Seat Captain has done a good job of providing links to comments and so forth

JET A-1 · Post by **JET A-1** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:10 pm

lots of $$$$$$$

DA20-C1 $142.95 / Flight Hour
172R / 172S $166.95 / Flight Hour
DA40-180 $166.95 / Flight Hour
Aztec 23-250 $287.95 / Flight Hour

Also remember to add the $21.00 landing fee everytime you go for a flight! Check out the flight schools at CYBW. They will be a lot cheaper and you will get better training. Going to a post secondary institution after training will be just as good as the Professional Pilot Diploma Program if not better.

Cheers,

Jet A-1

aero220 · Post by **aero220** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 10:05 pm

As everyone knows, it is more importaint who you know than what you know in most cases when it comes to getting a job in this industry.

I did training at CYYC and CYBW and found each to have its own advantages and disadvantages. I got to know alot more people who were in a commercial type setting when I was doing my training at the international than I met at Springbank. The easiest way to make contacts with people in the industry is to just be around and have a good attitude. All of my instructors who were training out of CYYC have now moved on to small charters where as the instructors I trained with out of CYBW, none have moved on.

So in general, If you are looking to eventually move on to become a commercial pilot, It does not hurt to maybe spend the extra money and get some experience at an international airport. (not all of your training needs to be done at the international and I am not favoring CFTC to train with.)

CFTC also has a great fleet of aircraft (far newer than any others you will find) so if you have the money, why not spend it to train in style in practicaly new aircraft that have far less mechanical problems than older aircraft.

For those of us who do not have alot of extra cash, or have parents who have alot of extra cash, I would say go and do most of your training at Springbank where it is cheaper, but then later go and get a little taste of the international, even if it just an night or instrument rating. I made the connections to get my first job by just taking a 1hr checkout and then when I had the money to, renting an aircraft at the internaltional and just getting to know the people around there.

happy_flyer · Post by **happy_flyer** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 10:36 pm

Why wouldn't you got to YBW ? SATC are really very good...give them a call. You WILL NOT be disappointed. Like it really makes a difference whether you train at YBW or YYC...you're on the same zone, you have a tower blah blah etc...don't waste your time with the YYC delays etc...

MRO · Post by **MRO** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:34 pm

JET A-1 wrote:Check out the flight schools at CYBW. They will be a lot cheaper and you will get better training.

Ok I agree they will be cheaper, but to say that the training will be better is just ignorant. It depends on who you get for an instructor, there are bad ones everywhere. I happen to know a few guys at CFTC and I can tell you the crew there is top notch.

It drives me crazy when people relate cheap with good. You get what you pay for.

CYYC/CYBW · Post by **CYYC/CYBW** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 8:14 pm

it really makes a difference whether you train at YBW or YYC...you're on the same zone, you have a tower blah blah etc...

Spoken like a true pilot who has no idea what goes on at a real international airport. The international gives students experience that they can not get at YBW. When was the last time you had to worry about wake turbulence at Springbank? When was the last time you were asked to take-off part way down the runway or land and hold short of a runway? When was the last time you got experience with SIRO (Simultaneous intersecting runway operations)? If you have only trained at YBW you will probably answer never to these questions that you will see every day at YYC.

Calgary International offers a true Radar environment (not just a piggy-back system like YBW). In calgary Airspace you will be given radar vectors and altitudes that you will be held to, there is no few degrees off off or forgetting to scan the altimeter and gaining or loosing altitude. At the international they expect knowledgeable pilots who will do exactly as the tower says, thus increasing the standards and making you a far better pilot.

This being said, I would not suggest taking private or lower training at the international because they are very unforgiving about little mistakes. I would say in this type of situation, definitely got to Springbank and a place like SATC. YBW provides a great environment to train in because it is mainly a training airport. The COntrollers are used to "student pilots who routinely make mistakes and are able to anticipate them and avoid conflict. At the International there is not room for mistakes because of the high volume of traffic. A small mistake here could have horrible consequences.

I agree mostly with what aero said. Get your basic training somewhere suited for that and then when you are a fairly competent pilot, go to the international and improve your skills further. Once you have mastered the busy environment of the international, there are few airports that you would not feel comfortable going to.

MRO · Post by **MRO** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:41 pm

Well said, I agree with everything that you said. Except that you would not do a PPL there.
Yes you will be higher time when your done, and thus spend more money, but you will be a much better pilot, and capable of going into and out of any airport around.
You may end up slightly higher time because you must be more skilled when you are sent solo. You will not be higher time because of the delays (a common misconception) ATC is pretty accommodating.

fl390 · Post by **fl390** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:43 pm

These guys are right about the experience you will get at the international but you can train at a smaller airport and still fly to larger ones.The money you will save is worth it.If you want to get the big airport experience just plan all of your cross country flying into more congested airspace.As for calgary flight and there program.Dont even go there, stay as far away from that place as you can.Save your money and go train at ybw.Cftc does not have a good name in the industry and if you decide to train there i think you will find out why.Take my advice and run from cftc.I know alot of previous instructors from there and they will all give you the same advice.When it comes to Calgary Flight you dont get what you pay for.

happy_flyer · Post by **happy_flyer** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:53 am

Spoken like a true pilot who has no idea what goes on at a real international airport.

Yah right. I have no idea. I think YYC is the quietest smallest "real international airport" I have ever been into.

If you have only trained at YBW you will probably answer never to these questions that you will see every day at YYC.

Unless you fly into YYC for some experience of course, which is what most people would suggest, are suggesting. when doing your PPL.[/quote]

JET A-1 · Post by **JET A-1** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:01 am

I agree with fl390. When you start building time for your commercial license plan cross countries to major airports. You will be nervous so if there is another student who has experience then ask him if he wants to go for a flight.

As for the program..... The Director left in the spring to go start up a program down east with a different flight school.

I heard that the program at CFTC is still operating but it is slowly falling apart. If you are looking to fly newer aircraft then Springbank Aero has a new C-172 that has low time and a sweet 430 GPS in it. And I think they have a student rate of $125/ hour or something like that.

SATC is another great place to train. All the staff are so energetic and professional. I received some training from them in the past and I found them to be great. Talk about networking....one day I went there for a flight and there were North Cariboo Air pilots as well as CMA pilots just chatting. Anyways thats just my two cents on this subject. Hope it helps you make a decision and good luck in the future.

Jet A-1