Abbotsford Flight Centre
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, North Shore
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shamrock104
- Rank 8
- Posts: 836
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:16 pm
Abbotsford Flight Centre
Anyone got info on these guys, quality of Instruction, how busy they are etc etc? All replies appreciated.
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rex sterling
- Rank 1
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:19 pm
- Location: Its snowing here!
I did my private license with these guys back in early 2000. Yves is the owner (was?), and it was a nice, personal and enjoyable experience. Great airport and training environment. Just enough traffic and radio chatter to keep you on your toes and help you learn about large airport procedures without making it a "waste of your hard earned money with the -hold short for traffic final- scene" The Fraser Valley area between CYXX and Chilliwack is close by and provides more than enough space to do whatever you need to get done that day without the headaches of major traffic that most training areas have (we all know how that is). The fleet is adequate for initial training, but they aren't really a top choice for more advanced training, like Group1 IFR. I can't say what things are like now at AFC, but I DO know that CYXX is a top notch airport, and I highly recommend it as a training environment.
Yves Demers sold the company and now instructs next door at Coastal. I'm doing my Multi/Ifr with him now, really good guy.
Through the grapevine I heard the AFC was bought by person(s) of Indian descent and the majority of their students come from India for the cheaper training here then return home to a job in the airlines. No idea about their quality of training.
Through the grapevine I heard the AFC was bought by person(s) of Indian descent and the majority of their students come from India for the cheaper training here then return home to a job in the airlines. No idea about their quality of training.
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threepoint
- Rank 2
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:29 am
The AFC operated by Yves is a far cry from the AFC of today. I would highly recommend CYXX as a training airport for the reasons 'rex sterling' outlined in his post.
But 'FlyerGirl' is absolutely correct. See my post in the flight training forum under the "Abbotsford Flight Centre pilots" thread. This particular school has sunk to unparalleled depths - a sad demise from the decent school it once was. I can not emphasize more strongly: do NOT fly here!
The CFI is a horror show, four staff members have quit in disgust and many of the students are leaping like rats to other FTU's. The remaining instructors (all Class 4) work for free when not flying and may or may not appear for your scheduled flight. Due to a high failure rate, TC has mandated that they must personally conduct any flight tests, the OC has been withdrawn twice since the New Year, maintenance control is heavily scrutinised, and the owner seems to be teetering on the brink of solvency. Many students with money on account are in real danger of not seeing it again if the school should fail. Personal disputes between staff are conducted for all to see in a shocking display of poor professionalism.
I am a former student who moved to a different FTU on the west coast and am infinitely better off for doing so. The quality of instruction and general atmosphere are like night and day.
But 'FlyerGirl' is absolutely correct. See my post in the flight training forum under the "Abbotsford Flight Centre pilots" thread. This particular school has sunk to unparalleled depths - a sad demise from the decent school it once was. I can not emphasize more strongly: do NOT fly here!
The CFI is a horror show, four staff members have quit in disgust and many of the students are leaping like rats to other FTU's. The remaining instructors (all Class 4) work for free when not flying and may or may not appear for your scheduled flight. Due to a high failure rate, TC has mandated that they must personally conduct any flight tests, the OC has been withdrawn twice since the New Year, maintenance control is heavily scrutinised, and the owner seems to be teetering on the brink of solvency. Many students with money on account are in real danger of not seeing it again if the school should fail. Personal disputes between staff are conducted for all to see in a shocking display of poor professionalism.
I am a former student who moved to a different FTU on the west coast and am infinitely better off for doing so. The quality of instruction and general atmosphere are like night and day.
