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Seneca requirements

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:21 pm
by Dujan
Does anyone know how hard it is to get into seneca college aviation and flight technology (marks, etc)? Thanks in advance. :)

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:59 pm
by Jeppesen
Is not hard if you really want to go there.

for what is worth, I'm currently in first year and my entrance mark was above 80%. I know a couple of guys in my class that also got in with marks in the high 70s. Marks are important, but you really need to do good in the entrance exams. 2 English, and 1 math.

Once you're in, you'll be most likely divided in two classes each with less than 40 students. mine is around 37. Which is great when you compare it to university classes and normal colleges classes.

While you're at Seneca you'll need a minimum of 90% of assistance and maintain an average of C+ (65%) on all courses to get promoted. All these rules were established by Transport Canada because they are subsidizing the program. Teachers are all great, and are always willing to help you out, students too, so if you fail is obviously because you really didn't care about passing the program.

This coming week we are having many guest speakers for our co-op, which is in 2nd and 3er year. Although, 1st year students are welcome to come in.

Mr. Sugar, VP Flight Ops for CargoJet; Mr. Sugar will be speaking about the hiring process at CargoJet and industry trends

Students who worked at Northwestern Air Lease (Fort Smith, NWT), Air Georgian, Provincial Airlines, and Southern Ontario Soaring Association)

Students who worked at Pakistan International Airlines, Air Georgian, Chartright and Yemen Airways.

Mr. Troy Stephens, Chief Pilot from Air Georgian will be speaking and during the week of October 1st, Ms. Kamla Buckle, Corporate Recruiter for Jazz will be speaking to the class.

Seneca College offers a very good program, but they require very high standards. It is easy to get in, the hard part is to graduate. We have many demanding courses and a very busy schedule. 29 hours of classes a week, and that's already 6 more hours than my brother has in U of T Scarborough in Computer Science.

Overall, all aviation students are like a family, we are always together, and helping each other out. That's the truth, there's nothing like backstabbing and the shit they talk in here.

Seneca requirements

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:07 pm
by Dujan
thanks a lot for the quick reply. I appreciate it.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:10 pm
by 4blue
Maybe I'm completely ignorant, but since when does Transport Canada subsidize any part of the program?

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:28 pm
by Dujan
hmm i was under the impression they subsidized the flight training maybe i am wrong?

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:33 pm
by 4blue
Ontario government used to subsidize the program (Not TC though) but as far as I understand they do not any more.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:51 pm
by Jeppesen
sorry my bad. The ministry of Ontario subsidizes the program, not TC. TC, however, is to blame, for the 90% assistance and 65+ average.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:57 pm
by Dujan
when are the entrance exams and what all do they involve? (what kind of math and english i mean)

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:30 pm
by 4blue
Again, I was under the impression that the Seneca program was no longer subsidized (hence the gigantic increase in tuition costs).

Also, if the subsidizing body is responsible for the mark requirements, why are they different at different schools subsidized by the same governing body?

More likely the subsidizer says we will give you $X per student to a maximum of $Y

But as I said I think now that seneca is a four year "degree" program there is no longer any subsidization.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:35 pm
by FlyHigh13
There still is subsidization. The reason why costs went up is because it is now a degree program. The flight training is subsidized but the class room work is not.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:54 pm
by 4blue
So what changed in the classroom to jack the costs up so drastically?

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:36 am
by Tango01
If you don't get in, you're not missing much. Just last week, I was at YKZ and saw some Seneca kinds pushing a Baron by the ailerons. Not to mention, seeing pancake landings and circuits with the gear down all the time... something to think about. However if you want a job at Jazz, maybe go for it!

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:10 am
by Doc
Thanks Clunk....now I've got coffee all over my keyboard!

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:59 am
by Cat Driver
Seneca College offers a very good program, but they require very high standards.
If the rumors of Seneca having a 5 knot X/Wind limit and flying airplanes with retractable gear around the sky with the gear down are true, God help the industry if this is the new standard of teaching pilot skills.

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:23 am
by Doc
I kind of wondered about the gear down circuits as well?? What's the thought process behind that one?

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:41 am
by DFione1
I think the gear down circuits is a common practice at YKZ. I see it all the time there. Maybe to save on maintenance costs or maybe to prevent gear up landings while doing circuits? Who knows but I don't agree with it.

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:56 am
by Cat Driver
I think the gear down circuits is a common practice at YKZ. I see it all the time there. Maybe to save on maintenance costs or maybe to prevent gear up landings while doing circuits? Who knows but I don't agree with it.
It is illogical, unorthodox and moronic to teach people to fly a retractable gear airplane and not operate the airplane as it was type certificated to operate ( retract the gear when safe to do so )

It is bizzarre that this would be the method of teaching at a so called aviation college.....

Bizzarre.......

May God, Allah and all the other Gods known to mankind protect us as we fly with this new age breed.

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:23 am
by niwre
Cat Driver wrote:
Seneca College offers a very good program, but they require very high standards.
If the rumors of Seneca having a 5 knot X/Wind limit and flying airplanes with retractable gear around the sky with the gear down are true, God help the industry if this is the new standard of teaching pilot skills.
Indeed if these rumors were true why would Jazz hire from there? From day one most "other" schools/clubs have their students fly solo in winds with a greater x/wind than 5kts. Also what happens when you start raising the gear? There is a new check that can be missed. Do it right the first time and you or your student will NEVER have a gear up.

But again thats if these rumors are true.

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:07 am
by sigmet77
Dujan Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:57 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

when are the entrance exams and what all do they involve? (what kind of math and english i mean)




It took me 2.5 minutes to get this information on the net, I am guessing you are not qualified if you can't find it.[/quote]

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:04 am
by Dominic220
DFione1 wrote:I think the gear down circuits is a common practice at YKZ. I see it all the time there. Maybe to save on maintenance costs or maybe to prevent gear up landings while doing circuits? Who knows but I don't agree with it.
So... to save costs, on parts, that should be moved so they do not become "stuck" in place, they are doing gear down circuits? My small little GA oriented brain, that has only had time in seminoles, senecas, and a very fortunate 421 (what, I like new planes to me), goes "wait... why?!" Is that not training to the lowest common denominator? Well, since the student MIGHT forget it, we have to leave it down - I'm sorry, but what the f*** is the instructor there for then?!

Isn't that somewhat akin to saying "well, since not everyone can drive a manual transmission car, we have to make EVERYTHING automatic"?

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:19 pm
by mdh
It probably has more to do with insurance costs then anything else. Complex singles and twins are in a premium band of risk as afar as insurance companies go - especially with student pilots. Training doctrine probably has little to do with it.

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:47 pm
by niwre
mdh wrote:It probably has more to do with insurance costs then anything else. Complex singles and twins are in a premium band of risk as afar as insurance companies go - especially with student pilots. Training doctrine probably has little to do with it.
How would not retracting your gear affect your insurance?

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:00 pm
by flyincanuck
The gear down in the circuit helps manage the energy when flying continuous circuits in a Bonanza/Baron against a handful of 150s.

Yeah - I know what you're going to say: I guess they could raise it after rotation and lower it in the downwind...

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:03 pm
by niwre
flyincanuck wrote:The gear down in the circuit helps manage the energy when flying continuous circuits in a Bonanza/Baron against a handful of 150s.

Yeah - I know what you're going to say: I guess they could raise it after rotation and lower it in the downwind...
point taken but if you cannot modify your circuit by this point....

I did my multi in a Barron 55

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:34 pm
by Doc
Well then, why not just weld the puppies down?? Or buy Islanders?? Shakes head and wanders off to "stir it up" elsewhere....