General Flight Training
- What are the first steps to becoming a pilot?
The first steps to getting your Private Pilots Licence are:
· Start taking flight lessons!
· Get your Class 3 medical, or Class 1 if you want to get your Commercial Licence
· Enroll in a PPL Ground School! Training is much easier if you’re flying and attending ground school at the same time.
- What are the minimum requirements to become a pilot?
There are no special requirements in order to become a pilot.
You do, however, need to be at a minimum age of:
· 14 for your Student Pilot Permit
· 16 for your Recreational Pilot Permit
· 17 for your Private Pilot License
· 18 for your Commercial Pilot License
You will also have to pass your aviation medical exam.
- How long does it take to get my license?
Your flight training varies in length depending on how often you fly. You can obtain your Private Pilot License in a span of 2-3 months if you fly consistently and 3 or more times per week. If you are a weekend flyer, flying once or twice per weekend, you can expect to obtain your PPL in a year or less.
- How many hours of flight training do I need?
The actual hours of flight training vary among individuals. These are the minimum flight training hours as per Transport Canada:
· Recreational Pilot Permit - 25 total hours
· Private Pilot License - 45 total hours
· Commercial Pilot License - 200 total hours
- Do I need to pass a medical test?
You will not need valid medical to start your training! However, you will need to obtain a valid medical certificate to act as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) when you are ready to fly solo as a student pilot.
Here is the category of medical certificate you will need to hold to obtain certain licences:
· A Category 1 medical for Commercial Pilot License
· A Category 3 medical for Private Pilot License
· A Category 4 medical for Recreational/Student Pilot Permit
For more information on aviation medical, please click here.
- Do I need to pass a medical test?
You will not need valid medical to start your training! However, you will need to obtain a valid medical certificate to act as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) when you are ready to fly solo as a student pilot.
Here is the category of medical certificate you will need to hold to obtain certain licences:
· A Category 1 medical for Commercial Pilot License
· A Category 3 medical for Private Pilot License
· A Category 4 medical for Recreational/Student Pilot Permit
- Is it difficult to fly? Do I need any kind of special skillset?
Anything that is worthwhile takes hard work. Don’t worry! With the help of our professional staff, we will make your flight training an enjoyable experience. Everything you will need to know will be taught by our experienced instructors.
- Am I too old/young to start flying?
There is no age limit as to when you can start your flight training, and it is never too late to start.
However, you must be at least:
· 14 years old to obtain your Student Pilot Permit
· 16 years old to obtain your Recreational Pilot Permit
· 17 years old to obtain your Private Pilot License
· 18 years old to obtain your Commercial Pilot License
- Can I still fly if I wear glasses?
Yes, you can wear your glasses or contact lenses as long as they are corrected to a 20/20 vision.
- This all sounds interesting, when can I start flying?
To start flying, please get in touch with us! You can reach us at 604-946-7744, or email us at flying@cfc.aero. Hope to hear from you soon!
Training with CFC
- What services does CFC offer?
Here at CFC, we offer many services over and above your typical pilot training regimens:
· Recreational Pilot Permit
· Private Pilot License
· Commercial Pilot License
· Night Rating
· VFR Over-The-Top Rating
· Multi-Engine Rating
· Instrument Rating
· Instructor Rating
· Aerobatics Rating
· Tailwheel training
· Upset Recovery Training
· Instrument Proficiency Checks
· Flying Companion Training
· Mountain Checks
· Class C Check
· U.S. Check
· Beach Landings
Non-training services include:
· Charter services anywhere in Canada, including mail and cargo
· Sightseeing for individuals or groups
· Aerial photography, surveys, mapping, and patrol
- What kind of aircraft does CFC have?
We have Cessna 152s and 172s, Piper Cherokees, ACA Citabria, ACA Super Decathlon, Socata TB 10, and Piper Seneca 3 & 5.
Click here to check out the full listing of our fleet!
- How is flight training scheduled?
Flight training is scheduled by the student under the guidance of their Instructor, using our in-house booking software called Pegasus.
- How long usually does a lesson usually take?
A lesson will usually take around 2 hours. You will start off with a preparatory ground instruction that takes 20-30 minutes, followed by roughly an hour of flight training. After the flight, you will spend another 30 minutes debriefing.
- Does CFC "guarantee" that the training will result in a permit/licence?
While Transport Canada has specific requirements for issuing a license in terms of flight and ground school hours, it is granted based on the skill and knowledge of the pilot. Therefore, CFC cannot guarantee that our training will result in a permit or license, as it is determined by the effort and discipline of the student. However, if you are willing to put in the work, we will get you there!
- Is ground school available continuously or intermittently?
Both PPL and CPL Ground School classes are offered weekly with no breaks in instruction. Furthermore, the resources for these classes are always available at our Online Academy.
- Are there any computer-based training facilities?
All of the resources for our PPL and CPL Ground School, as well as our ground resources for our rating and flight training courses, are available through our Online Academy. Practice Exams, in-depth reading, video and media content are all hosted on this website (link)
- Does CFC offer fight simulators or flight training devices?
Our Pitt Meadows location hosts our Percussion Flight Control DCX-MAX flight simulator. The system boasts an impressive list of standard and optional features that make it the most advanced trainer in its class.
- Will CFC monitor my training progress?
Students flying with a Class 4 or 3 Instructor will have check-flights with a Supervising Instructor before they are issued new permits or ratings or are recommended for their flight tests. Students who are regularly flying with a Class 2 or Class 1 Instructor will not require check-flights.
- Do the flight instructors follow a standard syllabus, or are they free to conduct their own training regime?
Here at CFC, flight training is very standardized, and instructors are expected to follow the school's training syllabus.
- What is the school's facility like?
Pitt Meadows is home to the bulk of our fleet and maintenance facilities. Here we offer our full suite of services including multi-engine training and aerobatic instruction. This facility also hosts our DCX MAX simulator and multi-purpose conference room. We operate 3 hangars on airport grounds and taxi out from our apron directly adjacent to 26L, the main runway at CYPK. The two practice areas are approximately 10 NM away, above Pitt Lake and Glen Valley.
Kamloops is home to our new generation, solar-powered hangar. Its main runway is directed 09/27 with a small runway situated at 04/22. The maintenance on our aircraft in Kamloops is performed at our facilities in Pitt Meadows. The practice areas are due North, East, and West approximately 10 NM away.
- What kind of services are available at the school's airport?
Pitt Meadows Airport is a controlled airport, and the 9th busiest airport in Canada in 2020. Its proximity to both congested airspace and quiet practice areas makes it the perfect place to train!
The Kamloops airport is an uncontrolled airport in the heart of the Rockies. As an uncontrolled airport, the radio calls are much simpler and less frequent, which is one less thing to worry about in the initial stages of flight training!
Finance, Administration, and Accommodation
- How long has the school been in business?
Canadian Flight Centre has been in the business of training excellent pilots since 1979.
- How and by whom student flight training records are kept?
The student flight records are maintained by the dispatch and accounting team. They are hosted on our private, encrypted servers.
- What is the student/instructor ratio?
Currently, our student/instructor ratio is about 6:1.
- How are the fees/costs are calculated, billed and collected?
Fees are calculated using the flight hours associated with the lesson and the ground briefing time spent with the instructor previewing and reviewing the flight.
We accept payment in many different ways, at the discretion of the student. Interac, credit card, and e-transfer are our most common methods of payment.
- What are the course fees and other costs?
The cost associated with a standard lesson will be broken down into the following rates: Instructor flight time, aircraft rental, fuel cost, and instructor ground briefing time. Our standard rates for each aircraft and instructor are listed here.
We have also created 3 programs for full-time study: the Professional Pilot Program, the Airline Transport Pilot License Program, and the Conversion + Instructor Program.
- Does CFC require cash upfront, or a large deposit, to begin training?
Students are welcome to pay for their flight training as they see fit; whether that is pay-as-you-go or as a lump sum. Since our programs are also offered internationally the flight training costs are covered by tuition, typically paid in predetermined installments throughout training.
- Are loans or financing available? Does the school's insurance cover both personal protection and personal liability?
An in-house financial aid system is currently being implemented. The school's insurance policy is encapsulated in our Aircraft Rental Agreement Form. The renter can opt for insurance on a
per flight hour basis that exonerates them from liability in the case of any loss or damage to an aircraft and property caused entirely or partially by the renter's non-observance of CFC SOP, or by the renters doing, negligence, imprudence, or incompetence.
- Are there any student accommodations?
We have student accommodations available in both Pitt Meadows and Kamloops are our Pilot Houses. Both houses are within walking distance of the flight school, with public transportation readily available at both locations.