Flight schools in BC offer the training and experience you need to begin a career as a commercial or private pilot.
Whether you’re interested in flight instruction, aircraft manufacturing, or aviation management, there are flight schools all across the province of British Columbia that can help you attain your goals in aviation.
The List of Flight Schools in BC
Here are just some of the flight schools in BC offering these programs.
1) Pacific Professional Flight Centre
Flight school · 4340 King St Unit 6
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM · +1 604-952-4635
2) Coastal Pacific Aviation
Flight school · 30575 Approach Dr
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM Mon · +1 604-855-1112
3) ACADIA COLLEGE- AVIATION UNIT
Flight school · 5333 216 St #5
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM · +1 604-795-2220
4) Pacific Rim Aviation Academy
Flight school · 18799 Airport Way #160
Open 24 hours · +1 604-465-3594
5) Canadian Flight Centre
Flight school · 11715 Baynes Rd #603
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM · +1 604-946-7744
6) Principal Air Ltd
Flight school · 30460 Liberator Ave
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM · +1 604-850-0290
7) Aquila Aviation
Flight school · 3-1245 Tower St
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM · +1 604-832-9590
8) Canadian Aviation College
Flight school · 18300 Ford Rd #72
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM · +1 604-299-7777
9) Langley Flying School, Inc.
Flight school · 5385 216 St #110
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM · +1 604-532-6461
10) Chinook Helicopters
Flight school · 30720 Rotor Drive
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM Mon · +1 888-855-1101
11) Glacier Air
Flight school · 46001 Government Rd
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM · +1 604-898-9016
12) Skyquest Aviation Ltd
Flight school · 5333 216 St #1
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM · +1 604-534-6855
13) Victoria Flying Club
Flight school · 1852 Canso Rd #101
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM · +1 250-656-2833
14) Flying Papa | Ultralight flying School
Flight school · #329 320A, 18799 Airport Way
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM · +1 604-865-5888
15) BC Helicopters Ltd.
Flight school · 1404 Townline Rd
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM Mon · +1 604-639-9090
How long does it take to become a pilot in BC?
Becoming a pilot is quite an involved process. The length of time it takes you to become a pilot depends on whether or not you already have your Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) and your desired level of accreditation.
There are three levels of accreditation available: Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL), and Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR). Becoming a private pilot will take about two years. If you want to get your commercial license, that will add another year to that.
And finally, if you want to get a multi-engine instrument rating, that will add another six months onto that time frame. All told, becoming a fully accredited commercial pilot can take as long as five years from start to finish! How much does it cost?
The costs of getting your license vary depending on whether or not you already have your PPL and what kind of training school you choose. If you already have your PPL and are simply looking to upgrade to a CPL or MEIR, then expect to pay between $6,000 and $10,000 for your training.
Training at flight school
While all flight students are different, many share a similar dream of joining one of Canada’s air forces. Some want to fly fighters, others want to join search and rescue operations, while still others hope to become commercial pilots.
Regardless of your area of interest, you will be required to complete training at a flight school in order to receive your pilot license or rating. When choosing a flight school, make sure that it is approved by Transport Canada.
This means that they have met industry standards for quality control and safety as well as meeting Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs). It’s also important to choose a flight school that has instructors with experience teaching students with no previous flying experience.
In addition, you will want to make sure that your flight school is equipped with aircraft suited to your level of training. For example, if you are just starting out, it may be a good idea to choose a smaller plane such as an ultra-light or a Cessna 152.
Is becoming a pilot hard?
Generally speaking, flying is a difficult task to master. It takes patience, dedication, and plenty of practice to learn how to operate an aircraft safely and effectively.
The path to becoming a qualified commercial pilot will take around two years at the most reputable flight schools in British Columbia. However, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be an arduous process. If you have what it takes to become a pilot, you can expect your training program to be challenging but fun. Here are some tips on how to succeed
Do you need to be smart to be a pilot?
You must possess a certain level of intelligence to become a pilot; however, that does not necessarily mean you need to have an advanced degree. Whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements for your desired flight school will depend on various factors including age and nationality.
To be considered for training, pilots must have good eyesight (20/100 vision corrected or better) and no color blindness. They also need to pass a medical examination that includes a hearing test, a blood pressure check, and an electrocardiogram.
Additional tests may be required depending on your country of origin or if you are over 40 years old. Most people who want to become pilots will find they already meet these basic criteria before applying to any flight school.
What career path should you take as a pilot?
Choosing a pilot career can be one of your biggest decisions. With so many flight paths available, it’s crucial to ask yourself some important questions before beginning training. This post will discuss several common pilot careers including commercial pilots, corporate pilots, and military pilots.
Find out what options you have as a pilot and where you should go from here. What are my educational requirements?: Most flight school programs require applicants to hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
Many also require applicants to have taken math and science courses in high school. If you’re interested in an associate’s degree program, check with individual institutions for specific coursework requirements; most institutions offer degrees with various concentrations like avionics technology or aerospace management that may better prepare students for future roles within their chosen field.
How many years does it take to become a pilot?
The time it takes to become a pilot is dependent on several factors, including age, experience, and, location. If you’re younger than 18 years of age and want to pursue your Private Pilot License (PPL), you’ll need at least 35 hours of flight training.
However, if you want to go straight for your Commercial Pilot License (CPL) with an Instrument Rating (IR) upon earning your PPL, you can do so after completing roughly 120 hours of flight training. In Canada, pilots are required to earn a minimum of 60 hours flying solo before they can apply for their IR; however, you should note that some provinces have stricter regulations.
In Ontario, for example, you must complete 100 hours flying solo before applying for your IR.
What qualifications do I need to be a pilot?
There are only a few prerequisites to becoming a pilot. When you apply for your pilot’s license you will have to undergo medical, sight, and hearing tests. These tests determine whether or not you are fit to be a pilot. You must also pass an eye exam before being able to fly.
The exams ensure that you can see well enough to read instruments on board an aircraft. You must also be at least 17 years old and hold a valid driver’s license with no more than 6 demerit points if you wish to fly as a private pilot.
If you want to become a commercial or airline pilot, there are additional requirements. Commercial pilots need 1500 hours of flying time whereas airline pilots need 2000 hours of flying time. The flight school industry is booming because many people have taken up flying as their passion and hobby.
Do airlines pay for flight school?
Unfortunately, airlines do not pay for flight school. If you are fortunate enough to secure a position as an Aviation Officer with a company like Air Canada or Westjet it is part of their benefits package that they will pay for your flight training.
However, there are several options for financing your flight training without putting yourself into crippling debt. For example, if you have access to an Aircraft Trust Certificate (ATC) then you can borrow up to $250,000 at prime plus 1%.
This means that if the prime rate is 2% then your interest rate would be 3%. The money borrowed would be used towards aircraft purchases and/or flight training. You should also consider getting a student line of credit from your bank.
These lines of credit often come with low-interest rates and flexible payment terms. Finally, you may want to consider applying for government grants such as those offered by Transport Canada through the Canadian Student Loans Program (CSLP). There are certain criteria that must be met but many students qualify for these grants which may cover all or part of their flight training costs.
Do airlines hire older pilots?
The short answer is yes, airlines do hire pilots who are older than most aspiring pilots. There is no upper limit to how old you can be to fly as a commercial pilot, but there are age and experience requirements that you must meet before you can apply.
Airline hiring requirements vary from company to company, but it’s safe to say that most require candidates between 21-50 years of age with 500-1,000 flying hours logged. If you have what it takes, your next step is to start researching airline job openings and applying for them.
For more information on becoming a pilot check out our guide: How To Become A Pilot: A Beginner’s Guide To Flying And Aviation Careers.
Because these positions involve both operating aircraft (as either captain or first officer) and managing staff, experience tends to come before the age when determining whether or not an applicant will get hired. This means applicants with significant management skills may find themselves in line ahead of someone older who has less management experience under their belt.
Conclusion
Choosing a flight school isn’t easy and it’s hard to know who to trust. These tips can help you get started and make sure you are choosing an appropriate option.
Having done your research, don’t be afraid of making a call or two to check on your options. One call could save you thousands of dollars, so it is well worth it! After all, a decision like flying lessons will impact your life for years to come – so take charge and do your research now.
