Looking at getting my flying license (assuming I pass the vision requirements). Haven't decided if I ought to get a recreational license or a private pilot license. Is it a hassle to 'upgrade' in the future/easier to do PPL first time around?
But the purpose of me posting this: any recommendations of who to take training through in/around Calgary?
Springbank Air Training College and Calgary Flight Training Centre seem to be the biggest?
Looking at getting my flying license (assuming I pass the vision requirements). Haven't decided if I ought to get a recreational license or a private pilot license. Is it a hassle to 'upgrade' in the future/easier to do PPL first time around?
But the purpose of me posting this: any recommendations of who to take training through in/around Calgary?
Springbank Air Training College and Calgary Flight Training Centre seem to be the biggest?
The Rec license wasn't around when I did my training so I'm not sure what to recommend there. You are limited with the Rec license to only daytime visual flight rules, only in Canada, and only one passenger.
I did all my training at Calgary Flight Training Centre when they were still based at YYC. They have since moved out of there and up to Olds/Didsbury. The fleet looks to be pretty nice, the DA20-C1's are a nice two seat bird to learn in (and quite fun to spin). Also the DA40 Diamondstar is a great plane to be able to take on longer trips, we had one of the first ones in North America when I was still with the school. I see theirs has the full glass cockpit, that would be pretty cool to check out.
Springbank Air Training College if I am not mistaken is run by one of the hardest instructors I ever briefly flew with. She's a tough Swiss lady, did my multi-engine instrument flight rating test with her. Like I said, tough, but really really experienced.
Distance wise Springbank may be easier to get to, but I do remember that it could get incredibly busy/congested on weekends. You'd spend a lot of time holding to depart, or the circuit to practice touch and gos would be full. CFTC would no doubt have almost no delays in Olds/Didsbury, so the drive may be equaled out that way. On the other hand at Springbank you would be in a controlled air traffic control environment, so your radio skills would improve quite quickly as you operated in that area.
Any other questions let me know, and I'm sure others can chime in with their experiences.
Last edited by Bigtime; 05-06-2014 at 11:41 AM.
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Looking at getting my flying license (assuming I pass the vision requirements). Haven't decided if I ought to get a recreational license or a private pilot license. Is it a hassle to 'upgrade' in the future/easier to do PPL first time around?
But the purpose of me posting this: any recommendations of who to take training through in/around Calgary?
Springbank Air Training College and Calgary Flight Training Centre seem to be the biggest?
A PPL is far more logical than a Recreational Permit IMO. Very few people actually obtain a RP comparative to a PPL. You will spend more upgrading a RP to a PPL in the future than you would by doing the PPL from the onset. The RP is a compromise (again my opinion) and has never made much sense when the PPL is not much more of a stretch. There are many restrictions with the RP.
Calgary Flying Club at YBW is another option that has been around longer than any other school and has likely trained more PPL/CPL's than any other school in Alberta. There is also Skywings at CFX2 (Okotoks) depending on what part of the city you live in.
Last edited by FLAME ENVY; 05-06-2014 at 08:16 PM.
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I have to ask, how do they attach the winglet onto the wing?
Bunch of bolts and some wires, looks like the nav and strobe lights are built into the base. A trio of Delta techs on a JLG can do it in a couple of hours, so it's apparently not that bad.
Calgary Flying Club at YBW is another option that has been around longer than any other school and has likely trained more PPL/CPL's than any other school in Alberta. There is also Skywings at CFX2 (Okotoks) depending on what part of the city you live in.
I forgot about CFC, I joined up with them after getting my PPL and did some rentals with them while building hours for my CPL. It was an incredibly busy operation back then (2000-2001) and I remember getting rental time was tough. Has the situation improved?
I forgot about CFC, I joined up with them after getting my PPL and did some rentals with them while building hours for my CPL. It was an incredibly busy operation back then (2000-2001) and I remember getting rental time was tough. Has the situation improved?
I am a longtime CFC member and still rent there when I need 4 seats (182). I maintain my currency at the club which equates to one flight every 3 months. I get my fuel there all the time however. Still a busy facility but never an issue getting a booking, particularly with the 182. They recently got rid of their 4 DA-20's as they were "under utilized" and replaced them with a pair of much cheaper 152's.
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Had some great training with the Mount Royal College gang. I believe I know who Bigtime is talking about ...
Get your PPL, it's a ton of fun.
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Had some great training with the Mount Royal College gang. I believe I know who Bigtime is talking about ...
Get your PPL, it's a ton of fun.
Just as an FYI for a bit of background on Mount Royal and their aviation program.
I started their two-year aviation diploma back in 2007 and did about a year of classes and finished my PPL in the fall of 2008. I was concerned with the sacrifices I'd have to make at the start of my career to build hours and make ends meet. I dropped out of the program with only my PPL to show for it, and decided to do a degree in Economics. Fast-forward to 2013, and I graduated and managed to find work for an aviation/transportation/tourism consulting firm. Good mix of my quantitative background and aviation passion. However, I now realize that the only way I'll be happy in life is to wake up and do whatever it takes to get paid to fly for a living. Will likely get current again next year and finish my training.
TLDR: If you're passionate about flying, do it for a living. It's the best. And props to the MRU flying group, they are great.
edit1: Fond memories of taxiing by the CFC with rudder and ailerons into the wind (or was it with the wind?..god i can't remember) to get into good habits, ha!
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''The Phaneuf - Regehr pairing reminds me a lot of when I'm having sex with a new partner'' -malcomk14
''Not only is he a good player, but I enjoy his company'' -Pierre Mcguire on Phaneuf
"I'm only watching now for the chance to see brief close-ups of White's moustache." - rockstar</br>
edit1: Fond memories of taxiing by the CFC with rudder and ailerons into the wind (or was it with the wind?..god i can't remember) to get into good habits, ha!
Ailerons into the wind, and dive "into" the wind with the elevator (opposite if the wind is from the back).
For flight training, I always have no issue recommending Springbank Air Training College. The school has grown from essentially nothing (trailer in a field with one or two airplanes) to the largest school in the Calgary area. The Club is also a decent bet for recreational flying purposes, but I recommend heading out there and popping your head in doors to see which sales pitch gives you the best vibe. The Air Training College has also invested into some brand new airplanes in recent years, which would be a real treat to rent once the license is complete (a new Cessna 172 equipped with a G1000 avionics package as well as a Cessna 182 Skylane, if I'm not mistaken).
The individual that was mentioned earlier (Swiss lady) has never been involved with the Air Training College but owns and instructs for another flight school on the field.
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The individual that was mentioned earlier (Swiss lady) has never been involved with the Air Training College but owns and instructs for another flight school on the field.
You're right, that was my mistake. She is with Fly Right at YBW.
Russia put on a show in Sevastopol celebrating the anniversary of the liberation of the city from the Nazis. Of course Putin made sure to use the event as a show of force, and the amount of military hardware on display is staggering. This includes a lot of aircraft, including Tu-95s, a Tu-160 flying behind a tanker, and Su-27s and MiG-29s in formation.
If you can get past the fact it's propaganda they put on quite the show. Skip to 11:00 for the good parts.
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I saw an old piston plane taking off to the NW this morning at about 10:30. Hard to mistake the noise. Looked like a DC-3 from the ground. Was painted red and white kind of like the Air Canada 320 from a few years ago. Anyone else hear or see it? It was a treat to hear!
ETA: Flightaware tells me it was Kenn Borek Air DC-3 going to Red Deer.
Last edited by billybob123; 05-10-2014 at 11:28 PM.
I saw an old piston plane taking off to the NW this morning at about 10:30. Hard to mistake the noise. Looked like a DC-3 from the ground. Was painted red and white kind of like the Air Canada 320 from a few years ago. Anyone else hear or see it? It was a treat to hear!
ETA: Flightaware tells me it was Kenn Borek Air DC-3 going to Red Deer.
'Twas Borek indeed, however Borek's DC-3's have all been converted from pistons to turbines, if I'm not mistaken.
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