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Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:36 am
by toseef
Hello,

I have been reading the forums about flight training to get an idea of the flight schools in my area. Closest ones are BFC and Spectrum. I am looking to start PPL training and continue to CPL.

I have booked an intro flight at Spectrum for this saturday (sept 7) and will be attending the airport day at BFC on sunday (sept 8).

Can anyone, who has experience with BFC or Spectrum, give me some advice on who would be a good person to talk to at these schools about their programs when I'm there?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 2:48 pm
by Pilotdaddy
I am also very interested in this...

@toseef, I did my intro flight with Brampton and the instructor I had seemed pretty good. Compared to Island Air, which I also did an intro with, BFC just seemed more organized. Be advised that BFC and Island Air both have wait lists so it may be a while until you get in.

I don't know whether Spectrum has a wait-list... I will be there tomorrow as well. I guess we'll find out!

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 10:49 am
by toseef
Hey thanks for your reply @pilotdaddy. Let me know how it goes for you.

I'm also looking at the online ground school offered by pilot training.ca and doing hours at these schools. It will save me driving there for ground school and then for flying.

Anyone has experience with the online ground school? Is this a good approach or is it recommended to attend the group school where I will be taking flight lessons?

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 11:07 am
by Pilotdaddy
sent you a PM

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 4:42 pm
by PSL
Here is another topic with some different points of view:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=125579

I would stay away from Rectum Airways.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:25 pm
by rookiepilot
PSL wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2019 4:42 pm Here is another topic with some different points of view:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=125579

I would stay away from Rectum Airways.
PSL,

You've criticized Spectrum vaguely a on a couple of forums. If you are an ex employee or have some other conflict, should disclose this, and also disclose what the issue is with this school.

I did my PPL there (a long time ago) and to me for primary training, it's all about the individual instructor, which in my case was very good. Like any school, there are advantages and disadvantages.

Perhaps you can specifically enlighten us further.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:29 pm
by VW King
toseef wrote: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:36 am Hello,

I have been reading the forums about flight training to get an idea of the flight schools in my area. Closest ones are BFC and Spectrum. I am looking to start PPL training and continue to CPL.

I have booked an intro flight at Spectrum for this saturday (sept 7) and will be attending the airport day at BFC on sunday (sept 8).

Can anyone, who has experience with BFC or Spectrum, give me some advice on who would be a good person to talk to at these schools about their programs when I'm there?

Thanks in advance!
Currently flying at Spectrum to finish off my CPL/Multi IFR. For the most part staff is great! Instructors are busy, your best bet is to team up with (2) good dependable instructors for backups. It's a busy school and airfield, so be ready to practice good airmanship. Planes are maintained well. Some are harder on the eyes then others, but they are maintained. All in all, In the past year, I have had a good experience with them and lost(or loosing) both my instructors due to pilot demand. They use an online base booking tool, so it's very important that you make your bookings weeks in advance. I would give them a try and if it doesn't work out, try someone else.

Good luck! And see you out there!

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 5:50 am
by toseef
VW King wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:29 pm
toseef wrote: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:36 am Hello,

I have been reading the forums about flight training to get an idea of the flight schools in my area. Closest ones are BFC and Spectrum. I am looking to start PPL training and continue to CPL.

I have booked an intro flight at Spectrum for this saturday (sept 7) and will be attending the airport day at BFC on sunday (sept 8).

Can anyone, who has experience with BFC or Spectrum, give me some advice on who would be a good person to talk to at these schools about their programs when I'm there?

Thanks in advance!
Currently flying at Spectrum to finish off my CPL/Multi IFR. For the most part staff is great! Instructors are busy, your best bet is to team up with (2) good dependable instructors for backups. It's a busy school and airfield, so be ready to practice good airmanship. Planes are maintained well. Some are harder on the eyes then others, but they are maintained. All in all, In the past year, I have had a good experience with them and lost(or loosing) both my instructors due to pilot demand. They use an online base booking tool, so it's very important that you make your bookings weeks in advance. I would give them a try and if it doesn't work out, try someone else.

Good luck! And see you out there!
Thank you for the input VW King.

I attended their info/orientation session yesterday and signed up for the flight lessons. Did you do ground school there as well?

I was going to start the online ground school at pilottraining.ca. Is it better to attend the classes or online course will be fine?

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:44 pm
by VW King
If your life schedule allows it, you should enroll with Spectrum’s ground school. This will help you build a relationship with instructors which will be your main resource during your training. Afterwards, if the online training is more convenient for you and completing your CPL and INRAT. Just be ready to spend a lot of time in front of a computer listening to the same person.
I completed my ground school through Harvs Air online training and it took a year to complete. My situation is that I work full time and must complete my duties as a father of 2 before sitting down for a half a day but I got it done and moving on to the next step.

Good luck!

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 6:49 am
by toseef
VW King wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:44 pm If your life schedule allows it, you should enroll with Spectrum’s ground school. This will help you build a relationship with instructors which will be your main resource during your training. Afterwards, if the online training is more convenient for you and completing your CPL and INRAT. Just be ready to spend a lot of time in front of a computer listening to the same person.
I completed my ground school through Harvs Air online training and it took a year to complete. My situation is that I work full time and must complete my duties as a father of 2 before sitting down for a half a day but I got it done and moving on to the next step.

Good luck!
Thanks VW King. This has helped me alot!

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:20 am
by rookiepilot
rookiepilot wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:25 pm
PSL wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2019 4:42 pm Here is another topic with some different points of view:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=125579

I would stay away from Rectum Airways.
PSL,

You've criticized Spectrum vaguely a on a couple of forums. If you are an ex employee or have some other conflict, should disclose this, and also disclose what the issue is with this school.

I did my PPL there (a long time ago) and to me for primary training, it's all about the individual instructor, which in my case was very good. Like any school, there are advantages and disadvantages.

Perhaps you can specifically enlighten us further.
Still waiting.
What's your history there? Get fired or something?
It's not classy to slam a business online without any details or your personal context.
Mods should step in.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:42 am
by PSL
rookiepilot wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:20 am

Still waiting.
What's your history there? Get fired or something?
It's not classy to slam a business online without any details or your personal context.
Mods should step in.
I've paid for training there and I've seen first hand how business is done at the flight school. Unfortunately it was only until I got into more advanced training with the school did I see it's true disfunction. As a brand new PPL going in, I had the mentality of "oh this is how things are done at Spectrum" without actually knowing any better. I made a lot of friends with other students and instructors there at the time and have shared many horror stories with them.

I have seen instructors do some really dumb things, I have seen management act in absolutely inappropriate ways towards other instructors, their students and their customers. I have been around the airport for a very, very long time. Again, get out into the real world and the reputation that Spectrum Airways and the Kovachik's carry is very low. It takes getting a CPL and spending countless dollars at that flight school to learn my lesson the hard way. Compared to BFC, Spectrum is a dumpster fire.

Don't get me wrong I learned a lot along the way, I just feel I learned it in a really bad environment where I was treated as a dollar sign. As to who I am, you probably already know and you're asking silly questions. It's an anonymous forum so leave it that way.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:32 am
by Aviatard
PSL wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:42 am Don't get me wrong I learned a lot along the way, I just feel I learned it in a really bad environment where I was treated as a dollar sign. As to who I am, you probably already know and you're asking silly questions. It's an anonymous forum so leave it that way.
You still didn't give any concrete examples, or any way your grievances could be addressed or corrected. What does "treated like a dollar sign" mean? You feel you were overcharged? You didn't get hugs when presented with your bill? Did you discuss your concerns to the management? That's what a reasonable person would do.

I do not know who you are but the company you named on a public forum doesn't get to be anonymous, while you hide behind your anonymity. In my opinion this is nothing but cowardly and reprehensible.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:15 pm
by mircea172S
I've done my intro flight at Brampton, and when time came to continue with my flight training i was told that there is a membership fee as well i would be put on a waiting list which minimum would take 1 year. Personally avoid these flight schools. Go to Toronto Island Flight School or Durham Flight centre, these seem more reasonable from that point of view.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:21 am
by toseef
mircea172S wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:15 pm I've done my intro flight at Brampton, and when time came to continue with my flight training i was told that there is a membership fee as well i would be put on a waiting list which minimum would take 1 year. Personally avoid these flight schools. Go to Toronto Island Flight School or Durham Flight centre, these seem more reasonable from that point of view.
Mircea172s - You're right about BFC and that's why I signed up at Spectrum. I signed up two weeks ago, got log in info and was supposed to be assigned an instructor who was going to give me a call to start scheduling but have not heard anything. I called earlier this week and was told I should expect a call in a couple of days and still nothing. Their prices per hour have also increased by $6-8/hour.

I was avoiding Toronto Island because it was slightly expensive and the traffic going downtown from Mississauga but I will give them a shot if I don't hear anything from Spectrum in the next couple of days.

Thanks for your input.

EDIT: Spectrum did assign me an instructor and the instructor did call me but I missed the call and the voicemail. They were good enough to call me back to follow up and to get me scheduled in for training.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2019 10:57 am
by mircea172S
Thanks for your update.I've recently sign up with Durham Flight Center and so far they seem upfront, their prices are reasonably fair and there's no membership fees.

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 1:50 pm
by vermont
toseef wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:21 am
mircea172S wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:15 pm I've done my intro flight at Brampton, and when time came to continue with my flight training i was told that there is a membership fee as well i would be put on a waiting list which minimum would take 1 year. Personally avoid these flight schools. Go to Toronto Island Flight School or Durham Flight centre, these seem more reasonable from that point of view.
Mircea172s - You're right about BFC and that's why I signed up at Spectrum. I signed up two weeks ago, got log in info and was supposed to be assigned an instructor who was going to give me a call to start scheduling but have not heard anything. I called earlier this week and was told I should expect a call in a couple of days and still nothing. Their prices per hour have also increased by $6-8/hour.

I was avoiding Toronto Island because it was slightly expensive and the traffic going downtown from Mississauga but I will give them a shot if I don't hear anything from Spectrum in the next couple of days.

Thanks for your input.
Why not use GO? 15 ish min ride if you're on lakeshore west and the shuttle from union to airport is free

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:38 pm
by toseef
vermont wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2019 1:50 pm
toseef wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:21 am
mircea172S wrote: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:15 pm I've done my intro flight at Brampton, and when time came to continue with my flight training i was told that there is a membership fee as well i would be put on a waiting list which minimum would take 1 year. Personally avoid these flight schools. Go to Toronto Island Flight School or Durham Flight centre, these seem more reasonable from that point of view.
Mircea172s - You're right about BFC and that's why I signed up at Spectrum. I signed up two weeks ago, got log in info and was supposed to be assigned an instructor who was going to give me a call to start scheduling but have not heard anything. I called earlier this week and was told I should expect a call in a couple of days and still nothing. Their prices per hour have also increased by $6-8/hour.

I was avoiding Toronto Island because it was slightly expensive and the traffic going downtown from Mississauga but I will give them a shot if I don't hear anything from Spectrum in the next couple of days.

Thanks for your input.
Why not use GO? 15 ish min ride if you're on lakeshore west and the shuttle from union to airport is free
Thanks, that's a good point. I will look into that. Do you currently attend that flight school?

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:41 pm
by vermont
Seems like a tight ship, haven't done much there though. I recommend you do ground school online from what I hear

Re: Your experience at BFC or Spectrum

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:46 am
by toseef
toseef wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2019 9:21 am
Mircea172s - You're right about BFC and that's why I signed up at Spectrum. I signed up two weeks ago, got log in info and was supposed to be assigned an instructor who was going to give me a call to start scheduling but have not heard anything. I called earlier this week and was told I should expect a call in a couple of days and still nothing. Their prices per hour have also increased by $6-8/hour.

I was avoiding Toronto Island because it was slightly expensive and the traffic going downtown from Mississauga but I will give them a shot if I don't hear anything from Spectrum in the next couple of days.

Thanks for your input.
Just an update that Spectrum did assign me an instructor and the instructor did call me but I missed the call and the voicemail. They were good enough to call me back to follow up and to get me scheduled in for training.