Starting the Confederation College Aviation program this fall, should I get my RPP this summer to prepare?

[crypticweirdo]

I’ve heard it’s a very challenging and demanding program, and they kick out students who don’t do well or can’t keep up. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get my RPP this summer so I’ll be better prepared? Is it worth the $7000, or should I just head into the program with no experience and hope for the best?

[photofly]

If you can get an RPP between now and September, and for just $7000, then I’d forget the whole becoming a pilot thing and skip directly to world peace and a cure for hunger. You’re obviously destined for bigger things than the pointy end of a jet.

[Dronepiper]

Do not get a RPP. It would be counterproductive and a waste of money.

It’s however not a bad idea to do anywhere from 1 to 4 hours just to make sure you know what you are getting into.

It’s also not a bad idea to sign up for online PPL groundschool through “pilottraining.ca” as it’s fairly affordable and a great way to immerse yourself in the ground school before your start date.

[Gowyn]

I concur with online ground school. The flying would not be the difficult part of the program. The combination of ground school, other college course, learning to fly and being away from home/college life young and single is the challenge.

If you can lessen one of those loads you'll be ahead.

Try to soak up as much info as to the "why" things happen in the air and "how" they happen as you can. Youboob is ok, pilottraing.ca is good.

Enjoy the experience and remember flying is supposed to be fun...An intro flight and maybe a couple early lessons would be fun too...

[broken_slinky]

+1 for ground school and any material you can absorb to help pass the written.

[Bede]

If you can get an RPP between now and September, and for just $7000, then I’d forget the whole becoming a pilot thing and skip directly to world peace and a cure for hunger. You’re obviously destined for bigger things than the pointy end of a jet.

Sorry, I don't follow. Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? No.

[photofly]

If you can get an RPP between now and September, and for just $7000, then I’d forget the whole becoming a pilot thing and skip directly to world peace and a cure for hunger. You’re obviously destined for bigger things than the pointy end of a jet.

Sorry, I don't follow. Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? No.

Ok. I’ll buck the trend and suggest the OP gives it his best shot. Hopefully he’ll let us know how far he gets, and how much it costs. I anticipate absolutely zero difficulty in finding a flight school with airplanes and instructors waiting around with empty schedules to fly him every good weather day, starting tomorrow. Of course he probably won’t get a category 4 medical to be able to solo until mid August, but I’m sure he’ll get everything post-solo done in the two or three weeks left after that.

[circle2land]

Confed alumni here...

Doing an intro flight on a Cessna and maybe a lesson or two would be helpful. Get that PTR going and some familiarity with how flight training works.

An online ground school would be a great pre-study to get you a leg up and find out your strengths and weaknesses. I came in with a bare bones PPL and while it helped, it didn't put me ahead of my classmates per se.

Anything beyond that and you might be showing up thinking you know more than you actually do. It could even instill bad habits that will become difficult to unlearn down the road. Best to focus on the way the Confed folks want to train you to fly. And it will save you some beer $ down the road.

Show up to school ready to learn, absorb everything the instructors say, and do the work. The program is very manageable if you manage your time and workload well and stay focused. I had terrible study habits prior to college and I managed to pull it together for the program.

Ultimately, make friends with classmates, get involved with regular group study, work your butt off and of course remember to have fun. The time will fly by. You will make friends for life and have the foundation set for a future career in aviation if that's what you desire.

[Bede]

Of course he probably won’t get a category 4 medical to be able to solo until mid August, but I’m sure he’ll get everything post-solo done in the two or three weeks left after that.

Well since we're about to start another AvCanada pissing match, I'll get started. Why would it take until mid August to get a Cat 4 medical done? My family doctor sees me within a couple days.

[Bede]

I’ve heard it’s a very challenging and demanding program, and they kick out students who don’t do well or can’t keep up. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get my RPP this summer so I’ll be better prepared? Is it worth the $7000, or should I just head into the program with no experience and hope for the best?

I don't think it's necessary to get an RPP, but I'd say get a few flights under your belt. Buy a From the Ground Up, AIM and Flight Training Manual. Start becoming familiar with the terms and acronyms - that's half the battle. You can also check out my website: freepilotgroundschool.ca. It's mediocre, but it's free:)

Good luck!

[photofly]

Of course he probably won’t get a category 4 medical to be able to solo until mid August, but I’m sure he’ll get everything post-solo done in the two or three weeks left after that.

Well since we're about to start another AvCanada pissing match, I'll get started. Why would it take until mid August to get a Cat 4 medical done? My family doctor sees me within a couple days.

Because at the moment it's taking 6 to 8 weeks after receipt of the signed category 4 declaration for Transport to approve, print and mail a category 4 certificate.

[Bede]

Of course he probably won’t get a category 4 medical to be able to solo until mid August, but I’m sure he’ll get everything post-solo done in the two or three weeks left after that.

Well since we're about to start another AvCanada pissing match, I'll get started. Why would it take until mid August to get a Cat 4 medical done? My family doctor sees me within a couple days.

Because at the moment it's taking 6 to 8 weeks after receipt of the signed category 4 declaration for Transport to approve, print and mail a category 4 certificate.

Ah ha, yes it does, but you don't need a medical to get a SPP- only the form signed by a physician.

(ii) An applicant for a Student Pilot Permit - Aeroplane category shall be in possession of one of the following:
(amended 2003/03/01)
(A) a Civil Aviation Medical Declaration (Form 26-0297) with Part B completed by the applicant and Part C completed by a physician licensed to practice in Canada,
(amended 2003/03/01)
(B) a Medical Certificate (Form 26-0055), Category 1, 3 or 4, or
(amended 2003/03/01)
(C) a Medical Assessment Letter (Form 26-0417), Category 1, 3 or 4.
(amended 2003/03/01)

[photofly]

Ah ha, yes it does, but you don't need a medical to get a SPP- only the form signed by a physician.

You can be granted an SPP with a signed category 4 declaration, but you can't exercise the privileges of the SPP until you actually have the certificate itself in your hand:

404.10 (4) A Category 1, 3 or 4 medical certificate is required for the following permits and licences:
(a) student pilot permit - aeroplane;

To fly solo, the declaration won't do.

I have confirmed this in writing with the head of licensing in my region, and it's the correct interpretation. Not that there's any ambiguity in the regulation. I did ask for it to be made a COVID exemption that the declaration alone would validate the SPP but was told 'no'.

So the OP does need to wait until the certificate is issued to make his first solo. Mid-August.

[Red_Comet]

I’ve heard it’s a very challenging and demanding program, and they kick out students who don’t do well or can’t keep up. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get my RPP this summer so I’ll be better prepared? Is it worth the $7000, or should I just head into the program with no experience and hope for the best?

I don't think it's necessary to get an RPP, but I'd say get a few flights under your belt. Buy a From the Ground Up, AIM and Flight Training Manual. Start becoming familiar with the terms and acronyms - that's half the battle. You can also check out my website: freepilotgroundschool.ca. It's mediocre, but it's free:)

Good luck!

Wow, now I know why I've been wasting years lurking these forums! What an incredible resource, and all free too. This is fantastic, it's CFIs like yourself that inspire me to keep improving constantly (and maybe even dip my toes into instructing...).

I can't stress how great this material is. I have a library of all the free stuff available on YT and elsewhere, and this is hands-down the best. Don't be fooled by this humble CFI's words! This is top-notch material: concise, clear and to the point.

Regarding the original poster's question, it won't hurt to do a bunch of the pre-solo exercises at your local flight school. You can work towards your RPP, but it's not necessary. You ABSOLUTELY need to book your Cat 1 medical right now if you haven't already, as you need that to begin training at Confederation. When you go into see your CAME for your Cat 1, bring your completed Cat 4 form and they can sign off on that. This way you can get your Cat 4 while you wait for the Cat 1 to be processed. START THIS PROCESS NOW!!!!

One of my biggest regrets in life is not knowing about Sault/Confed when I was a young broke university grad working in a cubicle and hating life. I kept trying to price out my CPL and hitting a wall due to costs. You've already found the best path in Canada to get into aviation, so don't screw it up! Work hard and conduct yourself like a professional pilot from Day 1. Have fun in moderation! (or else risk losing your medical...)

[Bede]

Edited

[photofly]

I don’t understand what you’re saying.

Division III — Student Pilot Permits
Privileges
401.19 (1) The holder of a student pilot permit may act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft of the category for which the permit is endorsed if
…

404.03 (1) No person shall exercise or attempt to exercise the privileges of a permit, licence or rating unless the person holds a valid medical certificate of a category that is appropriate for that permit, licence or rating, as specified in section 404.10.

404.10(4) A Category 1, 3 or 4 medical certificate is required for the following permits and licences:
(a) student pilot permit - aeroplane;

You must hold a category 1,3, or 4 medical certificate to act as PIC if you have a student pilot permit. You don’t hold it until it’s issued and you receive it.
How is that unclear?

And then - there’s 401.03:

401.03 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall act as a flight crew member or exercise the privileges of a flight crew permit, licence or rating unless
…
(c) the person holds the appropriate medical certificate; and

(d) the person can produce the permit, licence or rating, and the certificate, when exercising those privileges.

[Bede]

And then - there’s 401.03:

401.03 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall act as a flight crew member or exercise the privileges of a flight crew permit, licence or rating unless
…
(c) the person holds the appropriate medical certificate; and

(d) the person can produce the permit, licence or rating, and the certificate, when exercising those privileges.

Ok, I understand what you're saying now.

[Bede]

edited

[anotheremptykitchen]

I’ve heard it’s a very challenging and demanding program, and they kick out students who don’t do well or can’t keep up. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to get my RPP this summer so I’ll be better prepared? Is it worth the $7000, or should I just head into the program with no experience and hope for the best?

Recent grad here... Don't get your RPP, it's not worth it. DO study all the resources that were given to you here to get a leg up and DO get your cat 1 as soon as humanly possible. One bit of advice I'd also give that wasn't already mentioned: give yourself some time to relax this summer. If you've been wanting to go camping with friends etc. now is the time. The reason I say that is because the next two years you won't have much time off. You'll be flying through next summer and the time you take off is time you're not flying. After you graduate you'll likely go straight into ratings/jobs (generally speaking).

However, flying is a lot of fun so enjoy it! When things get hard remember why you started.

[SeeDs172]

Being a flight instructor, I've seen students having some time on simulators (MSFS, Xplane with VATSIM) help a lot.