Help! Discovery Flight?

[chewi]

I want to get my husband a Discovery flight for his birthday. However, we live in the Calgary area & after seeing some of the horror stories on this forum - I'm a little wary.

Does a good place in Calgary exist?

Thanks for any help.

[ybwflyguy]

Hi,

Feel free to give me a call here at Springbank Aero, and i'll be glad to run you through what he can expect and pricing.

Andy
Chief Flight Instructor
403-247-8833

[loopa]

I've had the chance to encounter with different schools out on the field, while all run a bit differently and good/bad in their own ways, it seems to me that the way Springbank Aero is run under their new Chief Flight Instructor, Andy Smith, promotes a very realistic and humble environment for flight training.

With his new team of instructors, Andy has developed a fantastic working culture amongst his new crew, and one can only imagine how having happy instructors plays a significant role in the care and quality of flight instruction provided.

I honestly believe your husband would be treated really well by the staff there!

Cheers

[beaverdude]

I've had the chance to encounter with different schools out on the field, while all run a bit differently and good/bad in their own ways, it seems to me that the way Springbank Aero is run under their new Chief Flight Instructor, Andy Smith, promotes a very realistic and humble environment for flight training.

With his new team of instructors, Andy has developed a fantastic working culture amongst his new crew, and one can only imagine how having happy instructors plays a significant role in the care and quality of flight instruction provided.

I honestly believe your husband would be treated really well by the staff there!

Cheers

+1

[chewi]

Thanks for your help! I'll be sure to get in touch with them.

[calgaryguy]

What ever you do don't do it at Morgan Air. All their airplanes are listed for sale. Signs they are set to close down.

[chewi]

Thanks for the heads up on that!

[Lurch]

Wow, three great reviews, all from employee's. Great work guys, that doesn't look self serving or anything.

Lurch

[iflyforpie]

Wow, three great reviews, all from employee's. Great work guys, that doesn't look self serving or anything.

Lurch

You could always hit up Babin Air in Invermere. Enjoy a beautiful drive, soak in the hotsprings, have your husband enjoy a scenic discovery flight instead of out and back from the practice area, and then have dinner at the Lakeside Pub.

Don't worry, we haven't lost anyone yet!

[Lurch]

Wow, three great reviews, all from employee's. Great work guys, that doesn't look self serving or anything.

Lurch

You could always hit up Babin Air in Invermere. Enjoy a beautiful drive, soak in the hotsprings, have your husband enjoy a scenic discovery flight instead of out and back from the practice area, and then have dinner at the Lakeside Pub.

Don't worry, we haven't lost anyone yet!

That's a great idea, Tammy's awesome.

Lurch

[Shiny Side Up]

That's a great idea, Tammy's awesome.

Lurch

I would second that, its an excellent idea. Great way to spend the day.

If you are looking to book a fun flight/ intro flight/ scenic flight, most of the schools around Calgary should be able to accomodate you, though I will say that Springbank Aero will probably be the best one that will accomodate you at the Springbank airport (though if you can swing it I would still reccomend Invermere).

Some things I would reccomend if you're booking a flight.

1) Book a morning spot. This time of year the Calgary area gets its regular thundershower in the 3:00 to 6:00 afternoon. Its very likely that you could get canceled should you try to book this time of day. In the morning the air will be smooth, the visibility great, totally worth getting up for.

2) Take a weekday off to do it. Everyone and their dog wants to do one of these flights on Saturday and Sunday, and every Tom, Dick and Harry with acess to an airplane will be out flying, especially at Springbank. On a weekday (morning as well) you'll be more likely to get more flying time out of the deal and more likely that the pilot will be able to fulfill any requests you might have - should you be just doing a scenic flight - get that picture of your house from the air that you've always wanted.

3) Make sure your husband tells them directly what he wants to do. Ask all the questions on the ground before you go, help the pilot make the flight as fun for you as you want it to be.

4) Since its his birthday, eat cake after the flight, not before.

[beaverdude]

Edited.

[Lurch]

Wow, three great reviews, all from employee's. Great work guys, that doesn't look self serving or anything.

Lurch

Weren't you the CFI there at one point? I remember when you came to high river asking for an instructor job and were turned down because of obvious reasons. I would seriously reconsider what you say on these boards given that so many people at the airport as well as calgary area know exactly who you are. It's a small industry, and giving shit to the guys who work at an environment that you achieve all of your fueling, ground services, and cirrus flights is something that is a very low act by you, and to top it off, on an internet forum. If what I hear is correct, I've heard that you've bashed flying club as well calling their CFI an idiot. I'd like to think there's a reason why every time I've asked about you, 3 out of 4 responses are negative.

I hope you get out of the 414 one day and move on with your flying endeavors, everybody deserves a chance.

I'd like to think it's the industry that promotes the attitude that you have, but I hope you face a reality check and fix what ever arrogance it is people are accusing you of, because you're smart lad and have no reason for being stuck in where you are.

You really should get your facts straight before trying to insult somebody

I have never been the CFI at Aero, Never applied in HR, never would consider it. Heck I was a II before they even moved out of YYC. I have never been turned down for a job.

I'm absolutely not stuck where I am and quite enjoy my job and have no intentions on moving on. Just growing my business

Ask a lot of instructors out in YBW and I've tried and help a lot of them move on, always giving them job leads, free instruction, and free flights if they need help. Thanks for making it easy on me and turning you down for any future help.

Also I'd suggest you don't take second hand info before you come on a public forum and make accusations about a persons character without knowing me yourself. You're new to the Airport and I've been here for 13 years. So don't take the word of others who have only been there a few months longer then you.

P.S you're the one posting under 2 usernames on here not me, and even your boss thought what you did was tacky.

Get a life

Sorry for the thread jack now back to our regular scheduled progam

Lurch

[FlaplessDork]

Lurch has a sarcastic wit that can take getting used to. You just gotta give back as good as you get.

The majority of the time his negative comments are right on the money. We all think it but he just has the balls to say it outright.

[Lurch]

Lurch has a sarcastic wit that can take getting used to. You just gotta give back as good as you get.

The majority of the time his negative comments are right on the money. We all think it but he just has the balls to say it outright.

[Lurch]

the guys who work at an environment that you achieve all of your fueling, ground services,

That's right, thanks for reminding me

I'm one of your companies biggest customers and you are insulting me on a public forum. Remember the thousands of dollars I spend at your company every month pays your salary.

That is all for here. I'll be taking it up with your manager.

Lurch

[Lurch]

Thanks for the heads up on that!

Sorry Chewi, didn't mean for your thread to get out of hand.

Your husband would do well with flying with the boss Andy. The Managment do treat their customers well.

Lurch

[Shiny Side Up]

Wow, three great reviews, all from employee's. Great work guys, that doesn't look self serving or anything.

Lurch

though I will say that Springbank Aero will probably be the best one that will accomodate you at the Springbank airport

Shiny, that sounds about right!

First of all, Lurch is right it does look bad. Chewi is right to be cautious about looking, the Calgary area isn't the best place to be looking for fun type flying, but maybe not entirely for the negative reasons she might see here regarding flight training. Assuming she's looking in the Springbank direction there's a few options out that way that can probably provide. I'll clarify what I've said before as SA will probably be the most accomodating since they are also the least busy. Andy does seem like a good fellow and hopefully he can turn stuff around. CFC is generally really busy this time of year with their rental clientele, though I could reccomend some of the instructors to ask for if you go there. SATC is usually tied up now with foreign stuff which gets their priority of booking. The fate of FlyRight seems up in the air, though I don't know enough right now to really say what they might be like for availability of such bookings. Is there anyone else out at Spingbank these days? Its possible I could have forgotten, the people change pretty often.

There are other options besides Springbank as well, depending on how far you want to drive. I might also mention that if it falls under your interest, you might look into the availability of a glider flight out at Cu Nim (down by Black Diamond) as well.

[Randleman]

If it means anything, I have been to both Sprinbank Aero Centre and Calgary Flying Club. I loved both places, but would take Springbank Aero in a heartbeat. And I am NOT an employee there.

[toelessjoe]

I highly recommend the Truro Flying Club. It smells funny and there's no shortage of people hanging around willing to take you flying for the price of gas and a beer or three. Of course, it's in Nova Scotia. To get there I recommend Westjet.

[chewi]

Thanks for all the help, guys!

iflyforpie, I really like the Invermere idea - sounds like a great way to spend the day. Unfortunately we won't be able to make the drive anytime soon.

Shiny, thanks for all the tips! I was hoping to get him a morning spot anyway, so I'm glad to hear that is a good way to go. And I would rather do it on a weekday (when his b/day falls). Everyone where he works used to get the day off for their birthday. However, this year they have made a bunch of "improvements" & one of those was not getting the day off. So because of our schedules the only choice I'm left with is evenings or weekends Oh well. I especially appreciate tip #4 - Very Important!

I've been trying to get in touch with Andy but haven't heard anything yet. Unfortunately I can't call as I am hard of hearing (phones are usually just an exercise in frustration) so I have to rely on email.

Lurch has a sarcastic wit that can take getting used to. You just gotta give back as good as you get.

The majority of the time his negative comments are right on the money. We all think it but he just has the balls to say it outright.

Just wanted to add - Lurch, I for one appreciate a sarcastic wit. I'm blessed with one as well (so is most of my family) & find that, oddly, most people (my hubby being at the top of this list) don't appreciate it nearly as much as you would think. How to help culture their appreciation? Just keep being sarcastic - it'll grow on them!


Thanks again, everyone!