Which Program should I take?

[RunAwayFive]

Hi, this is my 1st post, sent here by someone who thought this would help, and im hoping it will!

So what I would love to do as my career would pilot, not so much commercial, but more small airports and or instructing later on, given the availability of jobs.

So wanting to become a pilot I thought I could go 2 ways one is this

http://www.georgianc.on.ca/programs/AVIA - i would like to know if this class will help me get to where i would like to be, its local and not the most expensive which is nice, and places me with a paid co-op 2nd year near home, and a extra 1 year option for a degree with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

vs.

http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/FPR.html - which is much more out of the way and harder for me to complete where i live.

What im asking does the Georgian college program offer everything i need to do to reach my career goals and if it doesn't, is what its missing something i can do well completing that course? and what is it?

[esp803]

Welcome,

Technically speaking, all flights done for revenue are commercial flights. I suspect you do not want to head to the airlines anytime soon. With that being the case I would strongly suggest looking into Confed or Chicoutemi (Spelling?) as both those programs offer subsidized float courses. If you don't want to fly the big Iron, fly floats, they are more fun!

E

[North Shore]

Save your money. Go to your local flight school, and find one of their experienced instructors - one who's been around the block a few times, and isn't looking for some quick time and a route to the airlines. Enlist his/her help in teaching you to fly. At the same time, go to your local college/trade school, and get a 'Plan B' that is totally separate from aviation, so if you lose your job/medical at some time in the future, you'll have something to fall back on.

Good Luck.

[Colonel Sanders]

Great idea. Train at the local FTU with an older guy
who isn't about to run away to fly a Navajo, and in
the meantime, learn a completely different (but very
useful) trade.

Suggestions:

welding
carpentry
painting
plumbing
electrical
truck driving (get at least your DZ, I suggest AZ)
bulldozer operation

You get the idea. Choose one of the above that
interests you.

[BTyyj]

In the four years it takes to complete the Seneca program, you could just do a normal degree instead, which would lead to a better backup plan, such as engineering, business, science, economics, etc.

I don't think Georgian college does any actual flight training, it just prepares students for aviation management, not flying.

[Colonel Sanders]

Sure, but don't get a crap degree in basket weaving.

If you're not going to get a real degree, learn a trade.

[tiguan]

As Frosty said, get a degree in something you enjoy other that aviation and get your licenses and ratings in the summers at your local school. It will come in very handy as a backup plan and may even help you get a management position in aviation eventually.

[thfc]

I'm in the Seneca program right now so I can answer a few questions if you have them, but Seneca's training aims more at the airline operations and not so much small airports and small flying clubs like you mentioned. This site loves picking at Seneca, and most of their reasons I agree, it's not perfect. If your looking for small operations you could go to your local flying club, or I suggest Confederation or Sault for what you are looking for.