Ottawa Aviation Services

[bluesfan]

Hello! I'm considering a flight school in Ottawa called "Ottawa Aviation Services" and was wondering if anyone here has any experience with them or knows anyone who has who can provide me with some 1st hand feedback? I have already tried searching other threads on PPRuNe as well as the internet but couldn't come up with anything. Your help is appreciated.. thanks!

[ahramin]

I don't have any experience with this school but a quick look at the news section of their website shows they are not averse to bullshitting their clients.

[bluesfan]

I understand what you mean Ahramin Unfortunately speaking from personal experience, I can assure you too that there are schools out there who have none "bull shit" image, yet they are full of bullshit (among other awful things) and make a super good job of covering it up :-S

[Oxi]

CFI and 3 senior instructors just left to bigger machines.

[captcrunch2013]

There is nothing wrong with OAS and its very normal
for instructors to move on.

I've met a number of their staff and so far I'm impressed.


Having three from one school move on is a positive sign
if you are contemplating instructing.

I'm aware of one junior instructor there who very quickly built up
a large base of students and is very busy to this day, unless he is
one who moved on and that would not surprise me.

He was busy because he gave a lot to anyone and everyone he met.

Congratulations to the three who moved on and furthered their careers.

[xysn]

Hello! I'm considering a flight school in Ottawa called "Ottawa Aviation Services" and was wondering if anyone here has any experience with them or knows anyone who has who can provide me with some 1st hand feedback? I have already tried searching other threads on PPRuNe as well as the internet but couldn't come up with anything. Your help is appreciated.. thanks!

Are you learning to fly as a hobby or are you looking to fly professionally? I have some experience there, PM me.

[DanWEC]

As per the previous post, the OAS training environment is geared more towards the career pilot. They are currently expanding, so in addition to the iATPL program and Algonquin programs they are also doing pilot training and assessment for other operations- Air Georgian (AC Express) being one, and being looked at by several other regionals as as well.
If you are looking into it as a hobby or looking for a more social flying club with renters and owners I might suggest some others in the area, especially the fantastic Rockcliffe Flying Club.
That being said, if you want a well structured program with a very high level of detail, OAS does plenty of general public training as well- but just as a caveat the level of detail and structure in OAS's training system isn't quite what some people are looking for, understandably, for a private or rec pilot.

At the end of the day however, one of the best things you can do is to visit all the clubs, hang out, talk to the CFI's. Make the call based on how they fit YOU. You can't make a proper decision based on the the intrawebs.

Good luck in your training!

[Colonel Sanders]

In Ottawa, all of OFC, OAS (at CYOW) and RFC (at CYRO)
are long-established schools with solid reputations.

Another solid, well-known school nearby is Cornwall Aviation
(at CYCC) who do a lot of multi/IFR training, but also have singles.

You can't go wrong with any of these choices, IMHO -
I've known some of these guys (Gerry, Glenn) for
25 years now

[pelmet]

As the Colonel will probably tell you...it is as much about the instructor as the school. No doubt each have their stronger and less strong performers just like almost any company of significant size.

[dirtysidedown]

Hi, I am a student at OAS and 2 of those instructors who moved on were my primary and secondary. Crappy situation yes, but both have moved onto bigger and better things (believe you me, I am still in contact with one of them).

OAS is definitely geared towards the professional pilot but if you are learning to fly as a hobbyist it is still good choice because they run a tight ship. I am currently learning on the DV20 which is much cheaper to learn on in comparison to the 172s (hourly charge and fuel burn if you wish to rent down the road). Nice thing too is that they have a simulator which can be used for parts of your training.

I'd say go and meet with the schools (OAS, OFC, and RFC) and find out what they are like like their staff, facilities, and more importantly their aircraft.

[Oxi]

Hi, I am a student at OAS and 2 of those instructors who moved on were my primary and secondary. Crappy situation yes, but both have moved onto bigger and better things (believe you me, I am still in contact with one of them).

OAS is definitely geared towards the professional pilot but if you are learning to fly as a hobbyist it is still good choice because they run a tight ship. I am currently learning on the DV20 which is much cheaper to learn on in comparison to the 172s (hourly charge and fuel burn if you wish to rent down the road). Nice thing too is that they have a simulator which can be used for parts of your training.

I'd say go and meet with the schools (OAS, OFC, and RFC) and find out what they are like like their staff, facilities, and more importantly their aircraft.

Just don't get sucked in by the CEO and his promises! New CFI is a great guy and same to the instructors I've met

[CanadianEh]

Who is the CFI at OAS currently?

[Chris M]

I flew with OAS for a summer a few years back. Not for initial training, just time building/recreational flying. Some criticize the location for long ground times but I found it beneficial to be at YOW. Most students who learn at small uncontrolled airports, myself included, are apprehensive about talking to the "big guys" on the radio. Talking to tower and terminal every flight is a big helper for learning proper radio technique and how to listen. Most flying can be done from the north field runway (04/22 I think?), so long taxis only happen when you have to use 32. The practise area is a bit of a hike, but not crazy. The DA20's are very nice little planes to train in.

Edit: Just noticed this is a bit of a zombie thread. Meh.

[dirtysidedown]

I flew with OAS for a summer a few years back. Not for initial training, just time building/recreational flying. Some criticize the location for long ground times but I found it beneficial to be at YOW. Most students who learn at small uncontrolled airports, myself included, are apprehensive about talking to the "big guys" on the radio. Talking to tower and terminal every flight is a big helper for learning proper radio technique and how to listen. Most flying can be done from the north field runway (04/22 I think?), so long taxis only happen when you have to use 32. The practise area is a bit of a hike, but not crazy. The DA20's are very nice little planes to train in.

You are correct. 04/22 is the north field and provides services primarily to the GA traffic going in/out of OAS and OFC. Sadly, there is pretty long ground times to get up in the air due to congestion and distance from your start-up so your costs inevitably increase.

The DA20s are nice little trainers to learn in, similar to the Mazda Miata... small, cheap, and quick. Unfortunately, their costs continue to rise. Finding training outside of CYOW is probably the cheapest and best method to get time in the air, especially with the Algonquin students coming around wanting all the A/Cs.

Who is the CFI at OAS currently?

Mark Gibbons. Couldn't give it to anyone better.

[Ehlectric]

You can't go wrong with any of these choices, IMHO -
I've known some of these guys (Gerry, Glenn) for
25 years now

Gerry's still around! Just did my multi flight test! Excellent examiner and instructor!

On topic:
My buddy is at OAS and loves it. Flying the Grob more often than the Katanas.

[upup_away]

Did my PPL at OAS a few years back. Great experience and learned a lot - some skills I still use today. The curriculum (while I attended 09) is time consuming and takes a good chunk of flight hours ($$) but you don't forget it. Katanas were a blast to fly, and I always wished to check out on the Groeb.

That being said, if I were to do it again I would look at a smaller airport than Ottawa International. You don't want to be waiting for clearance and running up your hobbes time. Smaller schools often give you the attention you deserve. Larger schools are often disconnected BUT have a student base to form a community learning environment.

A colleague I instructed with did some ratings at Rockcliffe and only had good things to say. Id start looking there if you have the resources.

[Kaptene]

do you recommend cornwell for the CPL/ME training?

[DanWEC]

do you recommend cornwell for the CPL/ME training?

You just mass revived 6 threads in the last hour with this exact same sentance , some back from 5 years ago, on completely different topics.

Why not just start a new thread, or go to Cornwall and visit?

[B52]

These sorts of posts are pure advertizing, the posters seem
to think they are being clever when the reality is,
those sorts of games reflect negatively.

Personally, I chose a school where I don't pay government nav fees for every
flight that also involves significant taxi time, and flying to and from other
airfields to do solo and training.

Ottawa attracts whose who don't wish to drive further afield
where the green grass grows and short taxi times await.

For the best value around, I'd give a plug to Smith Falls, whose local community
have made incredible efforts to support their flying club and provide perhaps one of the
best aviation facilities in Canada.

Smith Falls is followed by the Rockcliff Flying Club and across the river, the Gatineau Airport, is probably one of the most underutilized facilities around which is why the Ottawa schools go there to do training.

Interestingly, Gatineau has three schools and that appear to be operating at a fraction
of their potential.