Pilot training in Vancouver

[Mike23]

Hello everyone, I have recently finished my diploma in travel and tourism management. My dream is to become a professional pilot. Can I get some advice about which is the best flight school in Vancouver. I don't have any license yet. And also how is the Professional Flight Center(Pro IFR) school and please provide me some other school options too..Thank you.

[Rookie50]

Mike,

The best answer I can give you is -- not so much the school as finding an instructor you are comfortable with and can work well with. After all you'll be spending quite a bit of time together! The better you connect with your instructors teaching style -- and this varies -- the better you will learn. Busy instructors, like anyone, tend to be busy for a reason.

I suggest visiting a few schools, talking with a few instructors, and if you sense a good fit, do a discovery flight. If you can get an instructor with line experience, great but not essential. Go up on a bumpy day, then you'll be more sure this flying thing is for you.

My 2 cents

[Mike23]

Thank you Rookie, really appreciate your advice. I would surely go to some flight schools to checkout.

And please keep more suggestions coming..

[shurshot17]

Principal Air, AAA Aviation, Bluebird Aviation -- Chiliwack
Coastal Pacific Aviation - Abbotsford (offers 2 year diploma/4 year business degree program with UFV)
Langely Flying School, SkyQuest Avation -- Langely
Pacific Rim, Island Coastal Aviation -- Pitt Meadows
Pacific Flying Club, PROIFR - Boundary Bay (PFC-Airline and Flight Operations college program @ BCIT)

There is no flight school directly in Vancouver (to my knowledge).

These are all the schools I can think of off the top of my head. As the posts above say, go to each school, talk to people, ask opinions, get a feel for the place. Then make a decision.

[awitzke]

Speaking from experience, I was very happy with the instruction and professionalism at Pacific Flying Club. I was a student there from 2013 until last week when I did my multi IFR ride. In total I completed my PPL, CPL, multi-engine and group 1 there. I've never failed a test or a ride. The instructors were great and always over prepared me for each test (but not by taking more hours, I did everthing in the minimum required). In addition the maintenance was top notch, as well as the sheer size of available aircraft. One of the reasons I originally chose them was due to the fact the BCIT program is more or less completely taught there. That being said they aren't the only good school around. A friend of mine just finished at ProIFR and liked it as well. Go drop in and see what each school is about.

PFC is going through some major expansion. More instructors, addition to the fleet (3 A/C have been added within the last few weeks) and renos/ take over of what used to be the CFC office next door. I liked the guys at Pro (did a class there) but one of the other things I liked was the size of the space and amount of briefing rooms at PFC. And with the expansion it is only getting bigger.

[CpnCrunch]

You might want to use the search function on this forum before deciding to use AAA or bluebird.

[Mike23]

Thank you guys for your suggestions. Really Appreciate it. I'm going for a FAM flight next week at professional flight center and gonna see how I like it. My two friends also went to Pacific Flying Club, one is working at air Canada and one has just finished traing. So I might choose pacific flying club as well. But I heard PFC mainly focuses on BCIT students, is it true???? And do I have to have a degree??? I have a diploma in travel & tourism management.
Looking forward to hear from you guys again. Keep the suggestions coming....

[awitzke]

Not true. I was a private program student. And I do not have a degree.

[Mike23]

Thanks for your advice..! Appreciate it..

Anymore suggestions on Pacific Flying Club. I am going to this school this week, so anyone who has been there, please share your experience about how it was.. So I can start my pilot training soon....
Thanks!!

[7ECA]

Do not, I repeat, do not, pick a flight school, based solely on the size of its fleet, shiny photos or avionics, or its lovely website.

Go to each and every flight school possible, at each airport you can easily get to, and ask questions, meet instructors, talk to current students, and do some intro flights. Then, decide which school is the one for you, and pick the instructor who will best suit your individual needs.

As for PFC, never been a student there, but I do know an instructor or two, if you need advice, send me a PM.

[ahramin]

I'll say this about PFC: While several instructors I have met there are excellent, if you are planning on doing any flying after getting your licence go somewhere else. They are a total PITA to rent from.

[Mike23]

Pacific Flying Club or Professional Flight Center (Pro IFR)????
Give me more reviews guys!!!

[mcheung]

I had a fam flight with both schools and I think it comes down to your personal preference. I think you should also try SLA as they have the new DA 20 Katana planes. You fly with a stick instead of a yoke

[trey kule]

I have known some super amicable pilots. Become your best buddy in a flash. Explain in the greatest of detail anything you want to know......but terrible instructors...or worse. Using their charm to milk the students.

Yes, it is important to find someone you are able to get along with, but this does not immediately make them the best instructor. My experience it is almost the inverse.

Go for a flight. See if things are explained simply and clearly. See how much time the instructor spends " demonstrating" or flying themselves., i think those are better indicators. Ask to see their instruction record...won't show it to you....find another instructor.....

If you are going to fly with a class 4 have the FT agree to pay for the pre solo pre xCountry, and pre flight test flights. Those are not training flights. They are part of a class 4 development. And dont let them give you the...you will learn something on this flight....

[moocow]

Well you could find good instructors at a crappy places or the other way around. Here's my take, given my limited experience:

* CFC - Got my PPL there but that was before the owner sold it a few years back
* SLA - Like the people, hated the DA20 but didn't gel with my instructor
* Pacific Rim - Like the clean plane, people seem okay but didn't like my instructor during check out. I don't agree with turning back after engine failure at take off (below 500ft)

* PFC - never used them but last time I checked, they got a stricter VFR condition than CFC

[Beefitarian]

Moo, nice to see you how's it going?

[dashali]

hi . which one is best flight school in vancouver . thanks .

[praveen4143]

hi . which one is best flight school in vancouver . thanks .

Jesus Christ! Did you even read any of the posts above?

[dashali]

hello . yes isaw but I should get the offer letter from a flight school , but I am not there to see how those school are. i am international student .

my feeling told me pfc is the best because more airplane and ... so which one is the best ? thanks

[7ECA]

The best school, is the one that will suit you best. You need to visit each school, and preferably each airport, to get a feel for which will be the best fit for you.

Do not pick a school based on; the number of aircraft, the shiny paint jobs, the fancy avionics, the glossy brochures, the jewelry that the instructors wear, etc, etc...

[dashali]

i dont visit each school i told you !! i need paper of flight school .

[Shiny Side Up]

One of the big problems today is that people like the above are willing to throw money at a school based on zero research, with "I deserve to be pilot" the only part of their thought process. To the poster above, learn English first, then revisit this problem. If you can't ask for advice, how do you think you're going to receive flight training? I don't care if you're an "international" there's people out there who put in more effort.

[Rob89]

Hi Mike23
I have almost the same situation as I have completed my PPL in an uncontrolled environment (unhealthy training) and now I decided to do the rest of my training in the Vancouver area but don't know really where to go. After doing some research I ended up with three options:
1- Skyquest aviation (in Langley)
2- ProIFR
3- Sea land flight center ( I started to take this school out of my mind just because they charge high prices, but I wil still do around 5 hrs with them to get the G1000 experience)

I don't recommend CFC though. A friend of mine is doing his training there and I dealt with them few times as well just to fly with my buddy cause he can't fly with me in my school as he has already went into a contract with CFC and paid good amount of money upfront for their ppl.cpl,multi-ifr program.. They charge higher rates and do fuel surcharges, they have very bad management and the owner "Peter" is arrogant I can say! .. very difficult to deal with.

In short, I feel good about Skyquest and ProIFR but not sure.. hope to hear from people who have actually trained their so they know their instructors as well.
good luck:)

[awitzke]

I like Peter.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Hi Mike23
. A friend of mine is doing his training there and I dealt with them few times as well just to fly with my buddy cause he can't fly with me in my school as he has already went into a contract with CFC and paid good amount of money upfront for their ppl.cpl,multi-ifr program..

NEVER pay upfront. If the school will not allow you to pay for each flight after you land, go find another school.