Weather in Provinces of Canada

[makmoco]

Hi Everyone,

Which places in Canada do you think have the best weather all year round? Most probably I will be starting my PPL in April in Manitoba and would like to know if I stay there for my IFR, CPL and Multi-Engine or is it best to change to another place during Winter or not to study at Manitoba at all. I’ve read BC has good weather, but its very expensive to live. I have also read that Ontario and Saskatchewan have good Flight Schools but I don’t know hows the weather from a pilots perspective for flying over there

Regards,
Leo

[NunavutPA-12]

This is a big country! No region has "the best weather all year round".

The prairies have decent weather, though some would dispute that. It wasn't chosen as a training venue during the war for no good reason.

BC has good weather? Well, BC has the greatest variety of topography and weather of any province, so it would depend where in BC. The central and southern interior have decent weather, the coast (especially the north coast), not so much.

I think I'd choose the Okanagan, especially during the winter months, or the prairies in spring to fall.

[PropToFeather]

This gets asked a lot. Search is your friend, but here's a recent thread

[makmoco]

This is a big country! No region has "the best weather all year round".

The prairies have decent weather, though some would dispute that. It wasn't chosen as a training venue during the war for no good reason.

BC has good weather? Well, BC has the greatest variety of topography and weather of any province, so it would depend where in BC. The central and southern interior have decent weather, the coast (especially the north coast), not so much.

I think I'd choose the Okanagan, especially during the winter months, or the prairies in spring to fall.

NunavutPA-12, your information was really useful, indeed Canada is a big Country and a beautiful one as well. I will start my PPL in about 2 months and I think I will start either in Manitoba (Harvs Air) or Saskatchewan (Regina Flying Club). Alberta also looks like a good option, preferably Calgary. Now I know which place to consider in Winter

This gets asked a lot. Search is your friend, but here's a recent thread

Thank you ProptoFeather that thread has a lot of information. Confirming also that the prairies are the best for VFR most of the year. I would be very disappointed if I start my training and kept on canceling flights time and time due to the weather. This is why its important for me to confirm this.

[makmoco]

By the way, any good Flight Schools in Calgary that you know of?

[pianokeys]

By the way, any good Flight Schools in Calgary that you know of?

Calgary Flying Club is a great place at YBW.

[awitzke]

BC's weather is marginal from October to February. I did very little flying during those months. Some days ye, there is clear skies and great winter flying but overall fog, rain, low ceilings etc. Summers are phenomenal and I really enjoyed the coastal and mountain flying.

If you're looking to finish everything quickly, stick to Manitoba.

[PropToFeather]

... and great winter flying

Awitzke, now that you're in NWO, can you really can west coast's weather "winter"?

[awitzke]

Haha.. yeah no kidding. No comparison.. actually way more nice flying days up here than there were back home. It was +6+ today and Friday is supposed to be a high of 10* so being a west coaster I'm happy to see spring on the way.

[makmoco]

If you're looking to finish everything quickly, stick to Manitoba.

Thats what I thought, lets see how it goes.

[bcsaltchucker]

last few years coastal BC has been good for winter flying. This year, not at all! El nino means wet and low ceilings. I have cancelled 5 of 7 booked flights since november, lost currency twice, LOL. Got up last week and today in the rain, but not out of the circuit as ceilings were dropping all around. fog likes to hang out at one end of the runway too. ok have my license, so not even have to coordinate with a CFI and still it's a pita. Also, if you have carbs, we are prime for carb ice (luckily our club has all FI planes)

[Beefitarian]

All the flight schools near Calgary seem good. It's going to be expensive to eat and rent a place here. You might be able to find a bit cheaper rent in High River but groceries will probably still be pricey. You will need a car if you live in Calgary because the airports with schools are out of town. This winter if you can call it that has been pretty mild I suspect few days resulted in cancelled flights.

[HiLo]

Isn't housing dirt cheap in Calgary with the bust? I know office space is.

[DSoup]

If you want want IMC for your IFR rating go to BC/Atlantic Canada in the winter.

The prairies were chosen for the CF's flight training for a reason. No mountains to hit and lots of big blue sky (most) days (and cheap as hell land). This however is pretty anecdotal.

http://www.livingin-canada.com/sunshine ... anada.html

and

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/26 ... 65107.html|

Are probably what you're looking for though.

[LousyFisherman]

Isn't housing dirt cheap in Calgary with the bust? I know office space is.

It's coming down, daughter just renewed a lease for the same as 7 years ago when she moved in.
Lots of rentals available now.

LF

[YYCPhoto]

Rent here is going down quickly. I'm moving to a newer house, better location, adding an attached garage, all for less than the lease signed here a year ago. Check out Kijiji and www.rentfaster.ca.

Nav Canada published some useful info on regional weather across Canada:

http://www.navcanada.ca/EN/media/Pages/ ... nuals.aspx

I instruct in Calgary. PM me if you want a tour of the area and intro to schools (no strings attached).