Studying at Harv's Air as an Intl. student...

[kilomike_19]

Hi !

After several months looking for flight schools in Canada, I decided to start my flight training in Harv's Air. It seems very good, with a good staff, a well maintained fleet... But, I'm a little worried about the next points :

- Situation (Steinbach) : I'll be a little far from a big city...

- Accommodation : I doubt about the comfort of the prefabricated houses proposed by the academy.

- Driving : I don't have a driving license, and apparently if I have not, I'll be practically stalled there...

I hope that you understand me. If at the end I decided to go to Harv's Air, the closest relative that I will have will be a few thousand kilometers away from me, so I hope that in Harv's Air I'm going to feel like home...

Cheers

[plhought]

Do you have a drivers license in your native country? It's not too tough to get a Canadian one...or just drive with you native one. Billeted a couple Danes for a couple years who drove their own Crown Vic. Insurance was a little tougher - broker insured them but gave 90 days to get a provincial license.

Don't fret about being away from the 'big city' - Steinbach is nice.

[kilomike_19]

Well....and what about the accommodation?

[North Shore]

Difficult to comment on the accoms without seeing them, but from the pics posted on their site, they look OK. It's not meant to be a 5 star hotel - it's a uni/college dorm room. I doubt that Harv's would let them get run-down, as it is a major part of their draw for foreign students. And, it's not like you're going to be there forever - do your courses for a year? and then head off home.
As for the loneliness factor, you'll be living with a group of guys and gals who will all be suffering from the same separation from friends and family. I'm sure that you'll develop friendships that will help you along, and will probably last a lifetime. There's always SKYPE and FaceTime, too!

Good Luck! Have Fun! Work Hard!

[awitzke]

What North Shore said,

Additionally from what I understand it's a lot easier to find a place to live off site in Steinbach. It's a fairly small town with a lot of families who have been known to take on boarders (renting but live in with the fam). If you looked I'm sure you could find something. Living in the dorms I'd imagine wouldn't be too bad as there are other people there with the same goals as you. Having people to study with, work through problems together is very helpful. However, if you live on site I would for sure have a car otherwise you would feel locked in.. unable to move around town freely.

You shouldn't have much trouble getting a drivers license conversion, and then buying a car for $1500. Get a 90's Civic or Accord. Cheap, easy to fix, good on gas etc.

[Shiny Side Up]

It always surprises me the number of people I talk to who want to be pilots but don't want to travel. Isn't it part of the job description?

[kilomike_19]

I understand... Buying a car isn't in my plans so maybe I will consider to rent a car. Another thing, is it possible to bike from the village to the school?

Thanks, sorry if I'm very inquisitive

[NunavutPA-12]

Yes, biking from the centre of town to Harv's is doable, but making the trip twice a day will get old real fast.

You will probably find that renting a car is more expensive in the long run than buying a working beater. You'll have the driver's licence issue either way. Minimum legal insurance shouldn't cost much.

I don't think you will find the need to go into Winnipeg more than once just to see it. Steinbach has everything you will need.

[plhought]

May I ask where you are coming from KiloMike? It will help us with some context on where you are coming from regarding expectations/what you are familiar with.

I'm gonna guess the Netherlands....(bike..hahah)

[kilomike_19]

Hahaha no, I'm not for the Nethelands. I'm from Morocco... and from a city with many slopes, so we didn't bike a lot here Anyway thanks for your helpful answers... surelly I'm going to start my training there

[jpilot77]

Biking in winter when it's -30 wont be fun. Get a beater car.

[TeePeeCreeper]

Can't speak to the accommodations or training...
What I can tell you is that having access to "wheels" (ANYWHERE) in Manitoba will be useful!

If you don't already have a driver's licence in your country, get one ASAP.
Then get an IDP (International Drivers Permit) and the transition in obtaining a Canadian drivers licence/insurance will be a bit easier for you.

Regards,
TPC

[HiLo]

Just to give you some perspective (since you might not be familiar with the intricacies of buying a car in Canada), someone in your position would typically buy what we call a "beater." It's a car that has 4 wheels, an engine and not much else: the purpose is purely utilitarian. With the state of the economy right now, you should be able to find one for less that $2000 in decent condition.

In Canada, owning, or having access to a car is (most of the time) a prerequisite to flying. Insurance in Manitoba is cheap (compared to Ontario) and gas is dirt cheap.

[hoserjoe]

It's a car that has 4 wheels, an engine and not much else:

In Manitoba, it must have a heater!

[HiLo]

It's a car that has 4 wheels, an engine and not much else:

In Manitoba, it must have a heater!

HAHAHA. That's what a coffee's for.

[praveen4143]

I went to Harv's at Steinbach. The on-site accommodations are great if you are going to fly full time but are slightly on the expensive side. I guess their idea is for you to finish ASAP and get outta there. You can find some decent basement suites for cheaper in the town which is 2-3 kms to enter from the airport and then further into whichever part you find a place to live at.

If you live in the town, a car will be quite useful though not essential in the summer. October to April, a car is a must if you wish to commute daily to school. The school offers pick up and drop albeit a bit expensive. You could try carpooling with students once you get used to the others there?

PSA if you intend to buy a car. Make sure you get one that already has passed a safety inspection prior to purchase or else you will spend way more than is worth to get the car registered. It doesn't matter even if the car is presently registered in MB. Safety inspections are a must for every time it changes owners.