carson air in kelowna

ericcorolla · Post by **ericcorolla** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:32 am

does anybody know anything about carson air?
they seem to not like to respond to emails or give info on their site.
i think if schools can't even have the comon courtesy, why would anyone spend 30 thousand with them???

so my question is:
where do you go in kelowna for flight training or do you even bother there?

laticsdave · Post by **laticsdave** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:36 am

I went to Carson (or "Southern Interior Flight Centre" as they used to called). Had a good instructor, Ron R. back then (98 - 99), but the overall feel I got from the school was "you are inferior" - especially from the cow who was the office manager - I think she saw students' enquiries as a rude interuption to her day!
In addition, if you weren't in the OUC Diploma program (don't know if they still do that or not), some of the other instructors there also ignored you!
And lastly, they wanted you to do Multi-IFR if you're doing CPL, even if you were looking at starting your pilot career on floats or as an instructor, and therefore could probably get an initial single engine, VFR job first, then work towards the Multi-IFR later (they were after ALL of your cash, as quickly as they could get it (Baron was $300/hr back in 98!), and were not really interested in directing you towards the ratings that would be needed IMMEDIATELY for your chosen career path).
I know things change over time, but that's my experience, for what it's worth!!!!
Try Okanagan in Vernon - one of my friends went there and said it was excellent.

ericcorolla · Post by **ericcorolla** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:13 am

That's exactly how I feel about carson air. most people i talk to feel the same way as well..."the b*tch has gotta go" is their feeling.

who's your friend that flew in vernon?

just curious, i was born and raised there.

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:00 pm

didn't okanagan close it's doors a few months back?

rogerthis · Post by **rogerthis** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:07 pm

thats affirmative

imfsub12 · Post by **imfsub12** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:09 pm

ya when i was in kelowna.. i did my float rating at air-hart. great school to go to . but i needed my night rating and I said i go to carson as it was close they said AH NO go to OK aviation in veron.. Carson was rude to me when i went to buy something there.. i wanted to see 2 diff flight computers and they won't let me even turn them on.. Had to bith about it to get them to open it up and power it up.. and i bought it anyway but still .. When you are spending $100 on a flight computer i need to test out...

but anyway my rant about them...

Bobby868 · Post by **Bobby868** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:48 pm

They still don't answer e-mails eh?

I sent them an e-mail one time asking if I could hire an instructor to do a check with me and fly to Vancouver in a Cherokee 140 that I was considering buying.

I kid you not, 2 months later I finally got an e-mail back from someone there asking if I was still looking for an instructor.

I wrote back and told them to stuff it.

threepoint · Post by **threepoint** » Mon May 22, 2006 4:42 pm

This is an all-too-common complaint about SIFC or Carson Air. I'm sure the level of instruction is comparable to that of other schools, but I too found myself looked upon as an inferior upon entering the premises because I didn't belong to the UBC Okanagan program and wear the crisp navy & white uni. I have heard many people complain about the haughtiness there and don't even THINK about applying to be an instructor if you didn't start with them from hour one.
Yes, Okanagan Aviation in Vernon is no longer, leaving a gaping training void in the valley. There is a good but small school in Penticton (Southern Skies) and a very small school in Kamloops (YKA Flight Discovery) and pretty much nothing in between to service a population of over a quarter million with many potential students & renters in a region with better-than-average affluence.