Hi all, does anyone know where to get tailwheel training in Southern Ontario?

I see Brampton offers it in their Citabria but they're quoting $3000 which I think is quite ridiculous. I'm near CYKF but am willing to drive an hour or so.

Any leads are appreciated! Thank you.

Last time I looked at their tailwheel "conversion", it involved roughly 10 hours of dual flight and a few hours of ground instruction. Where are you going to get that many hours in your log book for less? Think anyone is going to take the risk of renting you a tail dragger with less training?

10 hours dual is/was a fairly standard insurance requirement for tailwheel training. Bump out a solo circuit session, and off you go on your conventional landing gear journey.

Being that it's not a formal rating in Transport-land, maybe you can find someone to show you the ropes in a privately owned tailwheel aeroplane. But, don't be surprised if their insurance won't allow you to act as PIC with less than 10 hours dual time.

7ECA wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 2:03 pm But, don't be surprised if their insurance won't allow you to act as PIC with less than 10 hours dual time.

But also don't be surprised if their insurance says no flight training except for the named insured.

Yeah $3k is pretty normal. While you may be able to talk someone into training you on their aircraft, I doubt their insurance would allow it. Only other option would be to buy a Champ or similar, and hire an instructor, but that’s far from the cheapest option. The Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation also offers it, but I think you have to buy in, so probably more expensive than Brampton. Tailwheel flying isn’t hard, but it’s also nothing to scoff at, so insurance requirements tend to reflect that. There is a learning curve, and my Champ has humbled a number of otherwise experienced pilots.

Thank you all, I did not realize that amount is the standard. Will keep you all posted on my journey.

taro wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 12:29 pm Hi all, does anyone know where to get tailwheel training in Southern Ontario?

I see Brampton offers it in their Citabria but they're quoting $3000 which I think is quite ridiculous. I'm near CYKF but am willing to drive an hour or so.

Any leads are appreciated! Thank you.

I agree. Sounds to me like they're trying to milk you. It doesn't take 10 hours to learn how to handle a tailwheel aircraft.

I think we're all missing the most important initial question: taro, what do you mean with 'tailwheel training'? What's your goal? There is no formal tailwheel license/checkout/.. in Canada, so if you are looking for comparitive quotes, you should first define exactly what it is you're looking for.

For that money go take an aerobatics course. Harv's Air would be my recommendation but I'm sure there is someone in Southern Ontario

YMMV
CLF

digits_ wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 7:40 pm I think we're all missing the most important initial question: taro, what do you mean with 'tailwheel training'? What's your goal? There is no formal tailwheel license/checkout/.. in Canada, so if you are looking for comparitive quotes, you should first define exactly what it is you're looking for.

Hi digits,

I'm a part of a gliding club and they're offering me a tow pilot position if I can get my tailwheel training. I understand it's not a formal thing in Canada but they need it for insurance and I want it because I wouldn't feel comfortable flying taildraggers right off the bat. Just looking for 5 or so hours.

taro wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 11:35 am I'm a part of a gliding club and they're offering me a tow pilot position if I can get my tailwheel training. I understand it's not a formal thing in Canada but they need it for insurance and I want it because I wouldn't feel comfortable flying taildraggers right off the bat. Just looking for 5 or so hours.

Then you need to confirm how many hours your club's tow plane insurance requires for you to act as PIC.

As noted, many insurers require 10 hours of training prior to acting as PIC in a tailwheel aircraft. It's not rocket science, but it does take repetition and exposure to some varying conditions before you will be competent enough to not ball it up the first time conditions aren't ideal.

taro wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 11:35 am Hi digits,

I'm a part of a gliding club and they're offering me a tow pilot position if I can get my tailwheel training. I understand it's not a formal thing in Canada but they need it for insurance and I want it because I wouldn't feel comfortable flying taildraggers right off the bat. Just looking for 5 or so hours.

That's cool. Why don't they check you out in their plane (assuming the two plane is a two seater)?

I can't send you solo, but reach out if you want some transition training. I'm out of CPS4 (Lucan), which is just outside of London.

Bede wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:34 pm

taro wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 11:35 am Hi digits,

I'm a part of a gliding club and they're offering me a tow pilot position if I can get my tailwheel training. I understand it's not a formal thing in Canada but they need it for insurance and I want it because I wouldn't feel comfortable flying taildraggers right off the bat. Just looking for 5 or so hours.

That's cool. Why don't they check you out in their plane (assuming the two plane is a two seater)?

Hi Bede, it's because the gliding club is 100% volunteer run, so if they check me out in their plane from scratch, they'll be using a lot of engine hours to train me, when they can be using that to tow gliders up. Our maintenance crew are all here on a volunteer basis and parts are mostly bought by volunteers too. So it would be not be in the club's best financial interest to train tow pilots on our own aircraft.

taro wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 8:14 pm

Bede wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:34 pm

taro wrote: ↑Wed Feb 04, 2026 11:35 am Hi digits,

I'm a part of a gliding club and they're offering me a tow pilot position if I can get my tailwheel training. I understand it's not a formal thing in Canada but they need it for insurance and I want it because I wouldn't feel comfortable flying taildraggers right off the bat. Just looking for 5 or so hours.

That's cool. Why don't they check you out in their plane (assuming the two plane is a two seater)?

Hi Bede, it's because the gliding club is 100% volunteer run, so if they check me out in their plane from scratch, they'll be using a lot of engine hours to train me, when they can be using that to tow gliders up. Our maintenance crew are all here on a volunteer basis and parts are mostly bought by volunteers too. So it would be not be in the club's best financial interest to train tow pilots on our own aircraft.

What about if you pay them instead of a flying school? When starting out with tail wheel flying, there can be a relatively big difference between airplanes, especially if we're talking about training in a few hours. Do the schools offer training in the same or very similar type?