I am looking for the cheapest way to renew my group 1 instrument rating and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I have found a bunch of shools but they are all in the $1500-$2000 range and unfortunately that is a little out of my price range as I am living on an FO wage. I am looking for schools in Vancouver, Calgary, northern Ontario or Southern Ontario, but the reality is that I will go where ever it is the cheapest. Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Have you considered doing it on a sim? The Air Academy in Calgary has one and specializes in renewals. Much cheaper than renting a twin!

I would suggest going to try Pacific Flying Club at ZBB. I have not done a renewal there but I know of a friend who has, and saved some big bucks. They have one of those fancy sims.

In Calgary there is another place that have the same thing, however I have heard some mixed results.

I did my initial at Perimeter in Winnipeg, great school (probably the best in Canada) however you can't do it in the sim so that would cost you.

Good luck!

Cornwall Aviation just installed a new sim and got it certified for M-IFR renewals:

http://www.copaflight59cfc.ca/Coppermin ... p?album=19

http://cornwallaviation.com/

Sea Land Air
http://www.sealandair.ca/

Here in Eastern Ontario, most people go to Cornwall to renew their IFR, either on their own aircraft, or Cornwall Aviation's.

Thanks to everyone for all your great suggestions.

I really appreciate it..

Cheers

19aviator69 wrote:I am living on an FO wage

I didn't want to risk 7500ing the thread before you had some useful answers, but are you flying as an FO in a strictly VFR operation?

Just wondering,

Louis

DFC London can do renewals on a DA42 Sim.

Diamond Flight Centre

2530 Blair Blvd, London N5V 3Z9, ON

p: 5194575777

You WILL need to know the aircraft and systems, so if you've never flown a Twinstar, it's a little more work than just a flight test.

CarbHeat wrote:Sea Land Air
http://www.sealandair.ca/

<--- This, did mine with these guys last year... Very happy ~$100/hr

check out sarnia! cyzr

I have heard a couple times that if you hold a Group 3 instrument rating, you can renew to a Group 1 on a certified simulator?

I know you can do renewals on sims...but does this sort of upgrade to a group 1 count? If someone can give the yay or nay, with maybe where I can locate it in the CAR's/FTG that would be super. Sure would save me a bit of $$, rather then get reaquainted with a real twin at 300/hr + instructor. Cheers

Based on info on this post and exhausted research and calls to school all over Canada.
I must say this thread guided me in the direction I needed.

Called a few mentioned school with the sims (redbird Harvsair and DFC in London)
Everyone was skeptical in seeming to believe that they would be able to offer it in 1 day.

Considering I needed to get it out of the way for my ATPL signoff before I fly out.

FInally the great team @ Cornwall helped me out, booked me in the next day for a morning training and ground session with one of their instructors who was great to teach exactly what was required for the renewal checkout.

After lunch in the inhouse examiner did the ground and the check ride in their new Redbird sim!
Voila by 4 I was good to drive back to Toronto!

all in all under 800$!

Great team and great attitude there.

Cornwall is the place - efficient and inexpensive. I'll be going there next month.