Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
Moderators: North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, Right Seat Captain, lilfssister
Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
Does anyone have any reviews or feedback on the flight schools in the Nanaimo area? I am asking on behalf of someone who runs a business in Nanaimo and is to busy to leave the area to train elsewhere. This person is interested in learning how to fly solely for their own purposes and is not interested in flying commercially. Any info or feedback is much appreciated. Thanks.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
Vital Aviation is a great school! I did my private and commercial license there and they are great, caring people.
-
Cat Driver
- Top Poster
- Posts: 18921
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:31 pm
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
How many circuits would you have averaged per hour when you were doing circuits in Nanaimo mystery, including the run up and pre. take off checks?
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
oh well honestly I have never counted but i believe .5 hobbs time gave you about 4 or 5 circuits but honestly that's an estimate. What I do know is you can get alot more done than schools on the lower mainland where you are usually waiting for traffic. Nanaimo has little traffic and practice areas surrounding it that dont burn up much time to get to. Hope that helps
-
Cat Driver
- Top Poster
- Posts: 18921
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:31 pm
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
I asked because of the wide circuits they do at Nanaimo, never could figure out why they don't do normal sized circuits inside of the hill by the airport, instead of going way out around it and back in Ladysmith harbor.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
hi cat i think they do big circuit cause that cfs book say that pilot must fly outside the noisy area so maybe they do that but i agree with you that we should be able to do what ever we want to because we are trained pilot and we pass exam that says we know what to do i dont think the book people know as much as us....i always just fly straight to the airport and dont really like to do the circuit thing from cfs because it take more time and you know time is money!!!!
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
I do them inside the hill. But I always climb above 1000asl and reduce power before turning onto downwind, never heard anything negative about it. My plane is pretty quiet as well.Cat Driver wrote:I asked because of the wide circuits they do at Nanaimo, never could figure out why they don't do normal sized circuits inside of the hill by the airport, instead of going way out around it and back in Ladysmith harbor.
-Grant
-
Cat Driver
- Top Poster
- Posts: 18921
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:31 pm
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
I have been flying here for thirty years and always fly a circuit inside the hill.
I believe that circuit on the chart was printed for night operations, regardless no one has ever questioned my flying the circuit inside the hill.
When you have a close look at the safety issue inside the hill wins on all counts, not to mention you can do a lot more circuits per hour when training.
I believe that circuit on the chart was printed for night operations, regardless no one has ever questioned my flying the circuit inside the hill.
When you have a close look at the safety issue inside the hill wins on all counts, not to mention you can do a lot more circuits per hour when training.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
For a long time that chart was marked night vfr circuits. Not sure when the title changed.
-
Cat Driver
- Top Poster
- Posts: 18921
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:31 pm
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
Is it mandatory to fly the old night circuit in Nanaimo in daytime VFR now?
I have not flown in Nanaimo for about a year and a half.
Anyone know the answer to the above and could you post a link that confirms I can not fly a circuit inside of the mountain now in day VFR.
And before someone suggests I look it up in the VFR supplement I do not have one.
I have not flown in Nanaimo for about a year and a half.
Anyone know the answer to the above and could you post a link that confirms I can not fly a circuit inside of the mountain now in day VFR.
And before someone suggests I look it up in the VFR supplement I do not have one.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
This sums it up for me. I will not do a circuit I can't reach the runway from unless its under instruction from ATC or to accomodate terrain. Until I am requested to stop doing them I will keep trucking right along.Cat Driver wrote:no one has ever questioned my flying the circuit inside the hill.
When you have a close look at the safety issue inside the hill wins on all counts, not to mention you can do a lot more circuits per hour when training.
Now who here uses the grass in YCD? That alone makes it one of the best training environments on the Island.
-Grant
-
Cat Driver
- Top Poster
- Posts: 18921
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:31 pm
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
Those are my feelings also.This sums it up for me. I will not do a circuit I can't reach the runway from unless its under instruction from ATC or to accomodate terrain. Until I am requested to stop doing them I will keep trucking right along.
Last time I talked about this to a FSS person in Nanaimo they had no objection to the circuit I flew in Nanaimo.
As a matter of interest I flew the same size circuit in the Turbo Commander and the C117 in Nanaimo when I was flying them there, never ever had a complaint filed by anyone.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
Shoot the 16 approach (pick one) to circling minimums and go outside the hill while manoeuvering for 34. See what your Check Pilot says about your distance from the runway (let alone your height AGL 
). I can tell you, I don't think they'd like it 
.
I don't see anything on that chart that precludes you from flying 1000'AGL circuits inside the hill except for that little "Circuits 1200ASL" notation. What's field elevation there? 61 feet or something?
). I can tell you, I don't think they'd like it .I don't see anything on that chart that precludes you from flying 1000'AGL circuits inside the hill except for that little "Circuits 1200ASL" notation. What's field elevation there? 61 feet or something?
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
There's a possibility I'm moving to Nanimo in the future. Currently training at Victoria Flying Club for my PPL, read on Vital Aviation's website that they only admit 20 new students per year and that they can't have started training at another FTU, wtf? Then again I see they don't teach commercial and instead export their commercial training to the USA. Anyway, are these guys the only option in Nanaimo? The flying club doesn't instruct/own their own planes.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
Make the drive, stick with VFC.GoCanucks wrote:There's a possibility I'm moving to Nanimo in the future. Currently training at Victoria Flying Club for my PPL, read on Vital Aviation's website that they only admit 20 new students per year and that they can't have started training at another FTU, wtf? Then again I see they don't teach commercial and instead export their commercial training to the USA. Anyway, are these guys the only option in Nanaimo? The flying club doesn't instruct/own their own planes.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
I to would love to know of a good flight school that will take me from the beginning all the way till my CPL. VFC is way expensive compared to Vital Aviation.
From their website:
From their website:
Has anyone actually taken this course? A year from ground school to your CPL? Did it help you find work and did you feel you were properly prepared being so rushed?SPECIALIZED ‘SCRATCH - TO - COMMERCIAL’ TRAINING
Be working as a pilot within one year.
Vital Aviation Ltd specializes in career training.
By registering with one of the Spring ground school classes, we can have your Private Licence completed during the summer. Commercial courses start in the winter at our Arizona Desert Camp. All the experience time-building is thus completed in weather conditions not available in Canada at that time of the year. Final exams and flight tests are done early in the new year in time for seeking employment during the peak (March/April) hiring season.
This is the most efficient, cost-effective way of starting an aviation career, putting you ahead of other job-seekers and saving you money.
Re: Nanaimo Area Flight Schools
I just started ground school at Vital last night! If there is any interest, I can post my thoughts as I complete the different stages. I am intending to go through to CPL with them.
