AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
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AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Hey guys,
I'm new to this forum. And recently, I'm stuck with a couple choices. From what I understand, getting hired by a airline company is mainly based on the amount of hours that you fly, not really on how you started. A little run down of my problem:
- I am missing my advanced functions and calculus for Seneca pilot program. So I took another program at Seneca (computer programmer) so that I am able to take those two math courses I am missing there. THEN TRANSFER to the flight program a year later. But it seems a quite costly to get to the end result.
- However, I am also being offered to go to Centennial college, but I am not so sure about its reputation for producing quality Pilots.
-In essence, Seneca, I graduate after four years, a Bachelor of aviation technology degree. And in Centennial, I get a diploma. But it is only 3 semesters (Sept-Aug of 2013)
-BOTH PROGRAMS whichever I choose, I end up with 200 flight hours, and 300 ground hours.
So, which one should I go for? Any suggestions? or Advice?
I'm new to this forum. And recently, I'm stuck with a couple choices. From what I understand, getting hired by a airline company is mainly based on the amount of hours that you fly, not really on how you started. A little run down of my problem:
- I am missing my advanced functions and calculus for Seneca pilot program. So I took another program at Seneca (computer programmer) so that I am able to take those two math courses I am missing there. THEN TRANSFER to the flight program a year later. But it seems a quite costly to get to the end result.
- However, I am also being offered to go to Centennial college, but I am not so sure about its reputation for producing quality Pilots.
-In essence, Seneca, I graduate after four years, a Bachelor of aviation technology degree. And in Centennial, I get a diploma. But it is only 3 semesters (Sept-Aug of 2013)
-BOTH PROGRAMS whichever I choose, I end up with 200 flight hours, and 300 ground hours.
So, which one should I go for? Any suggestions? or Advice?
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Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Go with the one that gets you done sooner. The faster you are done, the faster you can start looking for work and start building the hours. I can't vouch for either of those colleges, but I've gone the aviation college route.
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
I'm a Seneca grad, and have very few bad things to say about the program. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and learned lots. From what I hear, Seneca has inked agreements with Jazz, the Canadian Forces, and there are rumours abounding about deals upcoming with a few other airlines.
If you'd like, you can PM me, and we'll talk - don't believe all the haters out there.
If you'd like, you can PM me, and we'll talk - don't believe all the haters out there.
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Apollo,Apollo wrote:don't believe all the haters out there.
Is that because Seneca Grads really are gods gift to Canadian aviation?
To the O.P.
There are many great schools out there, don't fall into the trap that the school will have you believe, which is that they graduate the very best pilots in the world. The accident forum tells a different story. How many accidents have Moncton, Mount Royal, Confederation, Centennial, Conestoga, or Sault had in the past couple of years? Now compare that with Seneca. Look past the propaganda and past the Big Shiny Jet Syndrome of getting on directly with Jazz and becoming a career F/O!
BL
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
BverLuver:
Nope, nor did I ever claim that they did - those are your words. Why do you dislike Seneca?
BTW - love the ol' beav as well!
Nope, nor did I ever claim that they did - those are your words. Why do you dislike Seneca?
BTW - love the ol' beav as well!
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Apollo,
I dislike the school because of the culture they breed and the arrogance they encourage. To be truly successful and in aviation and in life, you need a level of confidence mixed with an equal level of humility. I VERY rarely get a healthy mix and NEVER met a Seneca grad with a higher level of humility than arrogance. As the statistics would prove, the extreme arrogance is certainly unwarranted.
BL
I dislike the school because of the culture they breed and the arrogance they encourage. To be truly successful and in aviation and in life, you need a level of confidence mixed with an equal level of humility. I VERY rarely get a healthy mix and NEVER met a Seneca grad with a higher level of humility than arrogance. As the statistics would prove, the extreme arrogance is certainly unwarranted.
BL
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
I totally agree that humility is an oft overlooked trait in today's world - for what its worth, I was never encouraged to be arrogant during my years at Seneca. To be completely honest, I have met far more arrogant pilots who came from other places, then I have/knew at Seneca. I'm not saying that there are no arrogant Seneca grads, because that would be a flat out lie - but to paint us all with that brush is a bit too broad of a generalization to be accurate.BverLuver wrote:Apollo,
I dislike the school because of the culture they breed and the arrogance they encourage. To be truly successful and in aviation and in life, you need a level of confidence mixed with an equal level of humility. I VERY rarely get a healthy mix and NEVER met a Seneca grad with a higher level of humility than arrogance. As the statistics would prove, the extreme arrogance is certainly unwarranted.
BL
As I mentioned earlier, and in other posts, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the college, both the experience of going through the program with the same small group of students, as well as the flight training I received. If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely go back to Seneca.
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Not trying to flame seneca, I have a few good friends/co-workers that trained there. I know I can't paint everyone with the same brush so I won't. When I worked the ramp at ykz, I remember quite a few cpl students that seemed to think they were king of the skies and would give me the "your a rampie and know nothing" attitude. Until they asked if I was working on my flight training and I told them I was an instructor at Toronto Airways.
To the OP go where ever gets you done ASAP. Don't chase metal though, I was offered to go to a PC-12 ground school last year, I had just shy of 700TT. I didn't get the job but it ended being a blessing in disguise. I know not everyone likes instructing but I loved my job and worked with a great bunch of people and to me thats work more than being a career f/o. However, thats my $0.02
Good luck!!

To the OP go where ever gets you done ASAP. Don't chase metal though, I was offered to go to a PC-12 ground school last year, I had just shy of 700TT. I didn't get the job but it ended being a blessing in disguise. I know not everyone likes instructing but I loved my job and worked with a great bunch of people and to me thats work more than being a career f/o. However, thats my $0.02
Good luck!!
Last edited by D_Thissen on Sun Jul 29, 2012 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
My personal experience with Seneca grads has been not good although I admit that my sample size is only 2. However both exhibited a level of arrogance that was only exceeded by their lack of ability. I don't know the back grounds of those who are making favorable posts but anyone who is in training now or just graduated doesn't have any other perspective other than the drinking the Seneca KOOLAID. It will be interesting to see how todays crop of students fares when they get into the real world. I would also say that unfortunately past performance is not indicative of today's reality. Like Mount Royal another school that is a pale shadow of the excellent institution it used to be, I think Seneca's best days are well in the past......
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
I don't have much to say about Seneca, but I do know that Centennial flies through Durham Flight Center out of Oshawa (CYOO). The twin just got re-painted along with new engines and props.. very good looking piece of tin.
From my understanding (minimal) this industry is all about who you know, and timing. I know several people who graduated from Centennial and are now at Porter, Jazz, Georgian, etc.
Why not drop by CYOO and Durham Flight center for an afternoon (once the cadets are gone) and get a feel for the school?
From my understanding (minimal) this industry is all about who you know, and timing. I know several people who graduated from Centennial and are now at Porter, Jazz, Georgian, etc.
Why not drop by CYOO and Durham Flight center for an afternoon (once the cadets are gone) and get a feel for the school?
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Don't go to Seneca. The University ticket is highly overrated. The flight training is sub-par. And who knows what they're going to do with students when they make the move from CYKZ. I can assure you that they don't care about the students. When my class was going through, any of our concerns fell on deaf ears. Which is why instructors were allowed to fall asleep during rides, professors were able to make up grades, and flying restrictions that took PDM out of flying.
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Go where you can be flying fastest and is cheapest.Which college you go to makes no difference on any airlines hiring board.
From my understanding Seneca only gives a BASc which isn't really a true university degree but more like a 4 year college diploma so it won't help you much if you ever want to do something than fly.
From my understanding Seneca only gives a BASc which isn't really a true university degree but more like a 4 year college diploma so it won't help you much if you ever want to do something than fly.
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Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Agreed with Bede. Go and get a 'real' degree, and learn how to fly at your local school.
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
I have no opinion on Seneca, but please be careful about your slagging of the "BASc". The University of British Columbia is an excellent school, and they award a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) to the grads of the Faculty of Applied Science (Engineering and Nursing).Bede wrote: From my understanding Seneca only gives a BASc which isn't really a true university degree but more like a 4 year college diploma so it won't help you much if you ever want to do something than fly.
I have no idea if Seneca's "BASc" is the same acronym.
cheers
g
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Geo - Bachelor of Applied Science is more commonly known as a B.Eng (Engineering). Nursing is typically awarded B.ScN (Science in Nursing)
I believe Seneca is giving a Bachelor of Aviation Technology.
Bede may have confused it with a Bachelor of Arts.
I believe Seneca is giving a Bachelor of Aviation Technology.
Bede may have confused it with a Bachelor of Arts.
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
I see your point. Although the engineering resumes I review commonly have B.Sc., B.Eng., B.A.Sc., etc., depending on which part of the world/country/continent they come from - it's not standardized at all. There's also the M.Eng., M.A.Sc., M.Sc. to sort out. And P.E., P.Eng, Ing., C.E., Ing.P.Euro and so on and so forth. I even see the occasional PhD. It's a positive Alphabet Soup out there!DaveC wrote:Geo - Bachelor of Applied Science is more commonly known as a B.Eng (Engineering). Nursing is typically awarded B.ScN (Science in Nursing)
Which is my point. Please don't evaluate a diploma/degree/academic cert based on the letters. They don't really mean all that much anyway.
Base it on the program. What are you actually going to learn? Which is Bede's point I believe.
That's not possible. One would mention seat belts, the other french fries.I believe Seneca is giving a Bachelor of Aviation Technology. Bede may have confused it with a Bachelor of Arts.

cheers
g
PS: Wait, does that mean that Seneca grads get a BAT? Are they BAT(wo)men?
Re: AVIATION CROSSROADS (Seneca vs Centennial)
Sorry I was a bit sloppy. Different countries have different designitions. In some countries a BASc is an engineering degree. I stand by my assessment of colleges giving degrees. I think it's a waste of time.
So does a Seneca grad get a BAT? Does anyone know what that is?
There is a world of difference between a Seneca degree and an engineering degree. Not all bachelor degrees are created equal.
I'd be willing to bet 4 years of engineering covers twice the material as the Seneca degree.
So does a Seneca grad get a BAT? Does anyone know what that is?
There is a world of difference between a Seneca degree and an engineering degree. Not all bachelor degrees are created equal.
I'd be willing to bet 4 years of engineering covers twice the material as the Seneca degree.