Looking for some advices for my training

[777_Lover]

Hello everyone

I am 17 years old high school student, currently on the PPL stage. I am coming here to share with you what I have already seen, and to get somes advices on my project.

My plan is to start my training right after my graduation from high school, when I’ll be 18. I would love to fly big airplanes like the Dash 8 or the CRJ, that’s why I am looking for a school that will help me reach that as fast as possible. But I’m realistic, I now that I will have to fly light planes before, and to be honest I think It can be interesting too.

For now I looked at Exact’Air, Cargair, Grondair in Quebec, and Harv’s Air in Manitoba. Doing my training in Quebec would not be a problem as I speak french too.

I also looked at schools that would give me a diploma, with the flight training:

- Mount Royal University : http://www.mtroyal.ca/Programs...../index.htm
- University of the Fraser Valley : https://www.ufv.ca/programs/aviation...a/#d.en.961125
- Okanagan College : http://webapps-5.okanagan.bc.c.....ionDiploma
- British Columbia Institute of Technology : BCIT : : Airline and Flight Operations - Commercial Pilot: Full-time, Diploma
- Mount Allison University : Mount Allison University | Aviation
- Algonquin college : http://www.algonquincollege.co.....d-science/
- Canadore College : http://www.canadorecollege.ca/.....ot-program
- Conestoga : http://www.conestogac.on.ca/fu.....nd-science
- Confederation College : http://www.confederationcolleg.....management
- Sault College : http://www.saultcollege.ca/Pro.....upcode=AVI
- Western Social Science : Commercial Aviation Management - DAN Management and Organizational Studies - Western University
- Cégep de Chicoutimi : http://www.cegep-chicoutimi.qc.....daeronefs/
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic : http://saskpolytech.ca/program.....Pilot.aspx

Do have any advice about all the schools I talked about ? What to think about the schools that offer a diploma with the flight training ? Will a diploma of that kind allow me to do something else in case I loose my medical ? Is a diploma like that an advantage on a resume ?

Thanks a lot by advance for your answers guys

[pfvspnf]

A dash 8 and a CRJ is not a big plane!

[Mostly Harmless]

A dash 8 and a CRJ is not a big plane!

They are when you are staring out. It's all about the perspective.

777, I can't give you any current advice as things are changing rapidly in the industry. But, if you can't get any traction with this question here, try the Jazz and Westjet forums over at AvCanada. The place is full of trolls but you might get some good answers too. There's bound to be someone who knows what the lay of the land is like at Jazz and Encore.. or even Sky Regional or Georgian.

Good luck.

[pfvspnf]

Avcanada is full of unemployed trolls, they'd probably laugh at you and accuse you of big shiny jet syndrome and ask you to work in the Arctic for under 20k a year and after you've proven yourself with those bag of tricks you would qualify for a regional down south , maybe perhaps a decade later you would qualify for Air canada as a second officer.

[Mostly Harmless]

I did say the place was populated by trolls, but I don't see anyone here stepping up and answering. I'm too far removed to offer any current advice as the times are changing. Perhaps you can offer some current information pfvspnf?

[altiplano]

Talk about trolls...

... -8 & CRJ are by definition large aircraft...

Anyway, I can't offer much on schools other than go where you like the instructors, it's convenient and ideally the cheapest - and probably where you can live at home and not amass a pile of debt - and do it as fast as you can to get on the job market...

If you don't plan on a degree/diploma from a university or college maybe consider one of the 2 year aviation programs but honestly it's a big maybe... I'd probably rather do college/nightschool/correspondence while hammering off my flight training as quickly as possible. No reason you can't have CPL/MIFR in a year if you set to it and have the funding.

Good luck.

[evansb]

By weight and wake turbulence category, the Dash-8 and the CRJ are medium category aircraft. (MTOW more than 15,500 lbs, but less than 300,000 lbs)

[pfvspnf]

not been flying Canada for a long time but i hear the top grads at seneca get a shot at Jazz?
Air Georgian also has a mentor program, dont know too much about it..

Maybe do your training in the States and then convert to TC? would be cheaper

Good luck to you, there will be plenty who put you down , dont let them get to you, never give up, the world is a big place , theres a whole world of opportunities beyond canadian aviation.

[altiplano]

not disagreeing on the wake category, but just to be clear there are 2 types of aircraft related to certification standard... and -8/rjs are large aircraft...

Large Aircraft: Aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight.

http://www.faa-aircraft-certification.com/faa-definitions.html#L.

anyway... It's all semantics as far as it relates to the OP...

I remember when I made it onto the Navajo and thought "wow this thing is big, I'm a real pilot now for sure"...

... and then all the time I spent on turboprops dying to get on a 705 machine...

Looking back I have a laugh... your view of things is all relative from where you are and where you've been.

[CEA330Driver]

777_Lover;
I went to Seneca 30 years ago. It was a top school then, and from what I understand it remains so. So is Sault College. My advise would be to go to a school that offers the flying training for free. Study hard as it's very competitive. Regarding the diploma, it is not really worth much outside the aviation industry. If the school offers advanced degrees then you might want to consider this. The other route that you may want to consider is the military. I've planted the seed with my boys. I'm not ex-military, however, there are plenty of good reasons to think about it: (1) your university degree is paid for as are most of your expenses, (2) you flying is paid for, (3) they pay you while you are going to university and (4) you can graduate with money in your pocket and the opportunity to fly big jets, fast jets, helicopters etc. Don't rule it out. At 17 you have time on your side. One last parting word; don't get into flying if you are not willing to move around the country or perhaps the globe. The market in Canada is too unpredictable to be fixated on one place. Embrace living in other parts of the country/globe and the world will be your oyster.

[777_Lover]

Thanks a lot for your answers guys !

Yes, Actually I have no problem to relocate if I I need to. By the way, can a CPL-IRME with FAA and TC licences with only 200h work in other countries such as in Asia or Africa ? (Or maybe Europe, but if it's an european registered plane I will need a EASA licence..)

[EJRedsHeli]

School... $$

If you want to do plain old fixed wing, there's two that I know a bit about. I did my CPL(H) at Canadore a few years ago.(you should do that instead, it's more fun... But I'm biased) It's a great school. Loads of engineers around to help answer all the questions about how things work. Also a beautiful area.
As for the fixed wing program... It's quite new and I don't actually know much about it.
A buddy of mine just graduated from Sault College though. Definitely look at that, it's a tough but really good course. He's flying in Labrador now.
Cheers
Good luck

[ecnalubma]

Both those aircraft are great starting aircraft to fly on your way to the bigger ones. Jazz CRJ were considered Westjets training crafts.