PPL Training in Canada-Pacific Flying Club

[pumping iron]

Hello to everyone,

am very new in this forum, and sometimes i may sound stupid :O and am hoping for your understanding. I am planning to take my flight training in march, starting off to PPL, with PACIFIC FLYING CLUB in Delta British Columbia, anyone heard about this school? I've already register myself and paid C$500 for them to process the letter of acceptance.

I just felt afraid when i encountered somebody in another forum that the school he went to went bankrupt and he wasn't able to recover his money... And since i dont know much about this school, I came to you all for guidance in some way. The bank which will finance my training will be sending the money straight to them, so i wont have control over it. If they suddenly declared bankruptcy then i'll be in deep trouble. I dont want that to happen to me.

Basically, what i want to know is, is this school a reputable training institute? Those who know about this school kindly post your reply...

Thanks a million!!!:)
Pumping Iron

[KrazyKraut]

Hello Pumping Iron,

it's not unusual for FTOs and TRTOs to take a deposit to process the enrollment and to assign a place on a course. $500 is common.

However, as countless threads on PPRuNe advise, *never* pay large amounts upfront, and especially not the whole course. People have lost thousands and tens of thousands of dollars by not being careful and trusting the school a little too much.

Be especially cautious if you're offered a large discount, or if the company gets 'pushy' in order to persuade you to pay everything now - that occasionally happens as well. Just don't do it, and make sure your bank doesn't do it - it's your money after all.

If the world's largest airlines can suddenly go bankrupt, so can any school - and you wouldn't know until it's too late.

Paying by Credit Card can offer some protection as well.

I haven't heard about the school you mention, but you could have a look or post a question here:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7849&page=7

Regards,

KK

[alexflynn86]

I was at Boundary Bay (PFC) a few years ago, visiting friends nearby but thought I'd take a visit and enquire about some training there. Staff are VERY friendly and helpful. Didn't do any flying there, but, the atmosphere made me feel very welcome, and when visiting friends in the future will probably try and do some flying with them.

I think a guy called Steve is the admin chap, very friendly and knowledable.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

N E V E R ...... N E V E R .....E V E R give any money in advance for flight training to any school.

If they will not accept pay as you go tell them to go to hell.

As far as flight training goes in Canada it really does not make much difference what school you choose as they are all regulated by Transport Canada Flight Training and that means they all give the same poor quality of flight training due to the dumming down of everything with the ever expanding army of losers who can only find employment with government.

So just pick a school try and choose a good instructor, dance the dance, get your license and then start to learn about the real world of flying. :ok:

Chuck E.

[v6g]

Hi - and welcome to the forum.

I've been a member of PFC for the last four years, since I emigrated from the UK. I completed my PPL, night and CPL there as well as being a regular recreational renter - I'm currently working towards my instructor rating with them. I do not work for them - although I hope that may change once I complete my instructor rating.

While I don't want to feel I'm promoting any one school (and most people feel their particular school was the best). I think you've chosen well:-
Canada - cheap flying, many freedoms that you don't get in the UK, no landing fees, plenty of uncontrolled airports, good quality of flying training (better than the US)
West Coast - complex/busy airspace (great for learning in), but 5 minutes flight to the north and you're in the mountains where you're really on your own. Coastal weather systems (a lot of good days for elementary training but bad weather at times too for gaining valuable experience, huge variety of places to visit, every small town has an airport.
CZBB - Busy friendly GA airport with intersecting runways and simultaneous operations - scared me at first but a great environment to be learning.
PFC - certainly one of the better schools around - I'm not going to say any particular school is the best as I encourage everyone to shop around and decide for themselves. The only problems I've heard of relate more to simple mistakes that would happen anywhere and not to the management - in fact the few complaints I've had over the years have been corrected accordingly and professionally. Aircraft & Instructor availability as well as maintenance is excellent.

They do not require up front payment (and nobody should ever pay as such) - they don't offer any discount for up-fronters either. The $500 fee you've paid is for processing your visa application. PM me if you've got any questions - or maybe you're looking for an instructor for sometime next spring ;-)

If you want some pointers on what you need for some background reading etc… beforehand then PM me.

[v6g]

N E V E R ...... N E V E R .....E V E R give any money in advance for flight training

... I just want to echo Cat's comments (he's a wise old guy, no doubt a lot more grey hair than me and we would all do well to heed his advice).

NEVER pay up front for flying. No matter what great deal you're being offered. Don't.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Yup, v6g you summed it up about right....

....except for the quality of training in Canada being better than in the USA, it all depends on who your instructor is...that is what will determine the quality of your instruction.

( no one here has a clue who Cat is..:E )

Chuck E.

[stiknruda]

no one here has a clue who Cat is

Oh - I thought he was a rather trim, old, curmudgeonly Canadian chap that I met a long time ago at Duxford and later in E Africa.

However I could be wrong:E :E :E !

Stik

[l_reason]

I was thinking that the “Cat” was a Cri Cri flying old **** that knows a thing or two about round engines, flying boats, tail dragging C-150’s and bikini clad ladies on ministry aircraft. The “Cat” has been seen Holland on the water or most commonly on the rainy west coast of Canada. He has not been seen on avcanada in a few weeks and some are asking why….

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I have become tired of posting on Avcanada due to the proliferation of idiots who drag every topic down to their level.

I give Danny and his moderators credit for striving to keep Pprune relatively free of people who only want to tear down rather then add to the quality of discussion...

..so I_reason that is why I don't post on Avcanada now. :ok:

[v6g]

tired of posting on Avcanada due to the proliferation of idiots who drag every topic down to their level

... you're not the only one. Sometimes I wonder just what the phrase "Professional Pilot" means in Canada.

[CD]

I have become tired of posting on Avcanada due to the proliferation of idiots who drag every topic down to their level.
But I didn't mean to... :sad:
:ok:

[Chuck Ellsworth]

v6g, have you noticed how many professionals no longer post on Avcanada?

Joe has to have a talk with his moderators or Avcanada will just become a place to talk gibberish with no real aviation related content. :ugh:

He could start with endless. :(

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Good God , CD are you everywhere? :eek:

Hows things at Puzzle Palace these days?

If you run into Clunk tell him I said hi!

And I hope to finish my Cub by spring.....

[hazatude]

We miss you Chuck...

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Hi Haz, I had no idea so many Canadians read Pprune.

I am almost a Brit. having spent so much time working there.

The only thing that I could never get used to was turning finals, I never could find that other runway. :E

Hows the new job?

[Golden Flyer]

How Are Ya Chuck? Miss Your Presence At AVCan. Have Any Intentions of Coming Back?

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Hi Golden Flyer, for the time being I am taking a rest from Avcanada as I believe there are more imortant things in my life besides being a target for every wannabe who disagrees with my thoughts on aviation.

Sometimes in life we need to examine the value of free information, I got fed up with giving free information and having to defend it.

I started my internet posting on Pprune and feel more comfortable here.

Oh, and the CAA never tried to ruin my flying career, in fact they have been very supportive of my way of doing things in aviation. So over here I have no regulator problems to moan about. :E

And this is pumping irons thread so enough of Avcanada on this one.

[sepia]

As far as flight training goes in Canada it really does not make much difference what school you choose as they are all regulated by Transport Canada Flight Training and that means they all give the same poor quality of flight training due to the dumming down of everything with the ever expanding army of losers who can only find employment with government.


and the transport bashing begins. :rolleyes:

[Chuck Ellsworth]

" and the transport bashing begins. "

So why don't you do your civic duty and tell us how great your regulator in Canada is Sepia?

But please start another thread for your balancing of this issue. :ok:

[Springbok 3]

Hi Haz, I had no idea so many Canadians read Pprune.

I am almost a Brit. having spent so much time working there.

The only thing that I could never get used to was turning finals, I never could find that other runway. :E

Hows the new job?

Hi there Chuck. Good to see you around and on a forum where a more mature audience exists. I have always monitored but never joined. I will give you a buzz over the weekend or next week.

All the best
Owen

[xsbank]

I have also abandoned Avcanada. I am fed up with the drivel there and the almost pathological way that people are trashed there. I agree with the moderator comment and up you Birddog. I got out of the mentor thing because it was taking entirely too long to be set up.

Sorry to add to the hijacking.

[2R]

He will be back :} :} :}
We just have to be nice like the people on pprrune to chuck

[pumping iron]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for all your sincere & honest answer. In fairness for PFC, yes, the $500 was meant for my visa application only, Pat Kennedy seems nice and honest person. Infact she sent all the Kit that i need here in Singapore without charge (i mean paying upfront).

Anyway, I really do appreciate all of you who were concern about this topic. Chuck your advice is valuable to a new comer like me.. Thanks a lot...:)

V6, i will PM you, yes i need some tips when i arrive this March, plus the fact that i dont know anyone there...;)

God Bless you all in your goals!!! Specially in your flying...

Cheers!!!
Arvin