Questions before flight training
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2026
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1
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From: Ottawa
Questions before flight training
Hey,
im 16 and I want to start flight training next year but I still got many questions on my mind. Bring a commercial pilot is my dream job and I’m 95% sure about it. So, here is a few of my questions:
1. Should I go to university and get a degree? I’m very passionate about planes and I would love how they work and fly them. I want to study aerospace engineering and become a pilot in life, yet I’m not sure if the 4 years at university is worth it. Although, I also want stability.
2. Could 2-3 years be enough for me to get all my training done part time(except ATPL)? I’ve planned to start my training around 17(secondary 4 in Quebec) and finish around 3 years later at the end of Cégep. I plan to just get PPL before my secondaire graduation and finish up the othered in cégep.
If anyone finds my plan too unrealistic/unreasonable, please leave a few comments on how I could adjust my plan.
im 16 and I want to start flight training next year but I still got many questions on my mind. Bring a commercial pilot is my dream job and I’m 95% sure about it. So, here is a few of my questions:
1. Should I go to university and get a degree? I’m very passionate about planes and I would love how they work and fly them. I want to study aerospace engineering and become a pilot in life, yet I’m not sure if the 4 years at university is worth it. Although, I also want stability.
2. Could 2-3 years be enough for me to get all my training done part time(except ATPL)? I’ve planned to start my training around 17(secondary 4 in Quebec) and finish around 3 years later at the end of Cégep. I plan to just get PPL before my secondaire graduation and finish up the othered in cégep.
If anyone finds my plan too unrealistic/unreasonable, please leave a few comments on how I could adjust my plan.
Fleet Manager
Joined: Aug 2006
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 7,081
Likes: 2,938
From: Ontario, Canada
Welcome Anserem,
Prepare by getting a medical examination for a "CAT 1". Once you have passed that you know that you will be medically qualified to be a pilot. With the knowledge of your health, demonstrate [to yourself] appreciating your good health by not smoking, doing drugs and drinking, treat your body like you appreciate it!. No drinking! you hear me say! Well, I never drank, and in addition to better health, always being ready to fly, and not becoming an alcoholic, I saved a lot of money, which I put toward flying. In high school I saw my buddies spending on booze every week, about what I spent going flying. (Maybe a bigger differential now).
Go and take a trial lesson at a flying lesson at a local flying school. Go prepared with lots of questions. Ask and discuss lots before you go, so you're not wasting valuable time in the air discussing things with the instructor, which you could have discussed on the ground before takeoff. Ask lots of questions after you land. If it helps, during the flight, say to the instructor that you'd like to discuss more about xyz after you land, let the instructor retain some of your questions so your mind does not overflow in flight!
Avoid computer flight simulators. Though they may allow you to learn some things, equally likely you learn the wrong things and have to unlearn them later - that takes time, and costs money. Instead, read. Read ground school books (The Ground Up), read different pilot operating handbooks/flight manuals (easily found for free on the internet), read them very closely, and understand, those books are the final word as to how to fly that type of plane. Then, you'll form "why" questions. The Ground Up will answer some, we can answer some here, and the instructor you fly with can answer many. PPRuNe is an excellent resource, both with searches, and simply asking questions.
There will certainly be a need for pilots in the generation to come, so job security should be reasonably possible.
If you can go to a smaller airfield (less "airport" security) hand around, get to know people, talk to owners about their airplanes (they love to talk about them). Be charming and agreeable. Offer to help wash dirty airplanes, you might get invited to go flying, a very good way to learn, particularly about airplane types you may not encounter in training. If there is an airport restaurant, plan to spend hours, take a book and read there, chat with people if you can.
Then, approach flight training as if your life depends upon getting it right - it does! It is not something you think about for a few minutes a day, it consumes you. You can't pick up your phone because studying airplanes interests you too much! if you can never get enough airplanes, you can be a good pilot, and people you would like to work for will hire you. I have worked in aviation for 50 years, as a pilot, test pilot, and other interesting capacities. I have never, in my life applied for a job, nor submitted a job application - ever. I have just said "yes" when an interesting opportunity was presented to me. Be clean and neat, though dressed to work - look like the person who you would like to work for looks. Be the person and pilot who is where the airplanes are, not looking at your phone, and always ready to do something for someone.
If you can do those things and be happy doing them, you really want to do this!
Prepare by getting a medical examination for a "CAT 1". Once you have passed that you know that you will be medically qualified to be a pilot. With the knowledge of your health, demonstrate [to yourself] appreciating your good health by not smoking, doing drugs and drinking, treat your body like you appreciate it!. No drinking! you hear me say! Well, I never drank, and in addition to better health, always being ready to fly, and not becoming an alcoholic, I saved a lot of money, which I put toward flying. In high school I saw my buddies spending on booze every week, about what I spent going flying. (Maybe a bigger differential now).
Go and take a trial lesson at a flying lesson at a local flying school. Go prepared with lots of questions. Ask and discuss lots before you go, so you're not wasting valuable time in the air discussing things with the instructor, which you could have discussed on the ground before takeoff. Ask lots of questions after you land. If it helps, during the flight, say to the instructor that you'd like to discuss more about xyz after you land, let the instructor retain some of your questions so your mind does not overflow in flight!
Avoid computer flight simulators. Though they may allow you to learn some things, equally likely you learn the wrong things and have to unlearn them later - that takes time, and costs money. Instead, read. Read ground school books (The Ground Up), read different pilot operating handbooks/flight manuals (easily found for free on the internet), read them very closely, and understand, those books are the final word as to how to fly that type of plane. Then, you'll form "why" questions. The Ground Up will answer some, we can answer some here, and the instructor you fly with can answer many. PPRuNe is an excellent resource, both with searches, and simply asking questions.
There will certainly be a need for pilots in the generation to come, so job security should be reasonably possible.
If you can go to a smaller airfield (less "airport" security) hand around, get to know people, talk to owners about their airplanes (they love to talk about them). Be charming and agreeable. Offer to help wash dirty airplanes, you might get invited to go flying, a very good way to learn, particularly about airplane types you may not encounter in training. If there is an airport restaurant, plan to spend hours, take a book and read there, chat with people if you can.
Then, approach flight training as if your life depends upon getting it right - it does! It is not something you think about for a few minutes a day, it consumes you. You can't pick up your phone because studying airplanes interests you too much! if you can never get enough airplanes, you can be a good pilot, and people you would like to work for will hire you. I have worked in aviation for 50 years, as a pilot, test pilot, and other interesting capacities. I have never, in my life applied for a job, nor submitted a job application - ever. I have just said "yes" when an interesting opportunity was presented to me. Be clean and neat, though dressed to work - look like the person who you would like to work for looks. Be the person and pilot who is where the airplanes are, not looking at your phone, and always ready to do something for someone.
If you can do those things and be happy doing them, you really want to do this!
Joined: Apr 2019
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 19
Likes: 16
From: YUL
Hello Anserem.
Another option for you is to apply at the CQFA, a school that is part of the Cegep de Chicoutimi.
If you get in and complete the program, you will be getting your DEC Cegep diploma after 3 years, and you will have your Commercial Pilot in one of 3 specialisation:
- Multi-engine/Instrument rating
- Bush piloting (tailwheel, snow skids and floats)
- Helicopter (done on Bell 206b)
You don't pay for the flight hours, it's all covered as part of the DEC curriculum. It is I believe the cheapest way to get into commercial flying in Quebec, except maybe for joining the Canadian Forces.
Getting into the program is pretty hard, they accept 44 candidates per year, and receive between 500 and 1000 applications. The selection process is multi-tier:
- They do a first selection based on your highschool results
- They have you complete an exam covering things like aviation knowledge, spatial awareness, math...
- The ones selected after that previous step are invited for interviews and medical tests in Chicoutimi.
Once in the program, the first year will be mainly doing normal classes at the Cegep de Chicoutimi (math, physics, phys-ed, etc...), and some aviation related classes (meteorology, navigation, etc...) at the CQFA school at the Saint-Honoré airport (CYRC).
The second year you start flying on their single engine planes (Beechcraft B19 and C23).
The third year you join your specialization, and get your CPL. Note that the number of places in some specialization is limited, so you are not guaranteed a slot in helicopter for example.
Since it's a Cegep program, if you don't find a flying job when you complete it you can move on and go to a university. Having done a 3 year professional program instead of a 2 year general program you might need some extra classes to get into specific university programs, but those can usually be done through summer school.
* some of the details might be slightly off, I went that route a little over 30 years ago.
https://cchic.ca/cqfa-admission-et-info-scolaire/
Another option for you is to apply at the CQFA, a school that is part of the Cegep de Chicoutimi.
If you get in and complete the program, you will be getting your DEC Cegep diploma after 3 years, and you will have your Commercial Pilot in one of 3 specialisation:
- Multi-engine/Instrument rating
- Bush piloting (tailwheel, snow skids and floats)
- Helicopter (done on Bell 206b)
You don't pay for the flight hours, it's all covered as part of the DEC curriculum. It is I believe the cheapest way to get into commercial flying in Quebec, except maybe for joining the Canadian Forces.
Getting into the program is pretty hard, they accept 44 candidates per year, and receive between 500 and 1000 applications. The selection process is multi-tier:
- They do a first selection based on your highschool results
- They have you complete an exam covering things like aviation knowledge, spatial awareness, math...
- The ones selected after that previous step are invited for interviews and medical tests in Chicoutimi.
Once in the program, the first year will be mainly doing normal classes at the Cegep de Chicoutimi (math, physics, phys-ed, etc...), and some aviation related classes (meteorology, navigation, etc...) at the CQFA school at the Saint-Honoré airport (CYRC).
The second year you start flying on their single engine planes (Beechcraft B19 and C23).
The third year you join your specialization, and get your CPL. Note that the number of places in some specialization is limited, so you are not guaranteed a slot in helicopter for example.
Since it's a Cegep program, if you don't find a flying job when you complete it you can move on and go to a university. Having done a 3 year professional program instead of a 2 year general program you might need some extra classes to get into specific university programs, but those can usually be done through summer school.
* some of the details might be slightly off, I went that route a little over 30 years ago.
https://cchic.ca/cqfa-admission-et-info-scolaire/
Last edited by RdKetchup; 9th February 2026 at 20:50.
Joined: Oct 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 120
From: Wherever I go, there I am
A lot of good content above which I won't attempt to duplicate, except for PilotDAR's suggestion that you first go do your CAT 1 medical - I cannot endorse that suggestion any stronger than he did. Don't spend a cent on anything flying related until you've got that medical in your hand.
Yes, 2 to 3 years is sufficient to progress from ab initio to your CPL, Group 1 Instrument Rating IF you devote sufficient resources (i.e., time and money) to it.
There is a lot of variation within each step you take along the road, and it is far too easy to budget your time and money poorly, especially if you compare yourself against the minimum standards published in the CARs. The PPL flight test, for example, can be taken after a minimum of 45 hours flight training. There are not too many pilots, however, who complete their PPL at 45 hours for a variety of reasons. If I think back to my own PPL (which was done through the Air Cadets) I remember two days where we could not complete the required exercises due to weather and ATC restrictions, despite having taken off already. The first was going up to do spins only to find out the cloud base was below that required to begin the exercise despite the weather report indicating it was fine. The second was going to a controlled airport to finish off the required ATC work exercises, only to be denied entry into the zone. Delays and cancellations that you still have to pay for must be budgeted into the equation, and I generally suggest that students have an additional 10% to 20% more than needed to cover those instances. That buffer assumes that you are able to complete your course work in a condensed manner - three to five flying days a week and ground school every day or so. If you are going to be flying and doing your ground school once a week (or less), then it behooves you to have a larger buffer in place, by as much as 50% to 75% per licence or rating. When instructing I had very competent students completing their PPL at 75 hours instead of 45 hours simply because they were not flying enough, which resulted in us spending time reviewing previous material.
You also have to assume that you will encounter difficulties along the way. Some students progress extremely quickly through their PPL and CPL, only to struggle through their Instrument Rating training. That doesn't make you a bad pilot, it just means you are human. Thus, having that buffer in place means you can have one or two less than ideal training days and not have to worry about where the money will come from to get up to standard.
Finally, your time building between your PPL and CPL should be done with intent. You have to complete those hours anyways, so you may as well build on your skills. Rather than going out and burning holes in the sky (which is important and fun), take a few hours every now and then to practice the skills you learned during your PPL, and attempt to refine your abilities. Too many pilots show up to their CPL having lost a number of vital skills or knowledge simply because they were always taking their friends up on sight-seeing tours (which is a great way to cut down the cost in the short term). I remember one student I had who between his PPL and CPL had completely lost any ability to stay in coordinated flight. He admitted that he never touched the rudder pedals from takeoff until landing as he didn't see the point. While that sounds silly to write down, it did mean that his steep turns were far below standard, meaning I couldn't even touch on constant radius turns or minimum radius turns until he could prove he could constantly remain coordinated. Although that only took two or three sessions to nail down, that was money that could have been spent doing other things. You have to gain 4x the experience between your PPL and CPL flight tests, so taking at least 2x of that to improve your skills still leaves you with a lot of time to have fun.
Best of luck, and keep us up-to-date on your progress!
2. Could 2-3 years be enough for me to get all my training done part time(except ATPL)? I’ve planned to start my training around 17(secondary 4 in Quebec) and finish around 3 years later at the end of Cégep. I plan to just get PPL before my secondaire graduation and finish up the othered in cégep.
There is a lot of variation within each step you take along the road, and it is far too easy to budget your time and money poorly, especially if you compare yourself against the minimum standards published in the CARs. The PPL flight test, for example, can be taken after a minimum of 45 hours flight training. There are not too many pilots, however, who complete their PPL at 45 hours for a variety of reasons. If I think back to my own PPL (which was done through the Air Cadets) I remember two days where we could not complete the required exercises due to weather and ATC restrictions, despite having taken off already. The first was going up to do spins only to find out the cloud base was below that required to begin the exercise despite the weather report indicating it was fine. The second was going to a controlled airport to finish off the required ATC work exercises, only to be denied entry into the zone. Delays and cancellations that you still have to pay for must be budgeted into the equation, and I generally suggest that students have an additional 10% to 20% more than needed to cover those instances. That buffer assumes that you are able to complete your course work in a condensed manner - three to five flying days a week and ground school every day or so. If you are going to be flying and doing your ground school once a week (or less), then it behooves you to have a larger buffer in place, by as much as 50% to 75% per licence or rating. When instructing I had very competent students completing their PPL at 75 hours instead of 45 hours simply because they were not flying enough, which resulted in us spending time reviewing previous material.
You also have to assume that you will encounter difficulties along the way. Some students progress extremely quickly through their PPL and CPL, only to struggle through their Instrument Rating training. That doesn't make you a bad pilot, it just means you are human. Thus, having that buffer in place means you can have one or two less than ideal training days and not have to worry about where the money will come from to get up to standard.
Finally, your time building between your PPL and CPL should be done with intent. You have to complete those hours anyways, so you may as well build on your skills. Rather than going out and burning holes in the sky (which is important and fun), take a few hours every now and then to practice the skills you learned during your PPL, and attempt to refine your abilities. Too many pilots show up to their CPL having lost a number of vital skills or knowledge simply because they were always taking their friends up on sight-seeing tours (which is a great way to cut down the cost in the short term). I remember one student I had who between his PPL and CPL had completely lost any ability to stay in coordinated flight. He admitted that he never touched the rudder pedals from takeoff until landing as he didn't see the point. While that sounds silly to write down, it did mean that his steep turns were far below standard, meaning I couldn't even touch on constant radius turns or minimum radius turns until he could prove he could constantly remain coordinated. Although that only took two or three sessions to nail down, that was money that could have been spent doing other things. You have to gain 4x the experience between your PPL and CPL flight tests, so taking at least 2x of that to improve your skills still leaves you with a lot of time to have fun.
Best of luck, and keep us up-to-date on your progress!
