All three Ontario subsidized schools have been around for several decades and have seen their graduates succeed in all aspects of aviation including major airlines like Air Canada, Westjet and Cathay.


Wannabepilot1531: Thanks for correcting me as I was under the assumption that they only allowed a certain number of students through to subsequent semesters. Seems like they have similar criteria as Confederation in terms of academic progression.

So I guess it doesn't really matter which school you go to. Cause you'll still have an opportunity of getting in to major airlines.(If you don't consider the cost)

You got it, pretty much, the moral of the story is... get your education where ever the heck you want. And worry more about the hours and stuff.

Exactly.

In my opinion that's why cost does become a factor.

This is paramount and why I've decided to pursue a degree through correspondence while I'm working.

School does matter. The fact that Seneca only accepts top of the class students makes the program very demanding and somehow puts you over some other schools regarding student academic and experience. The fact that students are always working hard with too little time off, it's part of the training towards airlines mostly. Seneca students will be more used to stress situations than many students at Sault (for example), thanks to the time consuming and stressful program they' have been under. All pilots are tested to see their performance under stressful situations I consider Seneca students to have a better training on this aspect.No saying what school is better than the rest, just pointing out some aspects that people need to consider.

I'm not a student of any of these aviation colleges, however, lots of research and talking have helped me figure out the pluses and cons of each program.

"The fact that Seneca only accepts top of the class students makes the program very demanding and somehow puts you over some other schools regarding student academic and experience."

Sounds like you'll fit in quite nicely at Seneca.

There are a multitude of pilots flying in all aspects of aviation that have little to no education. Attending a specific school will not make you a better pilot or employee.

You do realize that you will not be hired directly into an airline upon graduating from Seneca? Like the vast majority of low-time pilots in Canada, your first job will be a toss up between working the dock or ramp, instructing or if you're lucky, flying a small piston single or twin as a pilot (or co-pilot) somewhere much further north than Toronto. I hope Seneca can prepare you for this as it can be quite the reality check for most that are unaware of how the Canadian aviation industry works.


As a side note, Confederation College is only a two year diploma program and does not delve into the maths and sciences that Sault or Seneca do. What does make their program exciting, challenging and stressful (at times) is that flight training happens right from day one. Each semester has academic standards to be met but also have flying standards to be met. This is just for your information and not for a proverbial "pissing contest".

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Quote:

" There are a multitude of pilots flying in all aspects of aviation that have little to no education. Attending a specific school will not make you a better pilot or employee. "

The reason that there are many pilots with very little education flying in all aspects of aviation is quite simple.

To be a good pilot and able to make sound judgements does not require any formal education beyond the ability to read and write and some basic math skills.

Conversely, I have run across a few graduates from these college programs with a very dangerous know it all attitude that does not belong in any aircraft cockpit.

Just an observation from an uneducated ordinary airplane driver. :ok:

I agree with you and most of the users in here that education isn't exactly the most important aspect of a pilot. However, you can't deny, it can provides you with better chances of been hire than anyother pilot, with the same flying time as you. Why?, well because you have both the same hours, but you have a better education and you have a degree!! that my friend is the cruel reality. I'm feeling a bit annoyed by people who didn't not study, or were not precisely good at school, and consider themselves better pilots than the ones that actually got a degree.

It seems like I'm always talking to the same person. Everybody says the same over and over again. What's up?, like you don't have anything else to say rather than.."Did you know you won't be hired by an airline after college?" even a 2 year old with no knowledge whatsoever about the industry can say that. That happens in every single job, it's not like aviation is the only one. People like you make everything look impossible, and that's the main reason of why they never get to do anything to be proud of themselves. They expend their failure future on forums like this persuading many, but many people from the aviation path, by making it look impossible.

Off course that attending to an specific school will not make you a better pilot at all, the name of the school, as well as the reputation of the school, does impact on you ability of competing with other pilots, who have the same logged hours as you do, and exactly the same results in the interview. It's like a software engineering graduated from Hardvard University, and a Software Engineering graduated from Confederation College. They both have a degree, but, as a matter of fact thet graduated from Hardvard has way more chances of getting hired.

There's too much negativity coming from frustrated pilot. but again, this is just my opinion, please respect it as I respect other's.

Oh the irony.. (unless of course your mother tongue is not English)

Anyway, I'm not trying to be negative. I'm just providing you with some information and an opinion from someone that went through all these decisions recently.

Good luck with the Seneca entrance exams and all the best with your training in the future.

You got it right, my mother tongue is not English, so I'm sorry for the butchering :oh:. I hope u understand what I tried to say, I was just seeing too much negativity and that happens very often on aviation related forums.
Thank you for wishing me good luck, right now, I'm studying very hard to prepare for those exams..hopefully it will all work out. I'll post again when I get accepted (if I am) so I may help others by giving them information regarding the program.

You need to get a grip man. Seneca isn't harvard! Your first 5-10 years in the industry is going to be very hard on you if you think your superior education is going to open doors for you. What the Navajo or C-185 owner wants is someone who will dig outhouse holes while being destroyed by mosquitoes in the rain, someone that will stay outside in the middle of the night and fix a honda pump when it's -40C. Your absolute crap attitute surely won't help you with those jobs. Not even your Seneca jacket will save you there.

Aviation college does not prepare one for digging outhouses, but that doesn't mean eduation is pointless. Aviation college will however look considerably better on an airline application than digging outhouses does. Embark on your education/training with the long term view...what will achieve the most in the long run. Not what will give you the best chance at fixing a honda generator. Everybody struggles through the first 5-10 years of flying, college educated or not. Those that have gained a degree or diploma will be thankful they did however when it comes time to fill in the boxes on the Air Canada or Westjet hiring form.

I have a college diploma from Con College and while it may have have helped me to get my interview, what got me the job was my experience flying up north. (including digging more outhouse holes than I care to admit too.) I don't care who you are, there is NOTHING like hands and feet experience. On a dark and stormy night I would much rather be sitting beside someone who has been there and done that before, than someone who has spent 2000 hr in the circuit.

I'll be finished my degree in Business Admin in April, and have already been accepted into Sault. I applied to Confederation too, and haven't heard back yet but I think I will get in there too.

I'm kind of leaning towards Confederation, for the Float rating, and also their program is a little shorter and they start flying right away. Do you think a Multi-IFR from Sault would be better?

I'm worried I'm starting this a little late, because I did my degree first. Starting this fall '07 at 23, I'll be 25 or 26 years old by the time I finish (depending if I do Sault or Confed). Do you think my degree will be useless after the aviation college if I can't find a job? Or I'll be too old for building Aviation experience?

cheers

sstaurus: Go for Confederation. I'm 29 and in my final semester there as we speak. Your age will not hinder your chances at an aviation career. CPL pilot with a university degree and an aviation diploma at age 25.. you'll be fine. More than young enough for a long aviation career.. and with your educational background you're set if aviation doesn't work out.

Since you have a BAdmin you should be able to get exemptions from several non-aviation classes like accounting, business law, supervision (HR), English (2 semesters worth) and possibly computers. Depends on what classes you took at university. I was able to secure 7 out of 8 possible exemptions with my previous post-secondary education. Makes focusing on the aviation portion of the program much easier.

Good luck with your decision and PM me if you have any questions.

@Sepia

I'm tired of hearing the same crap over and over again.

"You need to get a grip man. Seneca isn't harvard! Your first 5-10 years in the industry is going to be very hard on you if you think your superior education is going to open doors for you."

My neighbor that knows nothing about the industry knows this.


"What the Navajo or C-185 owner wants is someone who will dig outhouse holes while being destroyed by mosquitoes in the rain, someone that will stay outside in the middle of the night and fix a honda pump when it's -40C"

A what?? a C-185?? English muffins? Digging?

"Your absolute crap attitute surely won't help you with those jobs. Not even your Seneca jacket will save you there."

You are telling me I have a crappy attitude because I think that going to Seneca and getting my licenses and a degree at the same time, will prepare me better if my goal is to fly for an airline, either cargo or pax?

I guess your statement works only when stating you frustrations... I'm sorry if you haven't been able to come up with a plan B for getting out of what the heck you're into right now. But I purely wish you the best of luck, and exhort you to keep improving both your flying skills as well as you persona and education so you can maybe put an end to all this negativity and hate towards other wannabes like myself.

you take care and c ya around

Jazz recruiting direct from college?
 

There is a rumour that Jazz and one other airline are actually going direct to the various aviation training colleges and recruiting direct for their airline.
The question begs, is this true????? and how do feel having a right hand seat with only 250 hrs driving you around in the sky???

Although I wish for that to be true..I don't think it's likely to happen. I first heard about this at avcanada, and the topic caused lots of discussions and debate between users.

airlines having some sort of cadet program are mostlikely to occur in Europe or Asia because of the "lack" of pilots over there. It is indeed very expensive to get a license outside this cadet programs, therefore, airlines create it to reclute their pilots from there. that's why there are airline pilots at Europe with 250TT.

In the other hand, Canada is full of pilots applying for a job at the airlines. Many people over here have licenses because it is relatively cheaper to get licenses than at Europe or Asia. AC have tons of applicants and same with Jazz therefore, I don't see a reason why they need to create a cadet program joint with the airline.

just as a side note...the aviation college was Seneca College


and another side note....:)

I got accepted to Sault and Confederation already...however, I'm waiting for Seneca since it is my first choice.

If you have more info on this "rumour" plzz keep us or me..aware of it..thanks :P