Flighttraining
 

Hi everybody,

A question: is there anyone out there who has ever done any flying/flighttraining in the Vancouver/Vancouver Island area? Being a Dutch PPL, I'm planning to do flighttraining eventually at the Victoria Flying Club at Victoria airport, Vanc. Island, although I'm considering some other flightschools in the same region as well. Anyone with experiences/suggestions?
Thanks for the answer!

Try Professional IFR out of Boundary Bay ZBB.
A classy outfit run by Mr. John Montgomery.

Pacific Flying Club also in ZBB.

I work out of ZBB. There are seven fixed wing flight schools here. From east to west:
Montair (hangared Cessnas, incl. an aerobat)
Regency Express (Tomahawks and Islander)
Canadian Flight Centre (Piper Cherokees)
Pacific Flying Club (largest fleet, mostly Cessna)
Centennial Flying School (former Cessna Pilot Centre)
MacLeod (C172s, more career instructors than average)
Professional IFR (also do VFR and helicopter)

I've flown with all but one, and know good and bad things about all. E-mail me.

I don't know much about the Victoria school, but I haven't heard anything bad about them, and PFC recently poached a good CFI from them.

Victoria would be a good place to train: an international airport, where you mix it up with the jets, but not as busy as ZBB. And if you can navigate Victoria's runways and taxiways as night, you have a head start on me. :)



[This message has been edited by Luftwaffle (edited 04 January 2001).]

I did my commercial training at the Victoria Flying Club ( VFC ). it is an above average operation with an excellent CFI and manager.
They will do a PPL and CPL and then PRO IFR
(in same building ) will do your IFR. I think Victoria is a better place to learn as it has better weather than the Vancouver area and is not as busy. CZBB has 7 flight training organizations and is an absolute zoo a lot of the time . You should check out VFC's web page.

Boundary Bay is a difficult airport to fly at because of a heavy traffic load. It is a training airport so there are many student pilots in the area all the time. On sunny days you can expect take off delays and may have to hold out of the zone on frequent occaisions.
My experience with Victoria has been a little better mainly because it is not as congested as ZBB.

Try Victoria Flight Training (250)656-0301
at CYYJ. friendly staff and GREAT instructors. contact me for more info.
the GM there was an ex-AF vet. Loads of PRACTICAL flying experience.

All guys: thanks for your comments/suggestions. They were very helpful!

BorneoPilot, couldn't find any e-mail of you, so I'll use this forum. I contacted Vict. Flight Training as well as the Vict. Flying Club, but till now only the latter answered (didn't sound bad, by the way). If you have any tips/experiences regarding Vict. Flight Training, let me know (better than the Flying Club? Differences in price eventually? How are weather conditions over there?). I'm trying to get as much info as I can, because visiting the place in advance is a bit difficult from the other side of the world. Use my e-mail ([email protected])if you like!

CZZB is a good field to fly from in terms of learning all about traffic and tough nut controllers - they don't let much slide. It's busy, but I've never had to sit on the ground for any long (read expensive) amount of time. Great experience for learning how to talk on the radio. Many flight schools to choose from, but PROIFR looks to be the most professional and efficient. Check out Centennial - I think that they have a Dutch instructor, at least that is how it sounds on the radio.

totally different question:
where can I get a school around Victoria/Vancouver that offer JAA ATPL (frozen) ground school?

Pacific Flying Club at ZBB is working on it. They already offer distance learning, for around $3000. Contact Pat Kennedy at 604-946-0011.

I just fixed the phone number, oops.

[This message has been edited by Luftwaffle (edited 20 January 2001).]