Hour Building (Canada)
 

Can anyone help me? I'm toying with the idea of taking a year out in Canada to build hours etc.
Firstly, does anyone know how many hours you need to have before you can take a Canadian CPL?
Second, how much does it cost? ( approx)
Thirdly, Is there many opportunities to earn money from light aviation in Canada? i would assume that there was, because of how remote many settlements etc are from major cities and towns, but if you know otherwise, please set me straight!

Lastly, if anyone has any contact numbers or websites, i'd really appreicate it

I am a British flight Instructor out here in Canada. Drop me a line on [email protected] and I will answer your questions.

W.O.

I can recommend Canada as a sound alternative for hour building purposes over the USA, though I have to say I don't know how it would work with regards to renting aircraft with a foreign (UK) PPL. Probabaly have to write the PSTAR (rules & regs, arimanship etc) and do a few other exams/checkouts). No doubt Xenon can fill you in on such matters.

One thing to bare in mind with regards to getting a Canadian CPL is that it can only be used in Canada, and to work in Canada, you need a work visa or right to work in Canada (e.g. maybe you were born here, or a parent is Canadian etc.). Obtaining a work visa is a lentghy and costly process and they are only issued to people who have a skill set that is in demand in Canada, and I doubt a bush pilot is one of those areas in demand. Don't get me wrong there is a need for Bush pilots but, and I believe I am correct in saying, there is not a shortage of them, or other commercial pilots, though I seem to recall seeing airline pilot on such a list many years ago - but don't quote me on that !! Generally most people progress onto a CPL after obtaining their PPL, so I'm not sure on how many hours you need before beginning down that route, again, no doubt Xenon will have the answers. For licence requirements you can check out the Transport Canada web site CARS 421.30
http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/regserv...21e.htm#421_30

Similarly, drop me a line or post again if you have any other queries.

Cheers,
CG.

hey there,
well I used to fly in the U.S. and now I'm over in Toronto, and well.... there are quiet a few flight schools here, but I've seen them all, and Brampton flight club seems to be the most proffessional and the best one I've seen so far in the country, they have a very informal, yet professional attitude and staff,
web site is www.bramfly.com
any other questions e-mail me on [email protected]
the rates are pretty competitve to, and its only 15 mins from Toronto International(Pearson)
g'luck
:)

[ 24 October 2001: Message edited by: ashwin ]

Whiskey Oscar,

I am an experienced flight instructor based 30 minutes east of Toronto. We have had a number of students come over from the UK who have trained with us, some of which have been hired as flight instructors in the past. Email me if you wish and I will provide you with our very competitive rates as well as information about training in Canada.

Cheers.
([email protected])

Above all true, BUT- any savings that you appear to accrue by building the time on Canadian aircraft will disappear when you move back to the EU as the conversion back to a JAA licence (from Canadian) runs around $30-40K CDN.

If your plans are to permanently immigrate to Canada the toughest part will be the work VISA as there is currently a vast oversupply of pilots here. Low time pilots either work near big cities as flight instructors, or move up to northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, or in the Northwest Territories to find ramp/dock and (hopefully) subsequent charter flying work.

50 hrs on floats is the bare minimum for entry level floatplane jobs. 12-18 months on the ramp as a loader is the typical minimum for promotion to a small twin cojo at companies that do that sort of thing. 1000TT is the typical minimum to see any turbine equipment, there are exceptions of course.

The mail/fax/phone and wait method is 100% ineffective here. Your best bet is to target a small city with a few charter companies, get a job pumping gas, and bug all the chief pilots daily! Good luck!

Oh ya, here are some links to Canadian forums:
http://www.canadianaviation.com/foru...ultimatebb.cgi
http://www.syz.com/avcanada/forums/

Dockjock,

I thought that credit would be given to hours previoulsy accumulated in a non-JAA state. When students are going to the USA for hour building, are they doing it through an approved JAA flight training school ??

From the JAR FCL website, it states that credit will be given to the holder of equivalent licences from non-JAA states, by reducing the number of hours required to obtain a licence/rating etc.

I don't know that the requirements are for a JAA multi rating, but as you may know, here in Canada there is no minimum hour requirement for a multi rating. If you can prove to an instructor that you are capable of safely handling the plane and can demonstrate flight test standards, then you can be recommended for a flight test. The time it takes to reach this standard varies from student to student, suffice it to say, that if JAA implement a similar approach, then guess what ?? you could in theory fly one lesson with an JAR instructor and then be immediately recommended for a flight test, and hence get a multi covnersion at minimum cost in the EU !!

Of course I may be way off base here. Perhaps JAA require a minimum number of hours dual - no doubt someone will put me right, if I am wrong. :confused:

Thanks for all the advice guys, it's been really helpful. In light of what's been said here, I think my best course of action may be to plan a visit in the near future to build some hours, and just leave it at that for now.

WO

Flying in Canada (hour building)
 

I'm looking at doing some hour building in Canada (better than flying round Florida for me) and would welcome any suggestions on:

- is a UK PPL valid there or do I need to convert?

- any suggestions where is good to hire from and good areas to fly in for some useful hour building.

Cheers
Aged

Canada Hours Building
 

Hi aged,

I'm leaving in 2 weeks to do my hrs building, CPL and FI in Canada. I have already visited the school where I am doing it and will happily pass on the info I have. Just email me at [email protected] as I don't want to advertise on this Forum.

Basically,

No Visa required if you are British
Valid ICAO PPL and medical is fine
Solo in a C152 about £33 per hour inc. fuel,ins,headset etc!
£100 dual in a light twin!!!

WHY ARE PEOPLE INSISTING ON HOURS BUILDING IN THE US?

Canada is less hassle and cheaper :D :D :eek:

Offer of info applies to anyone else interested.

Cheers

grundog

Is there anywhere in Canada you can do a UK CAA-approved JAR CPL course? I didn't think there is - if there is, I'd definitely be very interested to hear more details. (By private message or e-mail would be fine if you don't want to publish details on the forum.)

Thanks,

FFF
---------------

A UK PPL is fine you'll need a foreign licence validation from Transport Canada (Canadian CAA) at a cost of 40 Canadian Dollars (I think). It takes about 45 minutes to arrange if you drop by one of their offices and lasts for a year. A Canadian Limited Time PPL can be obtained which lasts for 3 months I think and is slightly cheaper.

As for areas to fly, I did mine out West. I rented an IFR C-172 (I) from an outfit in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver (£43ph wet on average) and toured through the Canadian Rockies and Prairies.

You can get a Canadian PPL issued on the basis of your CAA/JAA PPL if you sit the PSTAR (Airlaw) exam and pay Transport Canada 55 Canadian Dollars. You will also need evidence of your 150nm qualifying cross-country route (take a CAA chart).

As mentioned above you need an ICAO Medical (UK class 3 is ok). If you intend to try and gain a Canadian PPL, you will either need the original medical form your doctor filled out before granting a class 3 or you'll be obliged to do a Canadian Medical (approx 100 Canadian). Getting a Canadian PPL can be a pain but it’s a nice way to finish off if you intend going back on a regular basis.

Apart from that have fun it's a beautiful country and if you fly out West you'll learn a lot about mountain flying.

Cheers
GF

JAA in Ca
 

I'm afraid I don't know anywhere that is doing a JAA approved course at the moment in Canada. I have heard rumours of one but have never found it. I know that at least one is considering looking into JAA licenses.
I'm doing the Ca CPL and planning to stay out there.
Email me if you need anymore info.

Cheers

grundog

Ah, thanks grundog. Your profile says UK, so I assumed you were doing a JAR CPL - my mistake.

FFF
---------------

I don't want to tell anyone how to suck eggs, but if you do end up going to Canada as GF did, be very careful if you do try to fly in the Rockies. I flew SAR for the CAF out of Namao and spent my fair share of time looking for guys who crashed because they did not know what they were doing.
I recommend taking a short mountain flying course run by one of the flight schools before trying it on your own. Just some friendly advice.
Fly safe

Appreciated, a valid point.

Hi guys,

No school in Canada is offering JAA licences, even PPL. However, one school in Québec is actually advertising a program which offers a combine CAA/JAA ATPL but the JAA training is made in Switzerland where you must stay for 3 months.

For more info www.cargair.com

Cheers,

Well I'm out here doing some hour building at the moment and it is a fantastic place to do it. I have done the Florida thing and this is so much better. The cold is obviously the major disadvantage, but as far as I'm concerned it is something that has added to my flying skills. Since I've been out here also done a float rating course which again was great. There is some fantastic scenery out here.

I already had a UK fAtpl etc and so I'm just getting mine converted in the hope of getting some work out here as it is what I have always wanted to do.

I am presently looking to fly an apache to boost my Multi IFR time P1 and it is gonna cost ca$170 per hour.

Costs on the C152 sounds about right. There are no landing or approach fees to pay except at some airports like the Toronto city centre one. The other day flew into Ottawa International and landed on 12000 feet worth of runway for free!!! I'll never get over this free landings business!!

Email me if you want to ask anything I'm sure I can help.

FS

Mmmmmmmm
 

saudipc-9 ..... excellent advice. Things can go pear shaped very quickly in the Rockies.

Flyingspaniard, you're right to an extent, no ldg or appch fees expect a few like CYTZ and CYYZ, however, I'm curious as Ottawa (CYOW) has been charging ldg fees since Spring/Summer of this year. The Ottawa Flying Club charges $3.00 per flight to cover this (i.e. you could do 1.5 hrs of circuits and still only be charged $3.00). Also, are you sure it's $170 ph for the Seneca, if so I'd say that's an excellent deal, especially for T.O. I'm assuming that's solo rent as well. Not wanting to sound pedantic as well, but the longest rwy at YOW is 32/14 and it's 10,000' ..... sorry couldn't resist ! ;)

Cheers,
C.G.:)