Pilots in Canada earn one of the highest salaries plus they are well-respected and reputable wherever they go. If your dream is to become a pilot in Canada, here are 15 flight schools in Canada where you can train to become a pilot. Further details such as fees and application requirements/process on each of the flights were also provided to help you easily navigate the school of your choice in one place.
A flight school, also known as a flying school, pilot training academy, or aviation school, is where individuals are trained to fly aircraft and become seasoned pilots. Students in pilot training programs are taught advanced aviation theory and flying, navigation, and planning skills to commercially operate aircraft for financial compensation or reward.
You stumbled upon this article because you want to become a pilot and you’re here because you are searching for a suitable pilot training program to get the appropriate pilot license.
Your search is over!
The flight schools in Canada can be the best place for you to train as a pilot and earn your license. Whether you are from Canada or not, you can apply for a pilot training academy in Canada and be accepted but if you are an international student, the fees could be high for you but not to worry, there are pilot training scholarships for international students that you can apply for to cut down on the cost of your pilot training fees in Canada.
Since flying schools in Canada are expensive, there is a cheaper alternative which is to go to one of the flight schools in the Philippines, they are cheaper and are also one of the best places in the world to train as a pilot.
Whether you are looking to become a private or commercial pilot, these reputable flight schools in Canada will give you adequate training to become the best. In addition, these schools will prepare you to kick-start a successful career in the aviation industry and offer you expertise and top-notch flight training experience that will make top airlines come for you.
Fortunately, the roles for pilots are not as competitive as in other fields such as healthcare and business, so you do not have to worry about getting a job after graduation because it is a field with a high demand for pilots.
However, flight schools in Canada are competitive so to get a chance, you have to perform excellently in academics, and critical thinking, meet health requirements, and excel in other factors. As you are waiting to get accepted into one of Canada’s flying schools, keep yourself busy with some free online courses on aviation to familiarize yourself with certain flight training terminologies and gain some foundational knowledge of the field before diving in.
In no time, you will complete your pilot training and be well on your way to becoming an accomplished pilot just as you have always dreamt. Pilot schools may be expensive but the ROI is very high, so, go ahead and invest in your future.
How Much is Flight School in Canada?
The cost of flight schools in Canada essentially depends on the license you want to get, below is a breakdown of the cost:
- $18,000 CAD for private pilot starting with no previous experience
- $24,000 CAD to finish a Commercial Pilot License, where both Night Rating and VFR-over-the-Top are included.
- $17,000 CAD for Multi-IFR rating.
Requirements for Flight Schools in Canada
The following are the requirements you need to satisfy to enter an aviation training program in Canada:
- You must have completed high school and earned your diploma, GED, or its equivalent.
- Meet the specified age requirement. Age requirement varies from school to school but it is usually 17 years old
- Fluent English speaking, writing, and reading skills. International students from non-English speaking countries must take the TOEFL, TOEFL, PTE, or any standardized English language proficiency test.
- A medical certificate that tests your hearing, eyesight, coordination, and overall health will be required
- Proof of sufficient funds.
How Long is Flight School in Canada
The duration required to complete flight training in Canada largely depends on the license you want. For the Private Pilot License (PPL), you need to complete a minimum of 45 hours of flight training.
The Commercial Pilot License (CPL) requires a minimum of 200 hours of flight time in airplanes. And if you want the Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), you must complete a minimum of 1500 hours of total flight time of which a minimum of 900 hours must be completed in airplanes.
How To Get Into Flight Schools In Canada
Here is a step-by-step guide to getting into a flight school in Canada:
1. Choosing A Flight School
There are more than 260 flight training schools in Canada offering different flying programs, so, looking for one to attend is not a problem. However, because of how much they are this can pose a problem if you do not plan well. To make it easier, simply curate a list of your preferred flight schools, they don’t have to be much, say 10-15.
After making the list, begin to compare them to find which is best for you, and at the end of the day, the list should be down to 1 or 2.
When comparing, take into account the enrollment requirements, procedures, the pilot training you want to take, the flight instructor-to-student ratio, tuition fee, location, and employment success rate of past graduates. Using these factors as your guide, you should be able to find a suitable flight school.
Some colleges offer aviation programs that will earn you a degree and pilot license. Just in case this is what you want, this will you the opportunity to have the best of both worlds.
2. Choose A Flight Training Option
There are different flight training programs, which are:
- Private Pilot License
- Commercial Pilot License
- Airline Transport Pilot License
While choosing a flight school in Canada to attend, you will also need to pick a flight training program from the list above whose license you want to earn.
Note that each of these licenses comes with different requirements that you must satisfy to be accepted into the respective program and graduate.
3. Meet Flight School Requirements
I mentioned earlier that there are different flight schools with different requirements and procedures. These requirements are used to evaluate students and accept or reject them. I have provided a list of the basic requirements but you may want to contact your preferred flight school or aviation college in Canada to learn about specific entry requirements.
4. Prepare Your Application
At this point, you must have chosen one or two preferred flight schools, selected which of the flight training options you wish to go for, and contacted your preferred schools to learn about their requirements. The next step would be to start preparing your application to apply for the flight school.
Typically, flight schools in Canada provide application details on their websites for everyone to see. The process of application should also be there including where to apply which is usually online, how to apply, and the deadline for application. An essay may be required so take your time and prepare an engaging application and apply early too.
These are the steps to getting into a flight school or aviation college in Canada. Further below is a curated list of details about some of the flight schools in Canada, from the discussed list, you can easily compare and contrast which of the flight training schools you will be attending and save yourself the stress of compiling the list.
12 Flight Schools in Canada And Their Fees
The following is a list of flight training academies in Canada with their details further below to help you learn how they operate and find which one suits you best.
- Canadian Flight Academy
- Winnipeg Aviation Flight Training
- Aeolus Flight Academy
- Canadian Aviation College
- MFC Training
- Seneca School of Aviation
- Canadian Flight Center
- Brampton Flight Center
- Island Air Flight Schools & Charters
- Coastal Pacific Aviation
- Vancouver Aviation College
- Tillsonburg Flying School
1. Canadian Flight Academy
If you are looking to enter a flight school in Canada that has been in the flight training business for a long time, then the Canadian Flight Academy should be at the top of your list. It has been operating since 1963 and is owned by Toronto Airways Inc. The academy offers a professional training program that offers an Airline Transport Pilot License.
There are also general training programs that consist of Private Pilot License and Commercial Pilot License, they cost $399 and $599 respectively. There are also several Rating programs that the academy offers.
2. Winnipeg Aviation Flight Training
This is another flight training school in Canada with long years of experience. With more than 45 years in the flight training business and having trained a large number of private and commercial pilots, the Winnipeg Aviation Flight Training has what it takes to train and develop you into a professional pilot.
The institution offers several courses in Commercial Pilot License, Aerobics Training, Night Training, Private Pilot License, Seaplane Rating, Multi-Engine Rating, Recreational Pilot Permit, Single Engine Instrument Rating, and many others. Whichever way you want to become a pilot or enhance your pilot skills and techniques, this school has got it all.
Each of these courses has its specific requirements and cost, you can see a breakdown here.
3. Aeolus Flight Academy
Aeolus Flight Academy aims to offer every one of her students excellent training toward a pilot license and make an easy transition from flight training to the pilot in command. It is a new flight training school founded in 2018, which means that the environment will still be new and the instructors must be armed with the latest flight training techniques.
Aeolus offers training in Recreational Pilot Permits, Private Pilot Licenses, and Ratings and specialty Training. The academy also has an online ground school. The cost of each of the courses varies, you will have to contact the school via email to get the details.
4. Canadian Aviation College
The Canadian Aviation College offers approved training programs in Night Rating, Instructor Rating, Recreational Pilot Permit (RPP), Private Pilot License (PPL), Commercial Pilot License, (CPL), and many others. If you are looking to become a professional pilot or enhance your skills, this college has programs that are suitable for you.
If you are also looking to become a flight attendant, the Canadian Aviation College also offers the program as well as other academic programs in Flight Dispatching, Aviation English and Communication, IATA – Airline Cabin Crew Training, and English as a Second Language. These are other programs aside from pilot training courses.
5. MFC Training
MFC Training is the oldest flight training school on this list and the most advanced too, well, it would be advanced given its many years of flight training operations. MFC began flight training operations in 1929, almost a century old, and is still operating to date. Over time, it has grown to be one of the largest and most experienced pilot training schools in Canada.
Annually, more than 350 commercial pilots graduate from MFC and go on to work with some of the top airlines in the world. Aside from typical training programs like CPL, RPP, PPL, Instrument Rating (IR), etc. MFC also offers professional programs in Integrated Commercial Pilot Courses (ICPC), BSc/B. Comm in Aviation (IATP), and Diploma in Aviation Technology.
The tuition fee varies by course but international students pay the same as domestic students.
6. Seneca School of Aviation
This is one of the leading aviation schools in Canada with global prestige for its quality graduates, expert faculty, and strong industry partnerships. Whatever role you want to pursue in the aviation industry, from airline operations and safety management to quality assurance, this school boasts of equipping you with the skills to make you a professional in the industry.
Seneca School of Aviation offers degree and diploma programs. An Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology, Advanced Diploma in Aviation Safety, and Diploma in Aviation Operations. International students are also welcome to apply.
7. Canadian Flight Center
Canadian Flight Center is another flight training school in Canada that you may want to add to your list. The center offers a rigorous 3-year Airline Pilot Diploma program for individuals who want to become an airline pilot, this is the best place for you. There are also professional pilot programs and single or multi-IFR rating courses available.
8. Brampton Flight Center
Brampton Flight Center is a flight training school in Canada that I’d urge international students to put at the top of their list. So far on this list, it is the only flight school in Canada that gives a lot more preference to international students. They are charged the same fee as domestic students, with no extra fees, and they also offer them scholarships to help them fund their flight training programs.
Also, as an international student who has trained here, you could be hired to work with them.
9. Island Air Flight Schools & Charters
The Island Air Flight Schools & Charters is equipped with 14 training aircraft and this is an advantage because you get the opportunity to learn about and be able to pilot this many aircraft during your training. They offer training in Private Pilot License and a few advanced ratings including night endorsement and multi-engine training.
There are very few aviation training programs or courses here but its advantage, which I stated earlier, covers it.
10. Coastal Pacific Aviation
Coastal Pacific Aviation began offering flight training courses in 1974 and is still operating to date. They offer aviation degrees and accelerated professional pilot programs. If you want to pilot a program that you can finish faster, then you should consider coming to Coastal Pacific Aviation.
Another advantage of the school is that it has a fleet of 20 aircraft, 8 simulators, and a team of 20 professional instructors. All of these are at your disposal to offer you the best flight training experience in Canada.
11. Vancouver Aviation College
Vancouver Aviation College is an accredited flight training unit in Canada located in Greater Vancouver, Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. The institute offers PPL, CPL, IR, and Flight Instructor Rating programs to students to ensure they are prepared in the best possible way for their aviation careers.
To be admitted, you must be 19 years of age or older or carry a high school diploma. The application fee for domestic students is $250 and $800 for international students. The tuition fee is $3,900, course materials are $500, and textbook is $500. Vancouver Aviation College has a rolling intake so you can start your program at any time of the year.
12. Tillsonburg Flying School
Tillsonburg Flying School has it all, you name it. From ground school and PPL to IR and recreational pilot permit. This is where you want to be if you want to become a seasoned pilot and their prices are affordable.
Conclusion
And just like I promised earlier, there are 12 flight schools in Canada that you can compare with others to find one that is suitable for you. There is no need to dig all over the internet for aviation training schools in Canada, the list right here should serve you just well. So, start applying and be one step closer to achieving your dream!
FAQs
Is Canada good for flight training?
Canada is one of the best places for flight training, it has some of the best training schools and facilities with modern air traffic control systems. Also, the Canadian Aviation License is one of the most recognized pilot licenses.
What is the cheapest flight school in Canada?
CEGEP of Chicoutimi is the cheapest flight school in Canada, actually, flying here is free but it is very selective. Out of 400 applications, they take 40 students. Also, you have to take all the other courses including Physics, French, English, Philosophy, and all the other courses to obtain a DEC (Diplome d’Étude Collégial) which takes 3 years to complete.
You will end up with 250 hours with a rating either in bush, helicopter, or airline with multiengine and instrument rating.
There are a few schools like Chicoutimi, for instance in Saint-Hubert near Montréal, and another in British Colombia. I believe also one in Ontario.
What is the salary of pilots in Canada?
According to Glassdoor, the base pay range of pilots in Canada ranges from $95K – $144K/yr
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