Earning Your Private License

There are two elements to the Private Pilot training program -ground school and flight training.

Ground school is where you will learn about the theory of flight, aviation law, weather, navigation and much more. Classes are held at our facility in Boundary Bay. Click here for an updated ground school schedule. A good student will plan on spending at least 4 hours a week studying at home as well. By the time you have finished your ground school classes (a process which takes about two months), you will be well prepared to take the written examination administered locally by Transport Canada.

You can begin your flight training before starting ground school, but we strongly urge you to begin classes as soon as possible. The knowledge gained will make you more comfortable in the aircraft when you are working on in-flight elements of your training. Also, knowledge from ground school will be required by midway through your in-flight training.

Flight training is where you will spend most of your training hours. You will hear two terms relating to flight time: solo and dual. Dual flying is when you are flying with an instructor, and solo is when you are flying by yourself. All your early flights will be dual. Your instructor will work through each lesson with you, guiding you through each flight’s objectives.

As your training progresses, a little more responsibility will be handed over to you on each flight. When you are ready, you will execute a flight from beginning to end with your instructor simply watching. Then one of your training’s most memorable moments will come, when your instructor will send you off for your first solo.

At this point your training will focus on honing your skills, and refining procedures. From in-flight navigation to developing the professionalism and decision-making abilities required of any pilot, you will learn many valuable skills. Soon you will be ready for your next milestone: your cross country trip.

Before finishing your training for your private license, you will embark on a trip of at least 150 nautical miles. You will navigate to and land at many airports that are new to you, applying the knowledge that you have worked hard to attain. This flight is a great adventure and an excellent learning opportunity.

Following this flight, you will spend a little more dual time putting the final polish on your skills before taking your practical flight test. This flight will assess your ability to perform each of the skills and procedures that you have learned.

Once you have passed your written exam and your flight test, you will be one of the proud family of men and women that have made aviation a part of their life: you will be a Private Pilot!


Click here for Private Pilot course fees.

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