START THE JOURNEY
LICENCES AND PERMITS
Whether you’re looking to fly for fun, or looking to make a career out of flying, youll start by obtaining either a Recreational Pilot Permit (RPP) or a Private Pilot Licence (PPL).
Below, you will find detailed information about each qualification.
Associated times and costs are based on Transport Canada minimum times (CAR 421.220) and are subject to applicable taxes. The actual costs of obtaining the permit will vary with individual student progress. It is recommended that students complete training in as short a time frame as possible to increase retention between lessons. Costs are paid on a per-flight basis and are charged based on flight time. The written exam, flight test, medical, and associated processing fees are not included in these figures.
RECREATIONAL PILOT PERMIT (RPP)
If you are looking to fly solely for pleasure, getting a RPP is a less expensive alternative to obtaining a Private Pilot Licence (PPL).
Overview
- Ideal for those who want to fly for fun, without breaking the bank!
- You can fly a small, single-engine aircraft, and take ONE passenger (even if the plane has more than 2 seats)
- You can fly during the day
- You can fly in good weather conditions (Visual Flight Rules or VFR)
- You can count the training time toward getting your Private Pilot Licence later
Prerequisites
- You must be a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Immigrant
- You must be at least 14 years old to fly solo, and at least 16 years old for the permit to be issued
- You must be able to hold a Category 4 Medical or higher (your doctor can help with this – call the Club for more info!)
Requirements
- You must complete a minimum of 25 hours flight time including 15 hours dual (with an instructor) and 10 hours solo (by yourself!)
- You must pass the Transport Canada Written Exam for the Recreational Pilot Permit
- You must pass the Flight Test for the Recreational Pilot Permit
- Attending Ground School is NOT a requirement, but is highly recommended.
Cost
| Books and Supplies | $345 |
| Aircraft Rental (10 hrs solo) | $2,050 |
| Aircraft Rental (15 hrs dual) | $4,350 |
| Pre/Post-Flight Briefings (15 hrs) | $1,275 |
| Approximate Total Cost | $7,675 +HST |
| Ground School (Optional) | $345 + HST |
PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE (PPL)
If you are looking to fly for pleasure, the PPL is more flexible and gives you more privileges than a RPP.
If you want to fly professionally, getting your PPL is the first step to becoming a career pilot!
Overview
- You can do more with a PPL than with a Recreational Pilot Permit
- You can fly a small, single-engine aircraft, and carry as many passengers as the aircraft is built to hold
- You can add ratings onto your licence, allowing you to fly at night, in bad weather, or to fly more complicated aircraft such as multi-engine aircraft, or seaplanes that land on water
- You can upgrade a PPL into a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and fly for hire, once you meet the requirements
Prerequisites
- You must be a Canadian Citizen, Landed Immigrant, or International Student
- You must be at least 14 years old for solo, 17 years old for issue of licence
- You must be able to hold a Category 3 Medical or higher (an aviation doctor needs to help you with this – call the Club for more information)
Requirements
- You must complete a minimum of 45 hours flight time including 25 hours of dual instruction and 15 hours of solo practice
- You must pass the Transport Canada Written Exam for the Private Pilot Licence
- You must pass the Flight Test for the PPL
- You must complete a minimum of 40 hours ground school instruction
Cost
| Books and Supplies | $345 |
| Ground School Tuition | $345 |
| Aircraft Rental (20 hrs solo) | $4,100 |
| Aircraft Rental (25 hrs dual) | $7,250 |
| Pre/Post-Flight Briefings (15 hrs) | $2,125 |
| Approximate Total Cost | $14,165 + HST |
HOW IT ALL WORKS
Ground school is not the same as the pre- and post-flight briefings that are a part of each flying lesson. Ground school discusses the theoretical elements of being a pilot (weather, air law, performance charts, navigation, and other subjects), whereas your pre-flight briefings are a discussion of the air exercise you will be learning that day.
Ground School may be completed before, during, or after the flying component of your training – but you won’t be issued a licence until it is complete. Visit the Ground School section of our website for more information on sessions.
Flight training consists of dual training, where you fly the aircraft with an instructor, and solo training, where you practice flying the aircraft on your own. Before every flight, you will sit down with your instructor for a pre-flight briefing, covering what exercises are to be taught, weather conditions, and safety concerns. The average training flight is about an hour long, and you will spend most of that time practising exercises that are demonstrated by the instructor. Both you and the instructor have full sets of controls in front of your seats. During the first few flights, the instructor will handle taking off and landing, but you’ll be able to take control once the plane has reached cruise altitude. Just a few lessons after that, you will be learning to take off and land yourself!
Once you are comfortable and safe with the airplane, usually after about 10 of air lessons, your instructor will send you for an experience you will remember for the rest of your life… your first solo flight. It’s just a short flight, but any pilot will tell you that their first solo was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of their life. Before you can go for your first solo you must have:
- obtained your medical,
- passed the radio licence exam, and
- passed the pre-solo (PSTAR) exam.
After you have gone solo, the remainder of your training will be a combination of dual training to learn more advanced drills, and solo flying to practice what you have learned. Once your instructor signs you off, you will complete a practical flight test with an examiner – sort of like a driving test. If you are successful with the flight test and also pass the PPL written exam (PPAER), then you will be issued with your licence.
RECREATIONAL PILOT PERMIT (RPP)
If you are looking to fly solely for pleasure, getting a RPP is a less expensive alternative to obtaining a Private Pilot Licence (PPL).
Overview
- Ideal for those who want to fly for fun, without breaking the bank!
- You can fly a small, single-engine aircraft, and take ONE passenger (even if the plane has more than 2 seats)
- You can fly during the day
- You can fly in good weather conditions (Visual Flight Rules or VFR)
- You can count the training time toward getting your Private Pilot Licence later
Prerequisites
- You must be a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Immigrant
- You must be at least 14 years old to fly solo, and at least 16 years old for the permit to be issued
- You must be able to hold a Category 4 Medical or higher (your doctor can help with this – call the Club for more info!)
Requirements
- You must complete a minimum of 25 hours flight time including 15 hours dual (with an instructor) and 10 hours solo (by yourself!)
- You must pass the Transport Canada Written Exam for the Recreational Pilot Permit
- You must pass the Flight Test for the Recreational Pilot Permit
- Attending Ground School is NOT a requirement, but is highly recommended.
Cost
| Books and Supplies | $345 |
| Aircraft Rental (10 hrs solo) | $2,050 |
| Aircraft Rental (15 hrs dual) | $4,350 |
| Pre/Post-Flight Briefings (15 hrs) | $1,275 |
| Approximate Total Cost | $7,675 +HST |
| Ground School (Optional) | $345 + HST |
PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE (PPL)
If you are looking to fly for pleasure, the PPL is more flexible and gives you more privileges than a RPP.
If you want to fly professionally, getting your PPL is the first step to becoming a career pilot!
Overview
- You can do more with a PPL than with a Recreational Pilot Permit
- You can fly a small, single-engine aircraft, and carry as many passengers as the aircraft is built to hold
- You can add ratings onto your licence, allowing you to fly at night, in bad weather, or to fly more complicated aircraft such as multi-engine aircraft, or seaplanes that land on water
- You can upgrade a PPL into a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and fly for hire, once you meet the requirements
Prerequisites
- You must be a Canadian Citizen, Landed Immigrant, or International Student
- You must be at least 14 years old for solo, 17 years old for issue of licence
- You must be able to hold a Category 3 Medical or higher (an aviation doctor needs to help you with this – call the Club for more information)
Requirements
- You must complete a minimum of 45 hours flight time including 25 hours of dual instruction and 15 hours of solo practice
- You must pass the Transport Canada Written Exam for the Private Pilot Licence
- You must pass the Flight Test for the PPL
- You must complete a minimum of 40 hours ground school instruction
Cost
| Books and Supplies | $345 |
| Ground School Tuition | $345 |
| Aircraft Rental (20 hrs solo) | $4,100 |
| Aircraft Rental (25 hrs dual) | $6,250 |
| Pre/Post-Flight Briefings (15 hrs) | $2,125 |
| Approximate Total Cost | $13,165 + HST |
HOW IT ALL WORKS
Ground school is not the same as the pre- and post-flight briefings that are a part of each flying lesson. Ground school discusses the theoretical elements of being a pilot (weather, air law, performance charts, navigation, and other subjects), whereas your pre-flight briefings are a discussion of the air exercise you will be learning that day.
Ground School may be completed before, during, or after the flying component of your training – but you won’t be issued a licence until it is complete. Visit the Ground School section of our website for more information on sessions.
Flight training consists of dual training, where you fly the aircraft with an instructor, and solo training, where you practice flying the aircraft on your own. Before every flight, you will sit down with your instructor for a pre-flight briefing, covering what exercises are to be taught, weather conditions, and safety concerns. The average training flight is about an hour long, and you will spend most of that time practising exercises that are demonstrated by the instructor. Both you and the instructor have full sets of controls in front of your seats. During the first few flights, the instructor will handle taking off and landing, but you’ll be able to take control once the plane has reached cruise altitude. Just a few lessons after that, you will be learning to take off and land yourself!
Once you are comfortable and safe with the airplane, usually after about 10 of air lessons, your instructor will send you for an experience you will remember for the rest of your life… your first solo flight. It’s just a short flight, but any pilot will tell you that their first solo was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of their life. Before you can go for your first solo you must have:
- obtained your medical,
- passed the radio licence exam, and
- passed the pre-solo (PSTAR) exam.
After you have gone solo, the remainder of your training will be a combination of dual training to learn more advanced drills, and solo flying to practice what you have learned. Once your instructor signs you off, you will complete a practical flight test with an examiner – sort of like a driving test. If you are successful with the flight test and also pass the PPL written exam (PPAER), then you will be issued with your licence.