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1. FLYING
1.1 Time:
The length and time it takes to complete the Private Pilot Licence is subject to each individual student. The determining factor is how often you can fly.
There are a minimum number of hours required for the Private Pilot Licence being 45hours. If a person can fly at least 3-4 times a week and be trained up to Transport Canada Flight Test Standards in 45hrs to 55 hrs; 5-6 months would be a good estimate of time. We at the Edmonton Flying Club have the resources necessary for a student to finish much quicker if they are so motivated
1.2 Difficulty:
It is not terribly difficult to learn to fly. Everyone learns at their own pace so as long as a person studies and works hard anyone can learn to fly.
People who are coordinated in there hand, feet movements tend to find the flight training portion easier, whereas people who have received higher education tend to find the ground portion easier. No matter which category you fall into, our experience has shown that if you work and study hard, you will succeed.
1.3 Personal Aircraft:
If a person has their own aircraft, then by all means they can use it for their training. For more information contact the EFC General Manager.
We usually require a letter from your aircraft insurance broker/underwriter agreeing to list the EFC in their policy, also holding the EFC Harmless from any claims.
1.4 Schedule:
With the size of our fleet, number of instructors and state of the art online booking system, scheduling lessons has never been easier. Within a few days of signing up you can have your flying schedule completed for the next 6 months right from your home internet connection.
We do not recommend that you schedule more than one training flight per day. People often forget that they still need to do a lot studying after there flight and before their next flight.
1.5 Danger:
The most dangerous part of flying is still the drive to the airport. Flying, whether it is in a large or small plane is still the safest mode of transportation. Most incidents are attributed to pilot error not mechanical. Since the EFC is a commercially
licensed operator by Transport Canada all our aircraft are inspected every 50hrs, 100hrs and 200hrs, with each inspection becoming more in depth than the previous.
1.6 Time of Year
Flight training is done year round with each season having its own advantage and disadvantages.
The winter season offers very dense and stable air causing the aircraft to perform better and with next to no turbulence. The downfall is of course the lack of daylight hours.
The summer time provides us with an abundance of daylight but we also end up with a couple of days a week with high winds and turbulence which are not conducive to the learning environment.
1.7 Please see course outline
2. CLASSROOM
2.1 Private Pilot License Ground School :
The Edmonton Flying Club has just completed a revamp of the Private Pilot Licence Ground School. We have again raised the bar, we are now offering a comprehensive 110hr ground school over the course of 6 months for virtually the same price as our competitors whose ground school lasts only 40-50 hrs.
You will be given a detailed course outline, each topic will have the required page for reading ahead before coming to the evening class.
All Ground school classes are in the evening, at the EFC. Running from 6:30pm till 9:30pm. Monday & Wednesday.
2.2 Study Time:
Ground School moves along at a very steady pace. Student should allow for every hour of classroom time to spend at the very least 2 hours studying at home.
2.3 Ground School Enrollment:
You can enroll for ground school at different points throughout the year, for start times see ground school schedule.
2.5 Absenteeism:
With the new ground school format students will have the ability to “catch up” on classes that they miss fairly easily. As long as the student covers the required reading and the exams and quiz for any given class, they can move right along and not be caught behind.
2.6 Alberta Learning:
Being registered with Alberta Learning (Provincial Ministry of Education) allows the EFC students an opportunity to apply for student loans for their Commercial Pilot Licence training. Application forms are available at the EFC Dispatch.
3. EDUCATION
3.1 Pre-requisites:
Contrary to what many people believe there is no education pre-requisite for obtaining your Private licence. For your Commercial Pilots licence and other ratings though, a valid Private licence is required before you could start training on any one of those courses.
3.2 Diplomas:
In partnership with Grant MacEwan College (GMC) and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) you can earn a diploma in Management Studies Aviation Management Major or a diploma in Aviation respectively. With GMC, when you enroll in their Management Studies program you will receive college credits for your flight training just the same with the regular college courses. With NAIT you must have your Private Pilot licence before you enroll. Once you enroll, the program then prepares you for your Commercial Pilots Licence through courses that deal specifically with aviation. For more information contact either GMC of NAIT through our links page here
3.3 Degrees:
Upon completion of Grant MacEwan Management Studies Aviation Management Major you can then apply to University of Lethbridge and spend 2 more years earning your Degree in Management. Please note that University of Lethbridge does have a campus here in Edmonton.
4. LIMITATIONS
4.1 Age Limitations:
Virtually the only age restriction to receiving your Private Licence is you must be at least 17 years of age; for your Commercial Licence it is 18 years of age. As far as the medical is concerned, once a person is past 40 years of age then all that happens is their medical must be renewed more often.
4.2 Licence Privileges and Limitations:
Each license/rating has its own set of privileges and limitations. The Private license will allow you to rent our aircraft for your own personal use. With a Private license you can also add different types of ratings to it like a night rating or a multi engine rating or you can upgrade to a Commercial license in order eventually to be employed as a pilot or just to better your training.
4.3 Eyesight and Health:
Whether a person wears glasses or not is usually not as important as many people think. As long as you have 20/30 corrected vision with prescription lenses, you should be able to obtain the required medical for your Private Licence. For questions regarding the aviation medical
or to schedule one click here for a list of approved medical examiners in the Edmonton area.
4.4 Hours of Operation:
Our normal hours of operations are Mon. thru Fri. 0700am-0600pm however we have at least one member of staff here 0700am-0900pm 7 days a week (we may close earlier due to weather)
5. FINANCIAL
5.1 Cost:
The total cost of flight training is estimated from an hourly rate depending on the individual student.
If you can be trained up to Transport Canada standards in 45 hours then you’re looking at
a cost of about $9500 including all fees respectively.
Keep in mind that your costs will depend on your personal effort and progress during your training.
Please see our current current rates and minimum cost sheet.
5.2 Financing:
Because we are registered with Alberta Learning you may apply for a student loan for your Commercial training after completion of the Private licence. Application forms for the student loans are available at the Edmonton Flying Club front desk.
5.3 Scholarships:
The Edmonton Flying Club has two scholarships available to students, the Melling Scholarship and the Edmonton Flight College Foundation Scholarship.
5.3.1 The Melling Scholarship is open to all Private and Commercial students who completed their respective course in the past year. The pre-requisites for the Melling Scholarship are decided each year by the Melling trustees who pass that information to the Edmonton Flying Club who will then distribute the scholarship. There is no application process.
5.3.2 The Edmonton Flight College Foundation (EFCF) Scholarship is available to students who have completed a Private or Commercial licence as well as an IFR or Instructor rating. To apply for this scholarship each student must prepare a cover letter attached to official test scores (flight and written) to be handed in to the Edmonton Flying Club before the designated deadline. Specific details are available at the dispatch counter as they may change from year to year.
6. EFC
6.1 Advantages:
The Edmonton Flying Club has always prided itself on being a full service flight training unit. This means that as a student/member you are never expected to fuel, move or clean the aircraft; we have paid personnel to do it for you. All our planes are kept in a heated hangar and, during the winter, are brought outside as needed for bookings.
Making bookings to build your flying schedule is a breeze with our online booking system. From any internet connection you can create your personal flying schedule for the next 6 months. This system also keeps track of your hours, notifies you of when something is coming due (ie: medical) and keeps you in touch with what’s happening at the club.
6.2 Location:
The Edmonton Flying Club is seated at a prime location for training. It is located in central Edmonton near the downtown core just off Kingsway Ave. This gives us easy access for people all over the Edmonton area. As for flight training we are also centrally located relative to other airports and air spaces giving our students very well rounded training.
6.3 Alumni:
At any given time you can find someone at the club who has been a member here for 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years. This is what gives our club that “club” atmosphere.
6.4 Fleet:
As for a fleet we have three Diamond DA-20 Eclipses, three Cessna C-152’s (2
seats) and two Cessna C-172’s (4 seats) that we use for Private and Commercial
training along with our Diamond Twinstar DA-42 multi engine/multi engine IFR training. Because of the size of our fleet combined with our 7 instructors and our online booking system, availability to meet your schedule shouldn’t be a problem.
6.5 Maintenance:
To ensure that minimal time is lost due to mechanical issues and inspections, the Edmonton Flying Club employs its own maintenance engineers who oversee these items so they are completed promptly and properly. This means less time wasted and more time flying. To keep the club atmosphere our maintenance staff have always been very friendly and approachable people who are happy to answer student’s questions and address their concerns.
6.6 Annual Events:
The Edmonton Flying Club Wings Banquet is an annual formal event where we honor students who have completed a licence or rating in the past year. All members past and present are invited making this a premiere event.
For annual events we also have what’s called an air rally. This is where
licensed and student pilots alike compete against each other in a number of air exercises then ending the day with a barbeque and then a “hangar party” with a DJ.
6.7 Fixed Based Operator:
For those of you who have your own aircraft, we are pleased to let you know we offer full services to outside aircraft as well as our own. Whether its fuel, hangar storage/warm up or cleaning, we do it here at the Edmonton Flying Club.
7. Competition
7.1 Location:
The central location of the Edmonton Flying Club is ideal for people living in or near the Edmonton area. Other clubs and flight schools tend to be on the far outskirts of the city. As for flight training, flying out of Edmonton City Center Airport offers an experience in a high air traffic setting which aids in giving students the confidence they need to comfortably fly into any airport, no matter how busy or remote it may be. The Edmonton Flying Club, based at Edmonton City Center Airport, is the optimal place to maximize your experiences while you train.
7.2 Fleet Size:
Having a larger fleet means easier scheduling for students. The Edmonton Flying Club has the largest fleet in the Edmonton area. We have a total of 10 aircraft to use for training vs. the 3-4 aircraft our competitors have.
7.3 Services:
The Edmonton Flying Club is a full service club. Our students are never expected to move, fuel, or clean our aircraft. Other schools require students to perform these tasks every flight which can waste valuable flying time. Whether its 20°C or -20°C our courteous staff ensure that your plane is ready to go when you are.
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