Wings Magazine

Careers in Aviation Aviation This Week
College Flight and Operational programs

Canadian college options by province


January 16, 2019  By Wings Staff


YUKON

Yukon College | Whitehorse
The Aviation Management diploma program at Yukon comprises a block transfer of pilot training credentials earned at Alkan Air (or other recognized flight schools) that equals one year or 30 credits and an additional 30 credits earned at Yukon. Students are expected to earn a Commercial Pilot License while concurrently earning academic credits. However, students may enter the program with some pilot training (a Private Pilot License, for example) or a completed commercial license.

Students may complete the ground school and flight training component of the Aviation Management diploma in a flexible manner. The majority of ground school courses occur during the evening at Alkan Air and flight training must take place during daylight hours (exception is night time flight training). All flight training components are organized directly with Alkan Air Flight School. Students receive a Diploma of Aviation Management after completing Transport Canada’s Commercial Pilot License, Yukon First Nation core competency, a total of 10 academic courses (30 credits) over a two-year period, as well as a 40-hour, non-credit course in Advanced Wilderness and Remote First Aid/CPR-C.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

British Columbia Institute of Technology | Burnaby
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is partnered with Pacific Flying Club to provide students with the skill set to become airline pilots. The program is fully integrated, combining flight training with industry focused academic training. Flight training for fixed-wing aircraft is conducted at Pacific Sky Aviation’s flight school at Boundary Bay Airport, outside of Vancouver. Rotary-wing flight training, for those interested in becoming helicopter pilots, is provided by Chinook Helicopters in Abbotsford.

BCIT’s Airport Operations diploma program is designed for the demands of airport operation environments. The 16-month Airport Operations program provides students with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program of study. BCIT also offers an online Airport Operations Part-time studies Associate Certificate.

College of New Caledonia | New Caledonia
The College of New Caledonia provides an Aviation Business diploma program, which accepts applications for continuous intake. The program is designed to provide trained single engine VFR pilots for entry-level pilot in command positions with Canada’s northern air carriers and with similar air taxi companies operating in difficult conditions around the world.

The program centers around a PilotPlus approach to providing a supply of pilots to Canada’s northern air carrier industry. If taken in the minimum possible time, the ABD is a five semester program running over 24 months, with a four month break between semesters two and three. The program includes all training for both the Private and Commercial pilot licenses and float rating, as well as 13 university level business courses. In addition to pilot positions within commercial, business, military and police avation, the school’s diploma program also provides skills for managerial positions, air traffic control services, aviation marketing and sales, and aviation entrepreneurship.

Douglas College | New Westminster
Douglas College’s Associate of Arts Degree for Future Professional Pilots is a program for students who wish to continue to a career in the aviation industry. This program is jointly offered with Professional Flight Centre, located at Boundary Bay Airport in Delta. Douglas provides the academic instruction leading to the Associate of Arts Degree and Professional Flight Centre provides the ground and flying instruction with enough flight experience to obtain a Commercial Pilot License and Multi-engine Instrument Rating.

Students need to apply to both Douglas College and the Professional Flight Center. The Associate of Arts portion at Douglas College consists of 60 credits of University Transfer courses which are mainly offered within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The recommended courses have relevance to the aviation industry. Students graduate with an Associate of Arts degree.

Okanagan College | Kelowna
The Commercial Aviation diploma program at Okanagan College consists of two distinct and separate areas of study: flight training and business studies. The business portion is completed at Okanagan College and normally consists of two business courses per semester for a total of eight courses over two years. The flight-training portion taken with Southern Interior Flight Centre, out of Kelowna Airport, and consists of flight training, theory and exams. Southern Interior Flight School offers graduating students the opportunity to become flight school instructors.


ALBERTA

Red Deer College | Red Deer
Red Deer College’s (RDC) partnership with Sky Wings Aviation Academy combines a foundation in business with flight training. The 1-year Certificate program holds its business management courses at the Donald School of Business. Sky Wings Aviation Academy is located in Penhold, Alberta, near Red Deer and halfway between Calgary and Edmonton. Sky Wings states its students can expect a wide variety of flying conditions during their training. Flight training is provided approximately ten minutes from the RDC campus at Red Deer Regional Airport. Sky Wings Aviation Academy has providing flight training since 1982. Highlights of the Aviation Diploma Program include a trans-continental flight crossing the Canadian/U.S. border, familiarization training for a regional or national airline and crew resource management. Most RDC courses are university transferable.


SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan Polytechnic | Saskatoon
The Saskatchewan Polytechnic is a member of Polytechnics Canada, an alliance of 11 research-intensive, industry-responsive post-secondary institutions. The Polytechnic’s Commercial Pilot program is offered in partnership with the Saskatchewan Aviation Council, a membership-based association. The Commercial Pilot diploma program provides a strong foundation in the basic principles of aviation. Students study aviation-related topics such as the theory of flight, advanced aircraft systems and flight. Flight training takes place at a student’s home flying school.


ONTARIO

Algonquin College | Ottawa
Algonquin College’s Aviation Management is a two-year diploma program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to become a commercial pilot. Through a series of classroom courses and practical labs, students have the opportunity to complete the Transport Canada Commercial Pilot Licence written examination (CPAER) and practical flight test. Algonquin has contracted the Ottawa Flying Club and Ottawa Aviation Services to provide up to 250 hours of flight time experience.

During the final term, students can select one of the following areas of specialization: flight instructor, Initial Airplane Type Rating (IATRA) or seaplane rating. Flight Training is a non-funded activity and is an additional cost to complete this program of study. The program also offers practical skills that enhance employment opportunities, such as fuel handling, aircraft handling, winter operations, cockpit resource management, maintenance skills and dispatching. First year courses run from September to June and Flight Training continues throughout the Spring/Summer term. Upon graduation, students receive an Ontario College Diploma in General Arts and Science, with concentration in Aviation Management.

Conestoga College | Kitchener
Conestoga provides the opportunity to earn an Ontario College Diploma in its two-year Aviation, General Arts and Science, program. The pilot training portion of the program provides students with a choice between flying airplanes at Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre or flying helicopters at Great Lakes Helicopter. Training takes place at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. In addition to the regular Conestoga College tuition costs, fees for the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre and Great Lakes Helicopter training are additional. The pilot training of Conestoga program is designed to allow students to undertake the Transport Canada commercial pilot license testing.

Confederation College | Thunder Bay
The Aviation Flight Management program at Confederation College combines business, management and flight training into one program. The 2 1/2-year program has been running at Confederation since 1973. The business and management training provide students with background knowledge to complete a detailed and comprehensive understanding of today’s aviation industry, while the college operates its owns aircraft (13) and three advanced flight simulators at its Aviation Centre of Excellence hanger at Thunder Bay International Airport.

A student’s private pilot flight training begins in the first week of the first semester right from our hangar at the Thunder Bay International Airport. This training provides the opportunity become a commercial pilot. Confederation College explains its graduates have found aviation employment in northwestern Ontario, as well as with major (international) airlines, medevac and charter operations, scheduled services, flight instruction and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Georgian College | Barrie
The Georgian College Aviation Management program gives students knowledge and hands-on experience in Aviation and Management, in addition to providing co-operative work within the aviation industry. A variety of aviation courses provide students with a solid understanding of the aviation industry in Canada and around the world. The 3-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma program includes six semesters plus three work terms. A variety of aviation courses provide students with a solid understanding of the aviation industry in Canada and around the world. Students are given the opportunity to pass the examination to receive their Restricted Aeronautical Radio Operation License. Management courses are designed to give students an understanding of management practices and procedures in order to be prepared for future promotional opportunities. Some of Georgian College’s grad employers are Air Canada, Lester B. Pearson Airport, Sunwing Airlines, Air Georgian, Transport Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources and other aviation-related organizations. Its Aviation Management program is the only three-year program in Canada that allows students to progress directly into Griffith University’s Masters in Aviation Management degree. Earn a master’s degree in aviation with only an additional one-and-a-half years of study. A student can also choose to complete one of two Bachelor of Science degrees with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with only one additional year of study.

Sault College | Sault Ste. Marie
Sault College`s Aviation Technology – Flight program is designed to prepare students for a career as a professional pilot. Graduates of the program who meet qualification criteria established by Transport Canada, will have successfully completed the requirements for the Integrated Commercial Pilot License Aeroplane, including the multi-engine instrument rating (CPL(A)IR). This licence meets all the requirements for a student to be a commercial pilot.

Individuals with previous flight training start with a modified flight training program in the beginning; however, all students will be at the same level by second year. Students gain hands-on training with the college’s own fleet of aircraft, including 10 Zlin and two Seminole Piper planes. These aircraft are supported by advanced flight simulators. Each aircraft includes advanced radio navigation systems and real-time aircraft tracking systems.

Seneca College | Peterborough and Toronto
Seneca College is now educating students at the degree level with its 4-year Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology program, which provides a technology-based curriculum and application of this theory to aviation. Flight training and classroom instruction for students in year’s two to four of the program takes place at Seneca’s Peterborough Campus. As a graduate, students may pursue future career options like professional pilot, flying instructor, air traffic controller, and civil aviation inspector.

Seneca’s Airline Pilot Operations program focuses on the study of airline operations and administration, as well as practical training to prepare students for direct entry into a First Officer position in airline operations.

Offered at its Toronto campus, Seneca’s Flight Services program encourages students to develop career-related skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for passenger service. As a Flight Services graduate, students may find employment as a passenger service representative, check-in agent or reservation agent.

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