Searching for the steps on how to become a pilot in Canada for international students? Canada is among the most developed countries in the world, which provides its citizens with good quality educational standards.
Long recognized as one of the most modern, progressive, and peaceful countries in the world, Canada has always accepted students of all nationalities.
You will find it easier to get a visa to enter our country than in most other nations.
As a leading member of the International Civil Aviation Organization Canada’s flight training standard is recognized as being one of the highest in the world.
The cost of flying is remarkably inexpensive (due to lower fuel costs) when compared to most other countries.
Whether you wish to fly here for pleasure or to build up your flight time, Canada makes economic sense.
This country is popular among international students and there are a lot of scholarships including other educational aids which are made available to students, which has made Canada one of the perfect places to study in the world.
Canadians are warm, friendly and hospitable people, making international students comfortable and welcomed in the country.
International students who are aspiring to study in Canada have the chance of studying and working in Canada.
And this opportunity is not just for them to earn money, but to help them get used to working environments and how they work in Canada.
Students are allowed to work for 20 hours each week because of the conditions of their study permit in the country, and violating these conditions of the work permit may lead to the loss of status as a student or the student’s chance to work in Canada in the future.
There are a lot of job opportunities for International students in Canada after graduation. International students are allowed up to 3 years to work in Canada with a Post-Graduate Work Permit.
As an international student, If you’ve ever thought of becoming a pilot and you’ve contemplated studying Aviation in Canada, then you shouldn’t miss these steps on how to become a pilot in Canada for international students.
Who Is A Pilot and What Does A Pilot Do?
A pilot is someone who is trained to fly an aircraft and transports passengers and cargo from one destination to the other. There are also other crew members like the engineers and navigators, who are involved in the flight of an aircraft.
There are more crew members like the flight attendants, drone operators and ground crew members.
During a flight, the captain, who is the pilot in command and the second in command who is also called the first officer stays in the cockpit and works together to make sure there is a safe flight; takeoff and landing.
It is important to note that you have to be calm, enjoy taking responsibility, enjoy the idea of technology and possess leadership abilities to become a pilot. And choosing Canada to become a pilot is a good choice because:
1. Canada is excellent when it comes to pilot training schools and facilities.
2. The license of the Canadian Aviation is among the most widely recognized in the world as ICAO pilot licenses.
3. When it comes to tuition, Canada is cheaper by about 30% in comparison to places where one can study aviation because the Canadian dollar is lower.
4. Canada has flight instructors who are highly experienced.
5. Canada is known for being the home of aviation, with an amazing population of over 65,000 pilots.
6. In Canada, aspiring pilots upon completing their flight training, become eligible to get a Post-Graduate Work Permit from Immigration and Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
7. Canada provides a comfortable and inviting environment for international students because of their diversity in ethnicity.
Requirements Needed to Study Aviation in Canada
In Canada, there are certain training programs and licenses for international students. These licenses are as follows:
1. The Private Pilot License (PPL)
2. The Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
3. The Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
Each of these licenses has its own requirements in order to acquire them.
But it is important to note that these licenses have certain requirements in common. These basic requirements are as follows:
1. An aspiring pilot needs to be at least 17 years of age to begin pilot training in Canada.
2. An aspiring pilot needs to secure a medical certificate. He/she has to go for tests to check hearing, eyesight, and overall health.
The ATPL and CPL require an aspiring pilot to have a Category 1 medical certificate, while the PPL requires Category 3 medical certificate.
3. The Aspiring pilot needs to have a high school certificate as the minimum educational requirement.
4. The aspiring pilot needs to have an English language proficiency certificate; IELTS/TOEFL.
How to Become a Pilot in Canada For International Students: Getting a Pilot License
It is actually not that easy becoming a pilot in Canada, but it would be worth your time and money spent because of the high job satisfaction that comes with it. Below are steps to becoming a pilot in Canada as an international student.
Step 1: Basic Requirements
Age requirement: An aspiring pilot needs to be at least 17 years of age to begin pilot training in Canada. Being below this stated age disqualifies the applicant.
Medical certificate: An aspiring pilot needs to secure a medical certificate. He/she has to go and test their overall health.
The ATPL and CPL require an aspiring pilot to have a Category 1 medical certificate, while the PPL requires Category 3 medical certificate.
Diploma: The Aspiring pilot should have a high school certificate as the minimum educational requirement.
Step 2: Research on the Available Flight Training Programs in Canada
It is important for an aspiring pilot to know the kind of pilot training programs available in his/her country of choice and also get to know which of these programs is best for him/her.
Below are options to choose from:
1. A Flight School
Over 150 flight schools offer pilot training programs in Canada, making Canada a good option for you because you’ll have different options to choose from.
Each of these schools has its different requirements and procedures and the tuition differs too, depending on what pilot training course you will be taking.
2. An Aviation-related College Degree Program
If your desire is to get a college degree together with flight training, aviation-related college degree programs should be considered.
These aviation-related college programs give students the opportunity to combine a college degree and flight training.
3. An Airline Cadet Pilot Program
Airline Cadet Pilot Programs are often times sponsored by airlines and students are employed after they complete their courses.
Through this pilot program, an aspiring pilot would get an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
Step 3: Pick The Pilot Training Stage You Would Love to Take
In order to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, you have to go through certain pilot training stages to achieve this.
These stages would depend on what pilot license you want to get. Below are the Pilot Training Stages an aspiring pilot will have to go through to obtain an Airline Pilot Certificate:
1. Get the Student Pilot License
The SPL is the first pilot license an aspiring pilot would have to obtain. This is the license that gives the aspiring pilot access to begin his/her pilot training.
The Student Pilot License is the first stage an aspiring pilot needs to obtain to become a pilot.
To obtain a Student Pilot License, an aspiring pilot should be over 16 years of age, has an FFA medical certificate, and be able to understand, speak, read and write the English language.
2. The Private Pilot License
For a prospective pilot to get a pilot’s license, he/she would need to have basic knowledge about flight methods, learn how to navigate, and maneuver aircraft, get trained for emergencies, and flight planning, and also get to learn how to fly small aircraft themselves without help.
This license makes you eligible to fly on your own, fly passengers and cargo, but you won’t get paid for doing so.
To earn a Private Pilot License, you should be up to 17 years of age, have a current FFA medical certificate, a Student Pilot Certificate and can understand, speak, read and write the English language.
Step 4: Learn to Make Use Of Sophisticated Equipment
A pilot knows how to use certain instruments for flying an aircraft. After getting a basic certificate that qualifies a person to become an aircraft pilot, learning how to use these instruments is essential because aircraft pilots need to use these instruments to guide an aircraft through different altitudes and weather to achieve a safe trip.
Step 5: Get a Commercial Pilot License
In order to have access to transport people and goods as an aircraft pilot, one needs a commercial pilot license to do so.
As long as a pilot has this license, he/she can take up various flying jobs like transporting people from one destination to the order, delivering cargo, and going on search and rescue trips.
An aspiring pilot would need to get ratings for the different kinds of planes he/she would love to fly.
This is because, different airplanes have different engines, and a pilot should know how to use these different engines if he wants to fly a specific airplane.
A Commercial Pilot License is a license that qualifies a pilot to become a paid professional pilot.
This license is one that an aspiring pilot would need in order to start earning money from flying passengers and cargo.
To obtain a Commercial Pilot License, an aspiring pilot has to be up to 18 years of age, should have a current FFA medical certificate, have a Private Pilot License, can understand, speak, read and write the English language.
An aspiring pilot should log at least 250 hours of flight time for a single-engine rating for an airplane. This 250 hours of flight time would consist of:
i. 100 hours in powered aircraft and 50 hours of this 100 hours should be in airplanes.
ii. 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time and 50 hrs of this 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time should be in airplanes and 50 hours in cross-country flights.
Also, out of these 50 hours in cross-country flight, 10 hours should be in airplanes.
iii. 20 hours of training on areas of operation.
iv. 10 hours of flying solo in a multi-engine airplane or 10 hours of flight time flying as a commander, with an instructor to guide, in a multi-engine airplane.
Step 6: Obtain a Flight Instructor Certificate
For a pilot to become a first officer, he/she would need to gain a certain amount of flight hours.
Most pilots take up the initiative to become flight instructors so they would gain more flight hours to be able to qualify to become the first officers to be able to become airline pilots.
Step 7: Get Ratings
The pilot training an aspiring pilot would undergo, has different stages.
These stages are for an airplane single-engine rating and an airplane multi-engine rating. These stages are:
1. For a single-engine rating, an aspiring pilot should log at least 250 hours of flight time which;
i. 100 hours would be in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours are allocated to airplanes.
ii. 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight, of which 50 hours would be in airplanes and the other 50 hours would be in cross-country flight, of which 10 hours should be in airplanes.
iii. 20 hours of training in areas such as instrument training, training in a complex airplane, cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane during the day, cross-country flight in a single-engine plane at night, and Flying in a single-engine airplane with an authorized instructor.
iv. 10 hours of flying alone in a single-engine airplane or this amount of time acting out the duties of a pilot-in-command in a single-engine airplane with an instructor on board.
2. For an airplane multi-engine rating:
To get an airplane multi-engine rating, an aspiring pilot should log at least 250 hours of flight time.
Step 8: Get Experience and Flight Hours
An airline pilot needs to log a reasonable amount of flight hours in the air to be able to fly passengers and cargo and carry out other flight duties.
You can achieve this required number of flight hours through working as a commercial pilot, a flight instructor, and also through training classes.
The standard minimum flight hours by the Federal Aviation Administration is 1.500.
Step 9: Get an Airline Transport Pilot Certification
The highest license the Federal Aviation Administration gives is the Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.
A pilot would need more than the minimum required flight hours of 1,500 hours of flight experience.
A pilot would also need to pass some medical examinations to be qualified to earn an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate.
A first-class medical exam is needed for a pilot and a second-class medical exam in order to become second in command.
10: Interview
An aspiring airline pilot would need to go through an interview to become an airline pilot.
As long as he/she has met all of the Federal Aviation Administration requirements, the pilot can apply to work in top airlines.
An aspiring airline pilot would have to work as a first officer at least for a period of two years, before becoming a captain in an airline.
Cost of Studying Aviation in Canada
The determining factor in the cost of studying aviation in Canada is the flight school, the location of the school, and the flight program.
The cost of studying aviation in Canada ranges from $5,000 to over $20,000 per year.
It is pertinent to note that Diploma programs are cheaper in cost than Aviation degree programs.
Studying aviation in Canada is more affordable for aspiring pilots when compared to studying aviation in the US, although both Canada and the United States of America are known to have some of the best aviation schools that give aspiring pilots great value in their pursuit of becoming amazing aviators.
Aviation Schools in Canada
Below are the best-rated aviation schools in Canada for international students:
- The British Columbia Institute of Technology.
- Insignia College.
- The University of Waterloo.
- The University of Fraser Valley.
- Western University.
- Sault College.
- Seneca College.
- Confederation College.
- Moncton Flight College.
- Fanshawe College.
- Georgian College.
What are Career Options in Aviation?
A lot of aspiring pilots are clear about what path they want to take as pilots, but some of these aspiring pilots don’t have a clear path to take.
Below are different career paths an aspiring pilot can take with a pilot license.
- Air/charter taxi pilot
- Cargo pilot
- Flight Instructor
- Agricultural pilot
- Corporate or business aviation pilot
- Airline pilot for large or small regional airlines
- Medical/ambulance pilot and more.
What Does it Cost to Study Aviation in Canada for International Students?
- Recreational Pilot Permit
Duration: Hours/weeks = 30/100
Tuition Fees: $1,000.00
Course materials: $250.00
Other fees: 4,500.00
Application/Admin fee= 500.00
- 2. Private Pilot License
Duration: Hours/weeks = 80/12
Tuition Fees: $1775.00
Course materials: $250.00
Other fees: $5,346.00
Application/Admin fee= $700.00
- 3. Commercial Pilot License
Duration: Hours/weeks = 155/17
Tuition Fees: $2,750.00
Course materials: $30.00
Other fees: $11,500.00
Application/Admin fee= $1,000.00
- 4. Flight Instructor Rating
Duration: Hours/weeks = 75/17
Tuition Fees: $3,750.00
Course materials: $30.00
Other fees: $6,300
Application/Admin fee= $1,000.00
- 5. Night Rating
Duration: Hours/weeks = 13/2
Tuition Fees: $400.00
Course materials: –
Other fees: $1,740.00
Application/Admin fee= $200/$75
- 6. VFR Over-the-top
Duration: Hours/weeks = 13/2
Tuition Fees: $650.00
Course materials: –
Other fees: $1,740.00
Application/Admin fee= $200/$75
How Long Does it Take To Complete Pilot Training in Canada?
The duration of flight training would depend on the goal of the aspiring pilot.
To acquire the Commercial Pilot License in Canada, an aspiring pilot will have to spend an average of 1-2 years and in some cases, 3 years.
While about 3-4 months would be needed to acquire a Private Pilot License.
I’m an International Student
Before you contact the visa office you must be in possession of a letter of acceptance from Winnipeg Aviation.
The school you plan to attend will email this letter to you once they have received your student application.
You are more likely to obtain a visa if you have taken some aviation theory or language training from your home country(Not in all cases).
Find out how to apply to study in Canada as an international student, extend your study permit and find out about working while you study or after you graduate here.
Can I Work While Studying?
You can work part-time in order to support yourself while living in Canada and on a Student Visa.
Check with the Canadian High Commission Office for specific details regarding employment while on a Student Visa.
You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You can’t work before your studies begin.
You can work as an international student in Canada if your study permit lists a condition that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus.
You can work on your school campus, without a work permit, if you:
- are a full-time post-secondary student at a
- public post-secondary school, such as a college, university, trade or technical school, or CEGEP in Quebec
- private post-secondary school in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public schools in Quebec
- private or public secondary or post-secondary institutions in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS)
- Canadian private schools can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate), but only if the student is enrolled in a study program leading to a degree authorized by the province. This may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.
- have a valid study permit, and
Can I Wear Glasses as a Pilot?
Yes. A pilot can wear glasses but needs to have about 20/30 nearsightedness without correction.
Do you have suggestions on how to become a pilot in Canada for international students? Please leave a comment below.
References
- gostudyabroad.com -Study Aviation in Canada: pilot license requirements, cost, and more.
- www.aviationfly.com -How to become a pilot in Canada 2022
- canadaaviationacademy.ca -Overview and comparison of flying programs’ fees