Pilot Training Program Covers Full Range of Skills

Three intense phases make up Centennial College's Professional Pilot Training, which is a partnership with the Durham Flight Centre — allowing students to start learning the moment they leave the ground and preparing them for careers as: commercial airline pilots, private aircraft pilots and flight instructors.

As such, Pilot Training courses cover a variety of topics such as: meteorology, navigation, basic theory of flight, engineering, flight operation, as well as general knowledge and pilot decision-making information such as performing under pressure. In addition, students get to pilot Cessna 150, 172 and Piper Aztec aircraft. Ron, an instructor at the flight school, says: "We have a strategic partnership with Centennial College to provide flight training for their students through the Ashtonbee Campus … The students are able to come in here and complete the professional flight training in one year. Other programs in other colleges and universities offer the same training but it's going to take them three years."

As previously mentioned, Centennial College's Pilot Training program is broken down into three phases. The first, Private Pilot, runs from early September to early December. Students must maintain a grade average of 70 per cent and are required to successfully complete all ground school and flight training requirements within this time frame in order to progress through to the next program phase. The second, Commercial Pilot, is conducted from early December to early May. Students must maintain a grade average of 75 per cent and are required to successfully complete all ground school and flight training requirements within this time frame in order to progress through to the next program phase. The final phase of the Pilot Training program is Multi Engine IFR Rating, which runs from early May to August. Students must maintain a grade average of 75 per cent and are required to successfully complete all ground school and flight training requirements within this time frame. Please note that dates may change depending on weather.

In total, students receive 200 hours of flight experience plus 330 hours of ground school in this Professional Pilot Training undertaking.

Professional Pilot Training program applicants are required to have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent – or be 19 years of age or older. They must also have completed English 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent. Non academic requirements include: completion of a category 1 medical conducted by a Transport Canada approved medical examiner (the medical examination must be obtained early in the training as this clearance will be required prior to the students first solo flight), and being available from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Lastly, applicants should note that the program is self-funding, therefore students are not eligible for OSAP.