The private pilot's licence consists of two components: air exercises and ground school. The minimum requirements, as set by Transport Canada are 40 hours of ground school and 45 hours of flight time. The groundschool offered at CFC exceeds these requirements, and includes two optional nights of instruction in radio operation and a tour of Springbank Airport's air traffic control tower. The groundschool is run on a set schedule (see below).
The most important thing to know is that 45 hours of flight time is the minimum requirement for the Private License by Transport Canada. It is important to recognize that Transport Canada's minimum hour requirements are often not reasonable for the average student, who is balancing their training with family, work, and other commitments. The national average to actually be ready to take the flight test is currently around 65 hours. The biggest variable is how often one can fly. Obviously, it makes sense that a student will pick something up a lot quicker if they practise more frequently. For those who can commit to flying a few times a week, consistently, 65 hours is not an unreasonable goal. However, if a student is not able to fly as often, it will take more hours for them to be ready for the flight test and therefore cost them more money in the long run. This is because the total cost is based entirely on how much time they spend in the aircraft. The fact of the matter is that everyone ends up spending a different amount of time and money on getting their license.
However, this is exactly what allows people to persue a private license as their busy schedule permits. It is not uncommon for people to spread their training out over a longer period of time so that they can maintain their other commitments. It is up to each individual student to decide how much time, money and effort they want to dedicate to their persuit of flight.
The flight component is set up based on the student's individual schedule and needs. We encourage students to fly as often as as their schedule and finances will permit, because to do so means that they will likely be ready for their flight test in fewer toal hours, and therefore less expense to them, as flights are billed on an hourly rate. For more information about cost, see the rates section.
Click here to see the priveleges of a private pilot, according to the Candian Aviation Regulations (CARs).