10 Best Aviation Schools in Canada

Perhaps you have dreamed of flying around the world as a pilot of a major airline travelling to exotic destinations, or you would rather work on the ground and ensure the safety of all passengers.

Whatever the case, have you ever thought to study aviation in Canada? Well, this post holds all the necessary information you’ll require to attain this particular dream of yours.

You may want to search for the best aviation schools in Canada.

In this read, we have compiled the 10 best aviation schools in Canada in 2023. Kindly take a look at the table of content to enable you to navigate through the post.

How Much Does Pilot School Cost In Canada?

The cost of completing the journey to becoming a pilot can add up. Overall training and certification will cost up to $14,000 for a commercial pilot and around $10,000 for a private pilot.

As an aspiring pilot, you can train at a variety of flight centers across the world.

Where Can I Study Aviation In Canada?

You can study aviation in Canada at the following learning institutions;

  • Canadian Aviation College
  • Chinook Helicopters Flight Training
  • Mount Royal University
  • Prairie College | Mission Aviation
  • Leading Edge Aviation Ltd. Mitchinson Flight Centre
  • Harv’s Air
  • Algonquin College
  • Academy of Aeronautics
  • Huron Flight Centre / CAFC.

You can also check out: Singapore Airlines Cadet Pilot Programme| 2023

Can an International Student Become A Pilot In Canada?

Yes, the answer is yes! According to the Government of Canada, in order to apply for a Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP), you must meet one of these requirements: you have completed a flight training course at a training center in Canada and now have a Canadian commercial pilot license, etc.

How Many Years Does It Take To Become A Pilot In Canada?

To become a pilot in Canada you must meet a minimum of 7,500 flight hours in various capacities and varieties of aircraft.

Obtaining 5,000 to 9,000 hours would take at least 5 1/2 years, if not longer (on average) than the average of 10 + years.

Don’t fail to read; 20 Colleges With Aviation Programs In 2023

Which Country is Cheapest For Pilot Training?

Malaysian flying academies offer courses that take around one year but cost between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 12 lakh.

On the other hand, the Philippines, which is one of the cheapest countries in the world to receive a pilot license, charges Rs 9-10 lakh.

Thus, the Philippines is seemingly one of the countries with the cheapest pilot training.

Check also; 13 Fully Sponsored Pilot Training Programme 2023

What is the Cheapest Way to Become a Pilot?

The cheapest way to become a pilot is to attend a Pilot training school. No need to attempt shortcuts. The safest, proven way is by getting first-hand, professional training.

Which Airline Pays The Highest Salary To Pilots?

According to ATP‘s report in 2018, the major airlines with the highest salary for pilots are captured in the table below:

AirlineLowest PayHighest PayAverage Pay
United Airlines$232$328$272.41
American Airlines$156$323$269.02
Delta Airlines$156$330$256.85
Alaska Airlines$184$216$196.67
Hawaiian Airlines$170$207$194
Southwest Airlines$227$258$242.58
JetBlue Airways$142$219$194.83
Allegiant Air$156$222$191
Virgin America$160$189$176.17
Spirit Airlines$102$185$149.85
Frontier Airlines$119$167145.79
Sun Country Airlines$103$169134.71

Which Country Is Best For Pilot Training in 2023?

Top locations around the world that offer one of the best aviation programs are;

  • United Kingdom
  • Greece
  • The Philippines
  • Spain
  • The Netherlands
  • Kenya
  • USA
  • The Maldives
  • Sri Lanka

Learn more about this countries; 15 Best Aviation Colleges In The World | 2023

Eligibility Requirements To Get Into Flying Schools In Canada

To get into any flying school in Canada, you need to satisfy the following requirements:

  • As a rule, students must be at least 18 years old or have reached the age of 18 in the first semester of their studies.
  • Colleges also require students to speak English.
  • You may need to take a test to show that you are very familiar with both reading and writing in English. However, many schools offer this test online.
  • Schools may also require students to have the equivalent of a high school diploma.

Don’t fail to read; How to Become a Pilot for an Airline in 2023 | Full Step Guide

What is the Cost Of Studying Aviation in Canada?

New students often have questions about the cost of these programs. Many of those who enroll are adult students who want to change careers or those who did not go to school at a younger age.

Others are younger students with a passion for aviation. The total cost of the program often depends on whether it is a diploma/certificate program or a program that ends with an actual degree.

Aviation programs are often more expensive and require students to pay for their materials and textbooks. Airline programs in the country can cost between $ 5,000 and more than $ 20,000 per year.

Aviation schools In Canada

Canada has several aviation schools offering aviation programs for students like you. You will learn the practical skills you need to work in aviation, gain the necessary experience, and even improve your language skills.

The main reason you should study aviation in Canada is that these schools offer you the opportunity to start in fall or winter. While many programs traditionally start in September, students apply at the beginning of the winter semester in January to begin their lessons.

You can sign up for a general aviation management program that focuses on the operation of airlines and airfields. A management program includes courses on aircraft systems, operations management, aircraft flow, and related topics.

As a student interested in studying in Canada, you will also find programs that focus more on becoming a pilot or working as an aircraft engineer.

Here’s a list of the best flying schools in Canada in 2023:

#10. The British Columbia Institute of Technology

The Burnaby British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been offering aerospace courses for more than half a century. It is the first institution to be considered the best flying school in Canada.

The courses will be held on BCIT’s Aerospace Technology Campus, which is located on a 40,000-square-foot hangar housing the school’s fleet of the light piston and business aircraft, turboprops, and light and medium helicopters.

BCIT has also been home to a number of prestigious research projects, such as the ongoing study by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Boeing Commercial Airplanes on the use of hydrogen in a tailor-made fuel cell system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

BCIT graduates play more of a role in the aviation industry than graduates of other colleges in British Columbia. The courses are designed to train aircraft maintenance engineers (avionics and maintenance), gas turbine/jet engine technicians, airport operations specialists, and professional pilots.

School Website

#9. University of Waterloo

The two aviation degrees from the University Of Waterloo (UW) were first introduced in 2007, but have already made a name for themselves because they combine practical training with academic education.

Students studying geography and aeronautics at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences learn to identify landforms, use multi-layered maps, understand weather patterns, and fly an airplane. You have a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a commercial pilot license.

The Faculty of Science’s “Science and Aviation” degree aims to prepare students for careers in the aerospace industry.

Students can specialize in physics or geosciences and gain a Bachelor of Science and a commercial pilot’s license. It is one of the top aviation schools in Canada.

School Website

#8. University of Fraser Valley

Next on our list of best flying schools in Canada is the University of Fraser Valley.

Aerospace students at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in southwestern British Columbia may choose either an academic path combining flight training with a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a more practical option to earn a two-year degree to gain a pilot license.

The Bachelor’s teaches a combination of flight and business skills, while the diploma combines instruction, flight training, simulator training, and training with multiple engines and instruments.

The university also offers a program for aircraft technicians. A course approved by Transport Canada provides a thorough introduction to the repair and maintenance of aircraft.

However, the UFV does not include flight training in its curriculum. Instead, students take part in external flight courses with an approved flight training provider and transfer the course credits to the UFV. It has, over the years, earned a reputation as one of the aviation schools in Canada.

School Website

#7. Western University, Canada

Although Western Union Canada (Western) is not one of the largest Canadian aviation universities, it holds a recognized bachelor’s degree in commercial aviation management (CAM).

This course has a flight option that allows students to graduate with a Transport Canada-approved Integrated Commercial Pilot License (ICPL) with multiple engines and instrument ratings.

This means that graduates can work as professional pilots or take on leadership roles with an airline. The University has the reputation of being one of the best aviation schools in Canada.

School Website

#6. Sault College

Founded in the 1960s as a vocational school, Sault College in Ontario has been training professional pilots since 1974 and uses the facilities at Sault Ste. Marie International Airport. It is considered among the top-notch flight schools in Canada.

Sault’s approach to aviation is practical and focuses on expertise. These include flight operations courses, airport administration and services, airport wildlife management, aviation technology flight, and aircraft structure repair engineers.

Students train on a fleet of Zlin 242L and Piper Seminoles. Some courses, including aeronautical flight, are only open to Canadian nationals.

School Website

#5. Seneca College

Next on the list of best flying schools in Canada is Seneca College.

The Seneca College Greater Toronto School of Aviation offers flight qualification, aerospace technology, and aviation security. The college also runs an aviation pilot flight program that includes flight operations, administration, and hands-on training.

Graduates of this course can enter an airline and directly take up a position as First Officer. The school is strongly connected to the industry. For example, all graduates of the Seneca Airline Pilot Program are eligible for interviews with Air Georgian.

The Seneca School of Aviation has its own fleet, which includes Cessna 172, Beechcraft Bonanzas and Barons, G1000 172, and a G1000 Baron with a glass cockpit.

School Website

#4. Confederation College

Confederation College, Ontario hosts the Aviation Centre of Excellence (ACE), an aviation hub at Thunder Bay International Airport, which has an apron and a runway to a runway.

At ACE, the Confederation College offers five aviation courses: Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering – Aircraft Maintenance, and Aviation Flight Management.

These are two- to three-year diplomas with a focus on expertise, created in consultation with industry professionals. The establishment of ACE includes two hangars and classrooms, laboratories, and shops and houses three full-time aviation programs.

School Website

#3. Moncton Flight College

Founded in 1929, Moncton Flight College is a pilot training school at Greater Moncton International Airport in Dieppe, New Brunswick, and Canada’s largest private flight school.

The college has a second location at Fredericton International Airport in Lincoln, New Brunswick, where most students come from China. The school offers a Bachelor of Science in aviation, an Integrated Airline Pilot (IATP) and Integrated Commercial Pilot Course (ICPC), as well as modular pilot training programs.

Since its inception, the college has trained over 20,000 pilots from around 70 countries and has received approvals from Transport Canada and the CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China).

According to the school, Moncton alumni hold positions as chief pilots, chief flight instructors, and government officials. Thus, it has established respect among the aviation schools in Canada.

School Website

#2. Fanshawe College

Fanshawe College hosts the Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology, a pragmatic industry-focused flight school located in a new $10 million hangar at London International Airport.

Norton Wolf offers courses in three areas: aircraft and engine maintenance, avionics maintenance, and structural training for composite aircraft.

Courses include drone operator, unmanned aerial vehicle operation (drones), aircraft structure repair technician, aeronautical engineer, aircraft maintenance, avionics maintenance, aeronautical engineering, aircraft maintenance, and avionics.

The school offers a varied fleet of 18 aircraft, 80,000 square feet of study space, and Canada’s only in-school virtual maintenance training lab.

School Website

#1. Georgian College

Georgian College, a huge Ontario school with seven campuses and 12,500 students, offers a three-year Aviation Management Diploma course from the Barrie campus in scenic Kempenfelt Bay. It is among the best aviation schools in Canada.

The course, which is run by the Canadian Aviation Institute (CAvI) in Georgia in 1986, aims to provide students with a combination of theoretical understanding and practical aviation and management experience.

There is also a compulsory component for work experience in the industry. Graduates receive a diploma qualification and can study abroad for an additional year to get either a Bachelor of Science degree from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Florida, a Masters in Aviation Management from Griffith University in Australia, or a Masters in Transportation Policy at Loughborough University to acquire in the United Kingdom.

School Website

FAQs On The Best Flying Schools In Canada

How much does it cost to become a commercial pilot?

The overall training and certification will cost up to $14,000 for a commercial pilot and around $10,000 for a private pilot.

What is the minimum requirement that I must meet to become a pilot in Canada?

To become a pilot in Canada you must meet a minimum of 7,500 flight hours in various capacities and varieties of aircraft.

Can I become a pilot without a training course in Canada?

To become a pilot in Canada, you need to complete a flight training course at a training center in Canada and get a Canadian commercial pilot license.

Conclusion

Working as a pilot, aeronautical engineer, or in management is a dream for many. If you choose to study aviation in Canada, you can visit one of Canada’s best aviation schools, earn a degree or diploma and work in your dream job.

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