
Welcome to the wonderful world of flying! You are about to embark on some of the most exciting and challenging training you will ever experience, all of which is focused towards earning a Private Pilot License (PPL).
The training you will receive is structured in a Transport Canada approved syllabus that will provide you with all the knowledge and skills that you require to ensure a future of safe and enjoyable flying.
This information package is intended to provide you with a basic understanding of the training you will receive and how it will be conducted. Included in this package are:
- Transport Canada Requirements for Pilot Permits and Licenses
- Outline of Ground School Instruction
- Outline of Flight Instruction
- Typical Costs to Obtain a Private Pilot License
Should you enroll in the PPL Course; the following information will also be provided:
- Copy of Company Standard Safety Precautions
- Copy Transport Canada PSTAR Exam Study and Reference Guide
- Copy of Transport Canada PPL Study and Reference Guide
- Copy of Transport Canada PPL Flight Test Standard
- Other Study and Reference Materials as required
Should you have any questions regarding this, or any other course offered by Sealand Flight please feel free ask any of our staff or instructors. We would be most pleased to help you.
Student Pilot Permit
The Student Pilot Permit is the document that allows persons undertaking flight instruction to conduct flight training under solo conditions (ie: without a flight instructor in the aircraft). A licensed flight instructor must authorize all flights conducted under a Student Pilot Permit.
Transport Canada requirements for the issuance of a Student Pilot Permit are:
Category |
Requirement |
Age | Must be at least 14 years of age |
Medical | Valid Category 1, 3, or 4 Medical Certificate |
Knowledge | Pass PSTAR Examination (90%) |
Skill | At Flight Instructor’s Discretion |
Experience |
Private Pilot License (PPL)
The Private Pilot License is the minimum license level in Canada. The holder of a PPL can exercise the privileges of a pilot in any aircraft for which his license is endorsed and may carry passengers. The PPL is recognized internationally and trans-border flights are authorized. With additional training the holder of a PPL can also obtain additional license endorsements and ratings including night rating, VFR over the top rating, instrument rating, and multi-engine rating.
Transport Canada requirements for the issuance of a Private Pilot License are as follows:
Age
Must be at least 17 years of age
Medical
Valid Category 1 or 3 Medical Certificate
Knowledge
- Complete 40 Hour Private Pilot Ground School
- Pass Written Exam (PPAER)
Skill
Pass Transport Canada Flight Test (PPFT)
Experience
- Minimum Total Flight Time = 45 Hours
- Minimum Dual Flight Time = 17 Hours
- Dual Cross Country = 3 Hours
- Dual Instrument Flt = 5 Hours
- Minimum Solo Flight Time = 12 Hours
- Solo Cross Country = 5 Hours
- Triangular Solo Cross Country of not less than 150 NM with at least two en-route stops
Private Pilot License – Ground School Instruction
Transport Canada requires that all applicants for a Private Pilot License complete a Private Pilot Ground School of not less than 40 hours of instruction.
The Private Pilot Ground School offered by Sealand Air Aviation is taught by experienced, Transport Canada licensed instructors and provides 51 hours of multimedia classroom instruction covering all required subject areas. Key subject areas that will be covered during the Ground School include the following:
- Air Regulations
- Aerodynamics
- Theory of Flight
- Meteorology
- Airframes, Engines and Systems
- Flight Instruments
- Radio and Electronic Theory
- Navigation
- Flight Operations
- Aero-Medicine and Human Factors
- Pilot Decision Making
Ground school is taught over 12 weeks 21/2 to 3 hours a night, two nights a week. Schedules will be handed out in class.
Private Pilot License – Flight Instruction
A Licensed Flight Instructor will provide all of your flight instruction. This instruction follows a Transport Canada approved syllabus broken into 6 Phases and 36 Lesson Plans. The structure of these lesson plans is designed on a “building block” approach and will provide you with basic flight instruction, moving on to more advanced elements as your skills and abilities develop.
There will be three key milestones in your flight instruction:
First Solo Flight
Under the guidance of your Flight Instructor, you will learn the basic skills of controlling the aircraft in a safe manner. All such training will be conducted in close proximity to the training airport. Starting with basic aircraft handling, you will progress on to more advanced maneuvers, developing the skills and knowledge required to safely complete a local flight without the assistance of your Flight Instructor.
Cross-Country Flights
After completing your first solo, you will learn other skills required to complete a cross-country flight. Your first cross-country flight will be a dual flight under the supervision of a Flight Instructor. This will be your first opportunity to exercise your navigation skills and to fly into unfamiliar aerodromes. You will then be required to complete two solo cross-country trips. At this point you will have acquired all the knowledge required for licensing.
Flight Test and Licensing
After completion of your cross-country flights, your Flight Instructor will program a series of instructional flights to ‘fine tune’ your flying skills in preparation for the Flight Test.