When should I start my Private Pilot Ground School?
Can I get books and supplies for my Private pilot ground school in advance?
What is a Fam Flight?
What's the difference between a Recreational Permit and a Private Pilot Licence?
If I earn the Recreational Permit, does it count towards the Private Pilot Licence?
What can I do to get familiar with the flight environment without committing to a formal flying program?
How do I sign up to get my Private Pilot Licence?
I just want to attend Ground School for now. Do I need an Aviation Medical?
What's involved in the Aviation Medical?
Do you sell Gift Certificates?
Do you do Sightseeing Flights?
How do I go about becoming a Professional (Commercial) Pilot?
I don't live in Canada. How can I come and study at your school as an International Student?

When should I start my Private Pilot Ground School?

Many people ask us when the best time is to start their Private Pilot Ground School. Often they think students must complete the ground school before they start flying.

In fact there is no need to complete your Ground School before you start your flying lessons. The ground school is more about theory than flying skills. You will have one-on-one briefings with your Flight Instructor about your flight so don't feel that you need to complete ground school before flying.

The truth is you can start your Ground School anytime during your flight training - before, during or after.

If your schedule and budget allows you a choice, start your ground school at the same time as your flying lessons, for two reasons:

• You need to have 10 hours of flying before you can write the Transport Canada Ground School exam. Don't risk forgetting some of the ground school material while you get those 10 hours in - start flying right away if you can.
  
  
• You will find it useful if you have been in the simulator or the airplane before you start ground school since you will be familiar with objects like the airplane instruments and controls when they are talked about in the ground school.

Can I get books and supplies for my Private Pilot Ground School in advance?

Visit our Prop Shop at the airport and tell them you are starting the ground school. They have put together a kit of items you need. If you already have any of the items, they will simply remove them from the kit and subtract them from the price.

What is a Fam Flight or an Intro Flight?

It is short for a Familiarization Flight, or an Introductory Flight.

This is an exciting experience. You go up with a Flight Instructor for about half an hour, and you actually fly the airplane. You’ll get an introduction to the aircraft environment, the flying environment, and the thrill of flying.

You’ll also have a chance to tour our facilities and ask your Flight Instructor anything you want to know about the flying program.

This bargain is only $80.00 + tax. (Prices may change without notice)

P.S. It makes a great gift, and of course Gift Certificates are available.

What’s the difference between a Recreational Permit and a Private Pilot Licence?

The Rec Permit is a more restricted way of operating as Pilot In Command. You can earn it in as few as 25 hours of training, although most people will take closer to 40 hours.

The Rec Permit allows you to fly solo or carry a passenger anywhere in Canada during the daytime in Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

The Private Pilot Licence requires a minimum of 45 hours of training, with most people actually taking 60 or more hours.

This licence allows you to fly solo or carry passengers anywhere in Canada and across the border during the daytime in Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

Since many countries recognize our licences, you can also convert this licence to a foreign one, or obtain tourist flying privileges in many other countries.

If I earn the Recreational Permit, does it count towards the Private Pilot Licence?

Yes. Most people do go on to complete the Private Pilot Licence. We organize your course so that you can flow smoothly on to the Private Pilot Licence without duplication or hassle. And yes, you can credit all our Rec Permit hours to your Private Pilot Licence.

What can I do to get familiar with the flight environment without committing to a formal flying program?

Take an Introductory Flight. It’s also called a Familiarization Flight or Fam Flight for short.

This is an exciting experience. You go up with a Flight Instructor for about half an hour, and you actually fly the airplane. You’ll get an introduction to the aircraft environment, the flying environment, and the thrill of flying.

You’ll also have a chance to tour our facilities and ask your Flight Instructor anything you want to know about the flying program.

This bargain is only $80.00 + tax. (Prices may change without notice)

P.S. It makes a great gift, and of course Gift Certificates are available.

I’m starting ground school but I can’t start a lengthy flying program yet. Are there any short flights or workshops I could take to help me relate ground school to flying?

Great question! Here are three suggestions to help you tie your ground school to the flight environment:

• Take an Introductory Flight (also called a Familiarization Flight)for only $80.00. The time you log with the instructor on this flight will count when you are ready to start your formal flying program.
  
  
• Book an Introductory Simulator Flight in our visually enriched simulator. You can familiarize yourself with the look of your aircraft and learn basic flying skills in this very efficient training machine. Then you can transfer those skills to the airplane when you’re ready to continue flight lessons.
  
  
• Enroll in our amazing Learn to Fly with Microsoft Flight Sim Program. Take virtual flying lessons and go virtual first solo in our computer lab along with a small group of students, each at your own computer. This course is taught by a real pilot who is also a Microsoft Certified Trainer and a born teacher. An unbeatable combination!

How do I sign up to get my Private Pilot Licence?

There are two main training programs involved in obtaining a licence. One is the Ground School, the other is the Flying Training.

You need to complete each program successfully to earn your licence.

The ideal is to start each program at approximately the same time. (See above for a more detailed discussion about whether you should start your ground school at the same time as your flying.)

There are only a few steps involved in getting started, and each step only takes a few minutes to complete.

You can complete them all at our Dispatch counter. Some can even be completed by calling Dispatch on the phone at (905) 477 8110.

Pre-Sign Up – 3 Tasks

1. Book an Introductory Flight in person or over the phone. Plan to fly in daylight hours. You have lots of choice because we fly 7 days a week all year round. Pay after your flight.
   
   
2. Book an Aviation Medical in person or by phone. You can almost always get an appointment within a few days right here at Buttonville Airport.
   
   
3. Complete your Aviation Medical. You can enroll immediately after you walk out of the doctor’s office
   if your medical is OK – and they almost always are.

Actual Sign Up – 3 Tasks

1. Choose the ground school you want to attend from our list of Ground School Schedules
   
   
2. Enroll in Ground School in person at our Dispatch counter or by phone with a credit card number. Be prepared to pay the ground school tuition of $299.00 + tax to reserve your seat.
   
   
3. Enroll in the flying Program at our Dispatch counter. You will be asked for name, address, phone etc. and how often you would like to fly, what days and approximately what times of day. No payment is required to enroll in the Flying Program, it is strictly pay-as-you-go.

That’s it – you’re on your way to earning your Private Pilot Licence

I just want to attend Ground School for now. Do I need an Aviation Medical?

You can attend Ground School without completing the Aviation Medical. You can even fly dual with a Flight Instructor before you complete the medical. It’s just a good idea to get it out of the way if you plan to complete the full course, since you must have the medical to go solo.

What’s involved in the Aviation Medical?

Don’t be too concerned about passing your Aviation Medical. These days there are few conditions that cannot be medically treated to a level that still allows you to fly.

The medical is short and straightforward. It is simply designed to ensure that you are in basic good health, and that you have no conditions that might suddenly cause problems while you are flying. It takes about half an hour including a vision test.

Many pilots wear glasses or contact lenses. You don’t need perfect vision, you just need to meet minimum corrected standards and minimum uncorrected standards.

If you are concerned about other issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure, don’t dismiss the idea of flying. Find out what applies in your individual case, as there are treatments that are perfectly acceptable these days for conditions that may have ruled people out in the past.

The medical is not covered by OHIP so you will need to pay the doctor at the time of the medical. Expect to pay approximately $125.00.

The Flight School does not give opinions on your individual case since we are not experts in this area and would not want to mislead anyone.

You can look up the medical standards on this link: http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Regserv/Affairs/cars/Part4/Standards/t42402.htm

But the best idea is to spend that half hour doing your aviation medical, and get the word on your personal situation.

You can book the medical right here at Buttonville Airport. Just call our Dispatch seven days a week to make an appointment. Call them direct at
(905) 477 8110.

Do you sell Gift Certificates?

Yes we certainly do sell Gift Certificates. You can purchase them in any amount, and the lucky recipient can apply them to any kind of flight, ground school tuition, Prop Shop purchases and any other services offered by Toronto Airways.

Just call or visit our Dispatch, seven days a week. Telephone (905) 477 8110.

Do you do Sightseeing Flights?

Yes we do offer Sightseeing Flights and you can go any day of the week. Up to three people can go on the same flight at a cost of $210.00 an hour (this is a total cost, NOT a per person cost).

It’s a great way to show your visitors the city, or for you to enjoy a tour of the city, surrounding countryside or the beautiful lakes to the north of Toronto.

Call our Dispatch direct at (905) 477 8110 to book. You can reach them seven days a week.

How do I go about becoming a Professional (Commercial) Pilot?

We have several different programs that train you to become a career pilot. Browse our website section on Professional Pilot Programs to find the one that suits you best.

I don’t live in Canada. How can I come and study at your school as an International Student?

You’ll be glad to know we charge our International Students the same rates as our domestic students. Go to the International Students section of our website to get answers to programs available, how to apply for student visas, student accommodation, costs and all your other questions.