Kawartha Lakes Flight Centre
| (705) 324-8921 | Info@FlyKawarthaLakes.ca | Fax (705) 324-9804 |
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Do you do Sight Seeing?
We love to take people sight seeing. More information is available here.
Are those small planes really safe?
YES, they are! Our basic trainer is the very popular Cessna 152 and 172. The '172 is the all time record holder with over 37,000 copies built, number still increasing. These venerable aircraft taught literally hundreds of thousands of pilots to fly.
Generally speaking, the smaller the plane, the less complex it is, the less can go wrong. Looking at it this way, you can feel safer in a general aviation light aircraft, than in a sophisticated but complex airliner. Plus, we have no pressing schedules to meet, no paying passengers to please. YOU are the one who decides when it is a good time to fly, and when it is better to stay on the ground. While you are taking your lessons, your instructor is there to help make that decision with you.
What does the Private Pilot License give me?
On completing your PPL, you will be able to fly single engine, single pilot aeroplanes and carry passengers, so long as basic currency criteria are met, and your medical remains valid. You will be able to fly in daylight hours, in visual (nice weather) conditions to almost anywhere in Canada, the United States and other ICAO member countries (most of Europe for example). By taking further ratings (see Courses), restrictions can be removed so you can fly at night or in bad weather conditions.
Is KLFC the right school for me?
You are welcome to come and visit our offices, inspect our aircraft and speak to our instructors and students to get a better feel for training or renting with us and decide whether it is the right school for you. Our training area is just minutes away from the airport and yet towered airports are just a short flight. CNF4 even has its own instrument approach!
How long is the PPL valid?
Your PPL is basically valid for life, provided that the renewal conditions are met every two years. This involves a simple self-test. Keeping your currency valid usually means flying with us every 30 days or so. This helps keeps the rust off of your flying skills and helps keep our insurance company happy. Depending on your age, medical category and current Transport Canada Requirements, your authorization to fly (the medical certificate) can be good for as long as five years.
How much does it cost to learn to fly?
Transport Canada requires applicants for the PPL to have completed at least 45 hours of flight time. Depending on your own skill and speed of learning, you may require between 45 to 60 hours. The cost of our courses can be found here.
Can I pay as I go?
Yes! In fact, that's the way we prefer it. There is no need to pay up front or keep money on account. We take cash, cheques, Visa, Master Card and Interac payments
Is financing available?
Yes, there are many institutions that offer financing flight training.
Talk with your local bank manager. You can often arrange for a line of credit. If necessary, we can write a letter to indicate that you have enrolled in a flight training program with us.
I want to become a pilot - where do I start?
Once you've made the decision, it's time to start training. The best way to go from here is to call the office and have a chat with our instructors, students, and inspect our facilities and airplanes. To get an idea of what flying is actually like, we recommend you book an introductory flight. This is much like the flying lessons taught during the PPL course and will include a briefing, flight and debriefing. Contact us to learn more.
How long does it take to learn to fly?
The actual flight time you will need to have logged is only 45 hours, but depending on how intense your training is this may take anything between 6 weeks and two years. We recommend you have a flying lesson once every week or two. You’re welcome to stretch lessons out further. However, we find that usually means more review in the air. Studies conducted by Transport Canada show that the average student remembers approximately 40% of lesson material after three weeks without review. This lost knowledge (that was already paid for) must be reacquired - frustrating and expensive! Of course, we can provide you with a custom-tailored training package to fit around your work schedule.
What times/days are available for training?
We work 7 days a week for your convenience. Initial flight training must only be conducted during daylight, and you can use those hours to the full extent. Particularly in the early stages of your training, we will be more limited by environmental conditions such as high winds, or marginal weather in general. As you become more experienced, those limitations decrease, and we can effectively train on more days. But safety will always be first, and there will surely be the odd day where we will be grounded due to weather or other reasons.
How old do you have to be to learn to fly?
It is possible to start training for the PPL as young as fourteen, but the minimum age to fly solo -without instructor- is fourteen. A Recreational Pilot Permit can be issued at age 16 and a full Private Pilot License can be issued at seventeen. There is no upper age limit. You can keep flying as long as you can keep passing the medical. We have customers is their 70’s now!
What about health requirements?
It is necessary that you pass a basic medical exam with your family physician for the issue of a Recreational Pilot Permit and a more thorough examination with a Transport Canada Approved Medical Examiner for a Private Pilot License. These examinations assess your vision, hearing, heart and lungs to determine whether you are fit for flying. Wearing glasses is not usually a problem. Doctors are available countrywide and some abroad and we can put you in touch with your nearest one.
How expensive is it to rent a plane from KLFC?
What are our instruction/training rates?
Did we answer your question?
Whether we’ve managed to answer your questions here or not, you’re always welcome to call and speak with our staff or an instructor for more information.