10 Best Aviation Schools in Canada 2024 | A Full Guide

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If you are looking for the best aviation schools in Canada in 2024, then you are in the right place. This content will guide you through all you need to know about becoming a pilot in Canada.

Canada has few aviation schools that offer aviation programs for students who want to obtain a degree in aviation. You will be taught the practical skills needed to work in aviation, gain the necessary experience, and improve your language skills.

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You should study aviation in Canada because these schools allow you to begin in the fall or winter. While many programs traditionally commence in September, students can apply at the start of the winter semester in January to commence their lessons.

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

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As a student keen on studying in Canada, you will discover programs focusing more on becoming a pilot or working as an aircraft engineer.

Eligibility Requirements

Canadian colleges awarding degrees in international student aviation programs regularly have some requirements that these students must satisfy before enrolling.

  • As a rule, students are mandated to be 18 years old or above or have reached the age of 18 in the first semester of their studies.
  • Colleges additionally expect students to communicate in English.
  • You may need to take a test to prove that you are very familiar with reading and writing in English. Notwithstanding, a good number of schools offer this test online.
  • Schools may also expect students to have a high school diploma equivalent.

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Best Aviation Schools in Canada in 2024

The best aviation schools in Canada include:

  • The British Columbia Institute of Technology
  • University of Waterloo
  • University of the Fraser Valley
  • Western University Canada
  • Sault College
  • Seneca College
  • Confederation College
  • Moncton Flight College
  • Fanshawe College
  • Georgian College

1. The British Columbia Institute of Technology

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), situated in Burnaby, has offered aerospace courses for the better part of a century. Aviation courses are based at BCIT’s Aerospace Technology Campus, which focuses on a 40,000-square-foot facility. ft. hangar housing the school’s fleet of light piston and corporate jets, turboprops, and light and medium helicopters.

BCIT graduates hold a greater number of roles in the aviation industry than the graduate class of any other college in British Columbia. Courses are intended to train gas turbine/jet engine technicians, aircraft maintenance engineers (avionics and maintenance), airport operation specialists, and commercial pilots.

2. University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo’s (UW) two aviation degrees, which were just introduced in 2007, have already gained notoriety for combining practical training with academics. Students taking the Geography and Aviation degree at the Faculty of the Environment are taught to identify land formations, use multi-layer maps, comprehend weather patterns, and fly a plane, graduating with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a Commercial Pilot Licence.

The Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo, which runs the Science and Aviation degree program, is designed to prepare students for careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. Students can specialize in physics or earth science and graduate with a Bachelor of Science and a Commercial Pilot License.

3. University of the Fraser Valley

Aviation students at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in south-western British Columbia, which is among the best aviation universities in Canada and can take either an academic route, combining flight training with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration or an increasingly practical option, studying for a two-year diploma to gain a Commercial Pilot License.

The bachelor’s degree teaches flight and business skills, while the diploma blends classroom studies, in-air flight training, simulator training, and multi-engine and instrument training. The UFV likewise offers an Aircraft Structures Technician program, a Transport Canada-approved course that provides a thorough introduction to aircraft repair and maintenance.

In any case, UFV does not include flight training in its educational plan: rather students take flying classes remotely with an approved flight training provider and transfer course credits over to UFV.

4. Western University Canada

Although it is not one of Canada’s major aviation universities, Western University Canada (Western) offers a highly regarded aviation degree: a Bachelor’s in Commercial Aviation Management (CAM).

This course has a flight option, enabling students to obtain their degree with a Transport Canada-approved Integrated Commercial Pilot’s License (ICPL) with multi-engine and instrument ratings.

This implies graduates can take work as professional pilots or accept managerial obligations with an airline. The flight option is taught at Diamond Flight Centre at London International Airport (CYXU) on four types of aircraft: the Diamond DA20, DA40, DA42, and Grob 115C.

5. Sault College

Established as a vocational college in the 1960s, Ontario’s Sault College has trained professional pilots since 1974, utilizing facilities at Sault Ste. Marie International Airport. Sault’s approach to aviation is practical and spotlights professional skills, with courses including Airport Administration, Airline Operations and Services, Airport Wildlife Management, Aviation Technology – Flight, and Aircraft Structural Repair Technician. Students train on a fleet of Zlin 242L and Piper Seminoles. A few courses, including Aviation Technology – Flight, are only open to Canadian nationals.

6. Seneca College

Situated in more prominent Toronto, Seneca College’s School of Aviation offers aviation operations, technology, and safety degrees. The college additionally runs an Airline Pilot Flight Operations program covering airline flight operations, administration, and practical training.

Graduates of this course can enter an airline and go straight into a first officer position. The school has strong industry links; for example, all Seneca Airline Pilot Program alumni are qualified for interviews at Air Georgia. Seneca School of Aviation has a fleet incorporating Cessna 172s, Beechcraft Bonanzas and Barons, G1000 172s, and a G1000 Baron with a glass cockpit. 

7. Confederation College

Confederation College in Ontario is home to the Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE), an aviation facility at the Thunder Bay International Airport. It holds an apron and a taxiway to a runway. At ACE, Confederation College offers five aeronautics courses: aerospace manufacturing engineering, engineering technology, technician aeronautics, aviation technician-aircraft maintenance, and aviation flight management.

These are two- to three-year diplomas with an emphasis on professional skills, planned with consultation from industry experts. ACE’s facility involves two hangars, classrooms, laboratories, and shops and is home to three full-time aviation programs.

8. Moncton Flight College

Established in 1929, the Moncton Flight College is a pilot training school situated at the Greater Moncton International Airport in Dieppe, New Brunswick, and Canada’s largest private flight school; hence, it is one of the best aviation schools in Canada.

Moncton Flight College has a second location at Fredericton International Airport in Lincoln, New Brunswick, where the majority of students are citizens of China.

This college offers a Bachelor of Science in Aviation, an Integrated Airline Transport Pilot (IATP), an Integrated Commercial Pilot Course (ICPC), and modular pilot training programs.

Since its establishment, the college has trained more than 20,000 pilots from around 70 nations and has approvals from Transport Canada and the CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China). According to the educational institution, Moncton alumni hold positions as chief pilots, chief flight instructors, and government officials.

9. Fanshawe College

Fanshawe College is home to the Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology, an aviation school with a pragmatic industry center housed in a new $10 million hangar at London International Airport. Norton Wolf offers courses in three sectors: avionics, aircraft and engine maintenance, and structural training for composite aircraft.

Courses incorporate Drone Operator, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) Operations, Aircraft Structural Repair Technician, Aviation Technician, Aircraft Maintenance, Avionics Maintenance, Aviation Technology, and Aircraft Maintenance and Avionics.

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

10. Georgian College

Georgian College, a mammoth Ontario school with seven campuses and 12,500 students, is one of the best aviation schools in Canada. It runs a three-year diploma course in aviation management out of its Barrie campus in picturesque Kempenfelt Bay. Established in 1986, the course is run by Georgia’s Canadian Aviation Institute (CAI). It is intended to give students a combination of theoretical understanding and hands-on involvement in aviation and management.

There is likewise a mandatory industry work experience component. Graduating students receive a diploma qualification and can study abroad for an additional year to gain either a Bachelor of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, a Master in Aviation Management from Griffith University in Australia, or a Master in Transportation Policy from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How Much Does Pilot Training Cost in Canada?

Training and licensing can cost up to C$14,000 for a commercial pilot and about C$10,000 for a private pilot.

What is the Best College for a Pilot?

The Best U.S. Aviation Colleges include, among others,

Purdue University. Michael Hickey
The University of North Dakota. Scott Olson
Ohio State University. Jamie Sabau
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Western Michigan University
San Jose State.

Which Country Pays Pilots the Most?

The countries that pay pilots the most and the corresponding salary is as follows:
Ireland. Average salary – $225,000
Canada. Average salary – $225,000
Qatar. Average salary – $220,000
Germany. Average salary – $203,000
Switzerland. Average salary – $211,000
UAE. Average salary – $200,000
United Kingdom. Average salary – $180,000

Can Pilots Become Millionaires?

No one pursues a degree in aviation to become a millionaire. In the greater part, commercial flying is very badly paid and involves taking on (normally) remarkable levels of debt to be eligible for it. Pilots who have been fortunate enough to progress to captain in a significant airline earn 6-digit salaries.

Can Pilots’ Families Fly for Free?

Otherwise known as the family members are welcome to fly for free however can be bumped if the flight is full of paying PAX. All airline “pass” travel is space A with the exception of a few carriers like AA that make available very few positive space passes for their employees.

Do Pilots Have a High Divorce Rate?

The divorce rate of pilots is high throughout the nation, but you may be shocked to learn that the rate is getting close to epidemic levels in the transportation industry. About 75% of some pilot groups have been divorced once or more.

How Much Does it Take to Study Aviation in Canada?

Aviation programs are usually more expensive, and students expect to pay for their materials and textbooks. Airline programs in the nation can cost between $5,000 and more than $20,000 yearly.

Is Canada Good for Aviation?

Canada is absolutely a good place for aviation; Canada has the second-highest population of pilots in the world, with 70,000 pilots. They have some most respected Modern Air Traffic Control Systems, weather forecasting systems, and infrastructure. They also have some of the best standard Aviation Licenses in the world.

How Much Does a Pilot Earn in Canada?

On average, Pilots in Canada earn $88,427, and their salaries range from $27,876 – $335,424 your salary as a pilot in Canada depends on your current level.

Can Poor Students Study Aviation?

There is no direct yes or no answer to the question; a poor student will have to work harder than a good or average student to become anything he or she wants. So a poor student willing to work hard and give ample time to detailed studies can become a Pilot.

You can carefully go through this article to learn more about these colleges.

Conclusion

If your study abroad destination is Canada, studying aviation at any of the best schools for aviation in Canada will be a great choice. So you are free to peruse this post once again before choosing a school that perfectly suits your needs.

Lastly, if you are wondering if Canada is a good destination for aviation, it is; choose a good school, and you will be good to go.

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