The Private Pilot License (PPL) allows you to share the freedom of flight with family and friends. You will be able to go on cross‐country trips and fly to places that might take you hours to drive, and have an incredible experience along the way. PPL will allow one to fly anywhere, with passengers, in a Canadian-registered aircraft.
Private Pilot License Training
Standardization of training and our comprehensive and interactive Daily Ground School are the keys to your success for acquiring Private Pilot License. Your training will be done in accordance with our VFR Course Manual and PPL Syllabus. These materials are designed to be simple, effective, and easy to read, and they go a long way to increase your confidence and make your training an enjoyable experience.
During training, one will gain extensive experience in all aspects of aircraft handling, emergency procedures, radio procedures, navigation and basic instrument handling. Training duration will vary on various factors such as weather, availability and commitment to program. The course has been completed as quickly as 12 weeks as full time. To keep costs down, consistency of training is recommended.
Private Pilot License Upgrades
Additional ratings such as Night, VFR Over-the-top, Instrument, and Multi‐Engine can be added to your PPL. The Private Pilot License is also a prerequisite for the Commercial Pilot License.
Private Pilot License Prerequisites
- 17 Years of age.
- Category 3 Medical – Obtained from an Civil Aviation Medical Examiner
Private Pilot License Requirements
A minimum of 45 hours of flight training including:
- 17 hours dual, including 5 hours Instrument Training, 3 hours dual X-country
- 12 hours solo , including 5 hours solo X-country
- A minimum of 40 hours ground school – Including instruction on Air Law, Meteorology, Navigation, and General Knowledge.
- A Transport Canada Flight and Written Test are also required.
Standardized Digital Flight Training Syllabus
Pro’s digital training syllabus provides students with their entire training record online, grouped by lesson plans. Each lesson plan is carefully designed by industry expert team to prepare students to be successful pilots in today and tomorrow’s aviation industry. Being able to see and review training progress online at any given time, helps students stay on track and come to their next lesson with confidence and better prepared. Lesson plans also give students all the information and reading references they need to know prior to each flight lesson, so students come prepared to maximize the learning efficiency during each lesson.
Flight Training Breakdown
- Stage 1 – Basic Aircraft Handling
- Stage 2 – Airwork
- Stage 3– Circuits
- Stage 4 – Adv Procedures & Airwork
- Stage 5 – Cross Country Flights
- Stage 6 – Private Flight Test Preparation
Do I need to pay full program cost up front?
No, there is no need to prepay full program cost up front. Instead, you will pay as you go and be charged by “flight time”. This is the time from engine start to engine stop. The hobbs meter in the aircraft keeps track of this time in .1 hour intervals (6-minute intervals). Learn more on why paying full program cost up front may not be a good idea.
What is the Course Duration?
Training is at the student’s pace and convenience. On average, it takes 4 -12 months to complete PPL. Flight training isn’t like a traditional school program with a fixed timeline. The goal isn’t to rush but to build safe, confident proficiency. How quickly you progress depends on several factors, including how often you fly, weather conditions, aircraft availability, and—most importantly—your ability to learn and apply new skills.
Private Pilot License Cost Estimate
Most students require more than the minimum number of hours to prepare for their flight test. As a result, the hours in our Course Cost Estimate are NOT based on the Transport Canada 45 hours minimum; instead, they are adjusted to 65 hours to reflect a More Realistic estimate of the number of hours the average pilot student takes to obtain the PPL. This does not increase the overall number of hours to completion of the Commercial Licence (CPL) as all PPL hours will be carried over to fulfill CPL’s hour requirement. Flight training can be done either on Cessna 152 or Cessna 172 aircraft at student’s choice.
Transport Canada Requirement for Private Pilot License:
Estimated Costs |
Cessna 152 |
| Dual Training – 35 hours ($273 per/hour for C152, $284 per/hour for C172) | $9555.00 |
| Solo Training – 25 hours ($188 per/hour for C152, $199 per/hour for C172) | $4700.00 |
| Redbird FMX Simulator – 5 hours @ $195.00 | $975.00 |
| Ground Briefing – 15 hours @ $85.00 per hour | $1275.00 |
| Professional Pilot Ground School with Manual | $1300.00 |
| Ground School Kit | $422.00 |
| Total Fees to Professional Flight Centre ($CAD): | $18227.00 |
Incidental Fees |
|
| ICAO Language Test Fee | $160.00 |
| Initial Transport Canada Cat 1 Medical | $245.00 |
| Flight Test Examiner Fee | $400.00 |
| License AP Fee | $165.00 |
| Transport Canada Written Exam Fee | $270.00 |
| Transport Canada Licensing Fee | $55.00 |
| Total Incidental Fees ($CAD): | $1295.00 |
Total course estimate for the Private Pilot License ($CAD): |
$19,522.00 |
(Effective March 25th, 2024)
NOTE:
- These prices do not include applicable taxes & fuel surcharges. Please contact us for latest fuel surcharge cost.
- Prices are subject to change without notice. All prices are in Canadian Dollars ($CAD). For conversion rates to your local currency click here.
- This Program does not require approval by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. As such, PTIB did not review this program.
Frequently Asked Questions
As with length of time to complete the training, how much it will cost will vary student to student. How much commitment and aptitude and whether the student is full-time or part-time are factors that will affect the cost. The latest estimated cost of Flight Training at different stages of the Professional Pilot Program can be found at https://proifr.com/professional-training-estimated-cost/. All prices are in Canadian Dollars.
Yes, we accept students from all over the world. Please visit International Student page for more information.
Yes, we do! The introductory flights give you an inexpensive opportunity to experience flying an airplane with a flight instructor. Please visit Introductory Flight page for detailed information.
The process of getting an Student Visa is just 5 easy steps! Please visit “How to start at PRO?” section on International Student page.
No, perfect eyesight for pilots is not required; it is permissible to have your vision corrected using corrective lenses such as eyeglasses and Contact Lenses.
Yes! International Student can work up to 24 hours per week while studying full-time. Please visit Student Information page for details.
Yes! Professional Flight Centre provides Instructor and Dispatch positions to both domestic and International students. Please see Job Opportunity page for details.
We open 7 days a week and you are welcomed to visit us any time to have a chat with our instructors or current students. It’s a great opportunity to tour the facility and have questions answered.
Giving us a call or sent us an email is also a good way to get questions answered.
Some students also booked a Familiarization Flight (Fam Flight) with us. A Fam Flight is essentially a regular flight lesson where you will be flying under the supervision of a Flight Instructor.
During the Fam Flight, you will be treated just like a regular student pilot. Familiarization Flight is also a good opportunity to chat with a real flight instructor and learn more about flying as a career.
Familiarization Flight can be booked online at Introductory Flight page.
Applying to Pacific Professional Flight Centre is an easy process. Simply submit the “Online Application Form” from Online Admission page and we will get back to you to guide you through the rest of admission process.
No, high school grads and colleges transcripts are not required for applying to Professional Flight Centre.
Yes, training programs such as Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine, Instrument Rating, and Flight Instructor Rating are considered vocational training and can be used as a tax deduction.
Pacific Professional Flight Centre is designated by StudentAid BC for student loan financing (Code: APJW). The Government of Canada and BC provincial governments work together to provide integrated student grants and loans to full-time students. Students outside of British Columbia can visit www.canlearn.ca for student loans in your province.
Pacific Professional Flight Centre is an designated institution that qualifies for the use of RESPs.
No, there is no need to prepay full program cost up front. Instead, you will pay as you go and be charged by “flight time”. This is the time from engine start to engine stop. The hobbs meter in the aircraft keeps track of this time in .1 hour intervals (6-minute intervals). This article explains why paying full program cost up front may not be a good idea.
Please visit Student Accommodation page for detailed information on housing/accommodation.
Here are the information for PPL Conversion. An applicant who is the holder of a Private Pilot Licence issued by another country shall be considered to have met the ground school, written examination, and the flight test provided that they can show a licence and logbook.
To convert:
- Obtained a Canadian Class III medical or higher. It is important to do this first as you cannot do the written or flight test until you have been issued the medical certificate.
- Candidate has obtained 90% in the written examination PSTAR.
- Completed 5 take-offs and 5 landings within the 6 months preceding the date of application
- Has at least 45 hours total flight time, 12 hours solo, 5 hours instrument time, 3 hours dual cross country, and 5 hours solo cross country.
- Completed a Aviation-Language Proficiency Test (Canadian or ICAO is aceptable)
- The conversion can be done at our school. Once it is completed, the candidate will be issued a licence which will state it is based on a foreign licence; to remove this statement from your licence, the Private Pilot written examination and flight test must be completed.
According to Government of Canada, to be eligible for a Post-graduation work permit (PGWP), you must meet one of these requirements:
You’ve completed a flight training course at a Canadian training centre and now have a Canadian commercial pilot’s license, or
You have or you are in the process of getting an instructor’s rating, and you have a job offer to work as a flight instructor at a flight training centre.
More information can be obtained from Government of Canada website at here.
Night Endorsement and VFR-over-the-Top Rating are included in our CPL program. These ratings can also be obtained individually.
Yes, we have inhouse flight test examiner (DFTE) for PPL, CPL and Multi-IFR Rating. Flight tests can be booked easily and quickly.
More questions?
Please visit our FAQ section that addresses frequently asked questions regarding PPL and Flight Training. Feel free to contact us if you have further questions.
