The

Commercial

Pilot Licence

is the Second Step

of your

Pilot Career!

Have You Always Wanted to Fly?

These People Did It!

And YOU Can Too!

You Have Questions

We Have Answers!

FAQ - COMMERCIAL PILOT TRAINING

What is a Commercial Pilot Licence?

Your COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE (CPL) allows you to fly a Canadian-registered airplane, all hours of the day, in VFR conditions, anywhere in the world, for hire!

The CPL is the basic requirement to begin a Career as a Professional Pilot.

You will likely want to add RATINGS to your Commercial Pilot Licence, including the Multi-Engine and Instrument (IFR) Ratings, in order to be properly prepared for entry-level Pilot positions.

The PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE (PPL) is required prior to enrolling in the COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE (CPL) program.

In addition to our "self-paced" COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE program, we also offer our COMMERCIAL AVIATION DIPLOMA program, which allows you to obtain a Two-Year College Diploma, while earning your Commercial Pilot Licence and Ratings.

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

What are the Requirements to earn a Commercial Pilot Licence?

To obtain your COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE (CPL) you need to:

> obtain your PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE (PPL);

> obtain a Category 1 Medical Certificate;

> complete a minimum of 80 hours of CPL Ground School;

> pass the Transport Canada CPL written examination;

> complete a minimum of 200 hours of Flight Time;

> complete a minimum of 65 hours of Commercial Pilot Flight Training;

> obtain a Flight Test Recommendation from your Flight Instructor; and

> pass the Commercial Pilot Flight Test.

How old do I have to be?

While there is no minimum age to begin your Pilot Training, you must be:

> at least 14 years old to go SOLO (flying without an Instructor onboard);

> at 16 years old to obtain your Recreational Pilot Permit (RPP), which allows you to fly with one passenger;

> at least 17 years old to obtain your Private Pilot Licence;

> at least 18 years old to obtain your Commercial Pilot Licence.

> at least 21 years old to obtain your Airline Transport Pilot Licence.

Can I be a Pilot if I wear glasses?

Yes, you can wear glasses and be an airline pilot!

Perfect uncorrected vision is not a requirement to be a pilot.

You can fly while wearing Glasses or Contact Lenses, provided that you have a "back-up" pair of glasses with you.

You can fly with refractive surgery, subject to Transport Canada approval.

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

How long does it take?

APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS

Everybody learns at a different pace. Your CPL training will be at your pace, determined by how frequently you fly. We understand that our students may have jobs, school or other commitments, or funding situations, which may dictate how often you can fly.

We encourage our students to fly at lease three times per week (weather permitting), so that they are flying often enough to maintain the "muscle-memory" gained in previous sessions.

If you train "infrequently", you will lose some of that "muscle-memory", and will need to "relearn" some of the skills and exercises from previous lessons. This is not a problem for us, but will impact how long it takes to get your licence, and ultimately will impact the total cost of your licence.

If you complete three flights per week, you should be able to complete your CPL in nine months!

Of course, you are welcome to train more often, and you are welcome to treat your Commercial Pilot Training as a full-time program, to get it completed as quickly as possible.

If you are planning for a Career as a Professional Pilot, there is no better time to get started!

Where are you located?

Aurora Aviation Academy currently offers Pilot Training at the following Locations:

> CHILLIWACK, BC

> EDMONTON, AB

> KAMLOOPS, BC

> KELOWNA, BC

> VERNON, BC

Stay tuned for more location announcements as we grow!

How much will it cost?

APPROXIMATELY $40,000 CAD

The total cost of your Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) will be determined by how many flight hours you require to complete all of the lessons obtain the knowledge and skills required to pass the Transport Canada written examination and the CPL Flight Test.

We encourage our students to fly at lease three times per week (weather permitting), so that they are flying often enough to maintain the "muscle-memory" gained in previous sessions.

At Aurora Aviation Academy, we do our VERY BEST to get you through your Pilot Training Program as efficiently as possible! We will advise you and support you to ensure that your training is as productive and efficient as possible, while ensuring that you have fun along the way!

How can I pay for Flight School?

AURORA AVIATION ACADEMY is a British Columbia Designated Learning Institute (DLI), which means that student financing options are available through the Government of Canada and Government of British Columbia, including Student Loans and Bursaries.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education.html

This means that you CAN use Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) funds for your Commercial Pilot Training with us!

Many aviation groups offer scholarships or grants to use towards your training. COPA is a good place to start your search for aviation scholarships in Canada:

https://copanational.org/scholarship/

Student Aid BC is the source of student funding in British Columbia:

studentaidbc.ca

Alberta Student Aid is the source of student funding in Alberta:

https://studentaid.alberta.ca/apply/

The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program offers grants and loans to full-time and part-time students to help pay for their post-secondary education:

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/student-aid.html

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

Is there a Payment Plan?

GREAT QUESTION!

YES, WE HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN!

Our Pilot Training programs are all "Pay-before-you-Fly", which is pretty much how businesses stay in business and out of trouble, these days.

We ask you to provide payment in "Deposits" of $2500.

Your "Balance on Deposit" is consumed by your Flight Training, Ground Training & purchase of Pilot Supplies & Pilot Equipment.

When your "Balance on Deposit" gets down to $500 or less, we ask you to make another $2500 deposit, in order to avoid any disruption to your training schedule.

If your balance gets to zero, your training will be "paused" until you are able to make another deposit of $2500.

Of course, any unused balance will be returned to you upon completion of your training, or upon request, should you decide to "pause" or "terminate" your Pilot Training.

Can I pay by Credit Card?

Yes you CAN pay by Credit Card!

You are welcome to leave a credit card "on file" with us, with a signed agreement which allows us to make a charge to your credit card for each of the $2500 Student Deposits required to cover the cost of your Pilot Training program.

Your card will be charged when you are ready to begin your Pilot Training program, and again each time your Deposit Balance gets below $500.

Unfortunately, because the credit card companies charge us a fee for credit card payments, we must pass that charge on to you.

You will be charged a 3% credit card fee for any payment made by credit card. The 3% fee will be taken from the funds on deposit immediately after your credit card payment.

A $2500 credit card payment will result in a $2425 deposit to your Aurora Aviation Academy account.

($2500 Deposit, minus $75 credit card fee = $2425 credit to your training account.)

How else can I pay?

You can pay for your Pilot Training in several ways:

1. You can pay by Credit Card or Interac, as described above.

(Subject to 3% credit card fee.)

2. You can pay by eTransfer to: payments@auroraaviationacademy.com

3. You can pay by Cash or Cheque.

NOTE: All of our Pilot Training programs are "Pay-before-you-Fly", regardless of the form of payment.

Do you offer any Discounts?

As a matter of fact, we do offer these two DISCOUNTS:

1. If you choose to make a $5000 Deposit, we will apply a 2% Extra Credit to your Aurora Aviation Academy account, so a $5000 deposit will result in a $5100 credit to your Pilot Training account.

NOTE:

Credit card charges, described above, will still apply to credit card payments, but will be partially offset by the 2% credit, so a $5000 payment by credit card will result in a $4950 credit to your account.

($5000 credit card payment, minus $150 credit card fee, plus $100 extra credit = $4950 on deposit.)

2. If you choose to make a $10,000 Deposit, we will apply a 4% Extra Credit to your Aurora Aviation Academy account, so a $10,000 deposit will result in a $10,400 credit to your Pilot Training account.

NOTE:

Credit card charges, described above, will still apply to credit card payments, but will be more than offset by the 4% credit, so a $10,000 payment by credit card will result in a $10,100 credit to your account.

($10,000 credit card payment, minus $300 credit card fee, plus $400 extra credit = $10,100 on deposit.)

NOTE:

All of our Pilot Training programs are "Pay-before-you-Fly", regardless of the form of payment.

What if I need to PAUSE or CANCEL my Pilot Training?

We provide a MONEY-BACK-GUARANTEE!

Aside from our DISCOVERY FLIGHTS and DISCOVERY FLIGHT GIFT CARDS (which are non-refundable, but they NEVER EXPIRE and can be TRANSFERRED to another person), your payments to Aurora Aviation Academy are covered by our "Money-Back-Guarantee"!

As a Private Pilot Student, you will be required to provide a series of Student Deposits of $2500 as "payment in advance" for your Pilot Training, Pilot Supplies and Pilot Equipment.

If you choose to "pause" or "terminate" your Private Pilot training, you can request a refund of all "unused" funds in your Aurora Aviation Academy account.

Within ten business days of your written request, we will refund all "unused" funds to you.

"Unused funds" are those funds remaining on deposit in your Aurora Aviation Academy account, after the cost of all applicable goods, services, taxes and fees have been deducted from your balance.

NOTE:

If you earned an Extra Credit by making a $5000 or larger deposit, the Extra Credit amount will NOT be refunded, as this is a credit to be applied to your Pilot Training only.

(Ie: You cannot deposit $10,000 and then withdraw $10,400.)

Is Flight Training tax deductible in Canada?

Training for your Private Pilot Licence, Commercial Pilot Licence and additional Ratings can be claimed if you are considered a qualifying student. The tuition and portions of the flight training are tax deductible.

Private Pilot training that is NOT part of a Pilot Career training program is NOT tax deductible.

Proof of enrolment in a Commercial Pilot training program may be required in order to claim your Private Pilot training costs. Aurora Aviation Academy will provide you a "Proof of Enrolment" letter upon request, provided that you are qualified, including having obtained your Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate, etc.

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

What other Pilot Training Programs do you offer?

Aurora Aviation Academy offers the following Pilot Training Programs:

> CAREER AVIATION DIPLOMA Program

Earn a 2 Year College Diploma while you train for a Career as a Professional Pilot!

> COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE Program

This is the basic requirement to work as a Pilot.

> PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE Program

Required PRIOR to commencing a Commercial Pilot Licence program.

> RECREATIONAL PILOT PERMIT Program

More restrictive than the Private Pilot Licence. Generally used by 16 year-olds until they turn 17 and can obtain their PPL.

> MULTI-ENGINE RATING

Allows you to fly an aircraft with more than one engine. Important if you are planning to fly professionally.

> INSTRUMENT RATING (IFR)

Allows you to fly an aircraft in "Instrument Meteorological Conditions" (IMC). Important if you are planning to fly professionally.

> MULTI-ENGINE IFR RATING

Allows you to fly an aircraft with more than one engine in IMC. Important if you are planning to fly professionally.

> INSTRUCTOR RATING

Allows you to obtain employment with a Flight Training Unit (FTU), as a Class 4 Flight Instructor. Great for building time and experience!

> NIGHT RATING

Allows you to fly an aircraft at night. This rating is INCLUDED in our CPL & Diploma programs.

> VFR-Over-the-TOP RATING (VFR-OTT)

Allows you to fly aircraft ABOVE the clouds, in certain conditions, which expands your flying possibilities.

> MOUNTING FLIGHT TRAINING

Prepares you to fly in the uniquely challenging Mountain environment.

> COMPLEX & CONGESTED AIRSPACE TRAINING

Allows you to learn and experience flying in a Complex & Congested Airspace, with a Flight Instructor, so that you can build the experience and confidence to manage flying in this environment.

> RECURRENT TRAINING

Pilot skills are "perishable" and decline over time. Professional Pilots are required to get Recurrent Training at least annually, in order to keep their skills sharp, and to practice emergency procedures so that we are ready for whatever may come. Private and Recreational Pilot skills ALSO diminish over time, and these Pilots should seek out professional Recurrent Training annually as well, in order to keep themselves and their passengers safe!

> AIRCRAFT RENTALS

Once you have your licence, if you don't have an airplane of your own, you will likely want to rent an aircraft periodically, to make use of your new skills and to enjoy the freedom of flight!

How do I get started?

STEP ONE:

Book your DISCOVERY CALL, at a time that works for you, on the booking calendar below!

STEP TWO:

If you want to "sample" what flight training is going to be like, you should consider booking a DISCOVERY FLIGHT!

After booking your DISCOVERY CALL, you be taken to our DISCOVERY FLIGHT page, where you can learn all about our Discovery Flights. You will also see our SPECIAL OFFER, a $50 DISCOUNT on a ONE-HOUR-DISCOVERY -FLIGHT!

SPECIAL OFFER: a $250 Discovery Flight, for just $200!

This SPECIAL DISCOUNT is only available if you purchase your DISCOVERY FLIGHT GIFT CARD prior to your DISCOVERY CALL!

NOTE: Your DISCOVERY FLIGHT is actually your FIRST LESSON and counts towards your Private Pilot Licence!

STEP THREE:

Your DISCOVERY CALL!

We will connect you with one of our Flight Instructors, who can answer all of your questions, and get your started on your AVIATION JOURNEY!

If you purchase your DISCOVERY FLIGHT GIFT CARD prior to your DISCOVERY CALL, then you can book your Discovery Flight during your DISCOVERY CALL, to get you INTO THE AIR as quickly as possible!

STEP FOUR:

If you need a little more contact, to feel right about getting started, we will book you for a HANGAR TOUR, to show you around our facility and our aircraft.

Otherwise your Hangar Tour will take place when you arrive for your DISCOVERY FLIGHT!

FAQ - PILOT CAREER INFORMATION

What is it like to be an Airline Pilot?

Being a Pilot is a rare privilege, with Commercial Pilots accounting for just 0.047% of Canada's population!

Only 1 in 2133 people in Canada are Pilots!

Only 1 in 15,799 people in Canada are Commercial Pilots!

Only 1 in 20,590 people in Canada are Airline Rated Pilots!

Only 1 is 370,437 people in Canada are FEMALE Airline Rated Pilots!

"A career as a pilot is a great job. It is varied, fun, and exciting. The average pay for a pilot is $106,627 per year. It is an environment where you'll never stop learning, and there are plenty of opportunities to diversify within the industry."

pilotinstitute.com

"Aviation is a rewarding career that offers personal and career growth opportunities. Pilots earn competitive salaries with opportunities to further their careers in the cockpit or broaden their career path into aviation management."

"Many pilots find the job to be very exciting, dynamic, and rewarding. There are numerous careers in the aviation industry that you can pursue following your schooling."

simpleflying.com

"While the typical work month consists of approximately 80 hours of flying, pilots spend many additional hours on such ground duties as preparing flight plans, readying the aircraft for departure, and completing post-flight reports."

careers.aircanada.com

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

How much does a Commercial Pilot make?

"The average salary for a Pilot is $111,044 per year in Canada."

indeed.com

"Entry-level positions start at $54,078 per year in Canada."

talent.com

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median U.S. pilot salary at $202,180 in 2021. This means 50% of pilots earn more than this, and 50% earn less. However, there are pilots working for major airlines making more than $700,000 per year."

(NOTE: Pilot pay has increased dramatically since 2021!)

"There is currently a shortage of 1,500 pilots in Canada."

The GLOBE and MAIL

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

Are there jobs available for Commercial Pilots?

"Canada is currently experiencing a national shortage of pilots. The Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace said that by 2036, Canada might be 6,000 pilots short, unable to meet growing demands in the industry."

The Western Gazette

"Major airlines are expecting 75% of their Pilots to retire in the next 10 years!"

"Boeing predicts a need for 600,000 new pilots in the next two decades, but by some estimates there will be a shortfall of at least 34,000 pilots globally by 2025."

cnn.com

"Long-term demand for newly qualified aviation personnel remains strong, as 602,000 new pilots, 610,000 new maintenance technicians and 899,000 new cabin crew members will be needed to fly and maintain the global commercial fleet over the next 20 years."

"With air travel now rebounding, major airlines have accelerated hiring to replace the pilots who took early retirements, as well as the pilots who are just now turning 65. Regional airlines are experiencing significant attrition, with pilots leaving faster than new pilots can get hired and trained."

"Opportunity for those aspiring to have an aviation career will abound while operators will face stiff competition in recruiting and retaining top tier talent."

BOEING

"There is currently a shortage of 1,500 pilots in Canada."

The Globe & Mail

"U.S. airlines are facing a severe pilot shortage. Management consulting firm Oliver Wyman estimates the industry is facing a deficit of about 8,000 pilots, or 11% of the total workforce, and says the shortfall could reach 30,000 pilots by 2025."
CNBC

"The job outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there's a massive need for pilots. It's projected that 14,500 pilots will be needed every year through 2030."

abcnews

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

Why is there a Pilot Shortage?

If you tried taking a vacation this year that involved air travel, you know how much of an impact the current Pilot shortage has had!

The root causes of the Pilot Shortage are:

An aging workforce:

"This insufficient supply of pilots is expected to only worsen over the decade as baby-boom retirements increase."

"Major airlines are expecting 75% of their Pilots to retire in the next 10 years!"

"Some regional airlines are losing 5% of their Pilots each month, so 60% per year. Something has got to give!"

Early retirement and Pilots changing careers during Covid restrictions:

"At the airline level, there were mass layoffs that led to some pilots taking early retirements, many pilots leaving the industry and, in some cases, pilots leaving the country to parts of the world where aviation was perhaps better supported than in Canada" said Tim Perry, the president of Airline Pilots Association Canada."

"The shortage of qualified commercial pilots is a longstanding problem that has been exacerbated during COVID-19."

cbcnews

The number of Pilot licences "in force" in Canada has dropped by 55% since Covid hit!

The number of Commercial Pilot licences "in force" in Canada has dropped by 69% since Covid hit!

The number of Airline Transport Pilot licences "in force" in Canada has dropped by 80% since Covid hit!

tc.gc.ca

Drastic reduction in new Pilots:

"The number of new pilot certifications fell 30 to 40 percent during the five years after 9-11."

The number of Private Pilot licences "in force" in Canada has dropped by 38% since Covid hit! That means that there are far FEWER people taking the first step in the process of becoming a Career Pilot!

This means fewer Commercial Pilots going forward, which means fewer Flight Instructors going forward, etc., etc.

All of this spells OPPORTUNITY for those who DO choose a Career as a Pilot!

Barriers to entry, including the cost of training:

"The high cost of flight training is a significant barrier to entry for many students."

cbcnews

"The high cost of training and lack of government support may prevent some people traditionally unrepresented in aviation, such as women and ethnic minorities from becoming pilots."

cbcnews

The Western Gazette

"Boeing predicts a need for 600,000 new pilots in the next two decades, but by some estimates there will be a shortfall of at least 34,000 pilots globally by 2025."

cnn.com

"Opportunity for those aspiring to have an aviation career will abound while operators will face stiff competition in recruiting and retaining top tier talent."

BOEING

"There is currently a shortage of 1,500 pilots in Canada."

The Globe & Mail

"The job outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there's a massive need for pilots. It's projected that 14,500 pilots will be needed every year through 2030."

abcnews

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

What about Women?

"One potential solution to the global shortage is attracting and retaining women pilots..."

The International Society of Women Airline Pilots

"Only 5.1 percent of pilots globally are women."

OliverWyman

Canada is doing better than the global average, but still, only nine percent of Canada's Pilots are women and just over 5% of Canada's Commercial and Airline Pilots are women!

We have a VERY long way to go in improving gender diversity in the cockpit. The good news is, there are more than fifteen MILLION women in Canada! So let's get started!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

"How our Daughters can solve the Pilot Shortage...

By Geoff Murray

(This article first appeared in Forbes on March 6, 2020.)

In the United States, the median annual salary of a flight attendant is around $56,000 while for airline pilots it’s around $140,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Yet, the Federal Aviation Administration reports that almost eight out of 10 flight attendants are women, while only 6.6 percent of pilots are female. As a former commercial airline pilot, I find the statistics baffling.

But my daughter can do the math and elected to pursue a career as a pilot.

When she was selecting a college, she picked one that offered a degree in aviation. Her choice was not based on an unquenchable thirst for open sky and adventure, but rather an attraction to a profession that paid well and is suffering from a significant and long-term shortage of talent.

This insufficient supply of pilots is expected to only worsen over the decade as baby-boom retirements increase, and many airlines are beginning to actively recruit women to help fill the gap.

Like her Generation Z cohort — the older members of which have already survived two recessions in their short lives — my daughter was looking for the kind of job and economic security she thought she’d have as a pilot, a profession with gender-blind pay and seniority-based advancement.

She also loved the free travel and the flexibility of pilot schedules!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________

AURORA AVIATION ACADEMY is very engaged in bringing more women into the world of AVIATION!

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!

Will Pilots be "phased out" by "autonomous aircraft"?

Pilots beginning training today should expect to have a full 30 to 40 year career, as the "obsolescence" of Pilots is not expected to begin until 2060 at the earliest!

"The notion that AI would fully replace human the pilot is still a distant dream."

electronicsforu.com

"Trusted by more than 100 aviation regulatory agencies worldwide, the current Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook concludes that the aviation industry will need to supply more than 602,000 commercial airline pilots worldwide over the next 20 years."

atpflight

"Its most recent outlook for airline and commercial pilots predicts that overall employment will grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than average. According to its website, about 14,500 openings for airline and commercial pilots are projected each year, on average, over the decade."

flyingmag.com

"Boeing predicts a need for 600,000 new pilots in the next two decades, but by some estimates there will be a shortfall of at least 34,000 pilots globally by 2025."

cnn.com

Book your DISCOVERY CALL on the booking calendar below!