Welcome to the launch of your journey to take flight! Level Flight Ground School is the beginning of an exhilarating hobby or the starting point of your aviation career. Acquiring your private pilot license grants you the privilege of flying an aircraft recreationally. You can choose to explore the skies solo, with passengers, or further your skills by obtaining special ratings that allow you to fly at night or in the clouds. Even if you are planning to earn a living as a pilot, you will need to obtain a private pilot licence before moving onto a commercial licence.
Navigating the skies of aviation training when you are new to it can be confusing. We’ve broken down the journey so you can see what obtaining your private pilot licence will look like.
How To Obtain Your Private Pilot License
There are two parts to your training; Ground School and Flight Training. While not required, it is advantageous to complete both streams simultaneously. The ability to apply what you learn in the ground school while it’s fresh will have a positive impact on your overall training experience. Level Flight offers the industry’s most flexible, accessible, and affordable online ground school training experience.
As you explore the possibility of completing your private pilot licence, we want to provide you with the necessary requirements and options for training, so you can make the best decision for you:
Age Requirement: The age requirement from Transport Canada to obtain your Private Pilot Licence is 17 years old. However, you can obtain your student pilot permit at 14 years of age. This means you can actually begin your training before turning 17. Your student pilot permit is what is required to solo which happens rather quickly in the early stages of your flight training.
Medical Requirements: Transport Canada regulations require a Category 3 certificate as a minimum for obtaining your Private Pilot License. If you intend to progress forward to acquiring a commercial license, we recommend you pursue a Category 1 certification so you are prepared early. You can find a medical examiner near you here.
Ground School Requirements: A minimum of 40 hours of ground school covering the following topics:
- Canadian Aviation Regulations
- Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight
- Meteorology
- Airframes, Engines, and Systems
- Flight Instruments
- Radio and Electronic Theory
- Navigation
- Flight Operations
- Licensing Requirements
- Human Factors, including pilot decision-making
Flight Training Requirements: Minimum 45 Hours of flight training in the aeroplane
- 17 hours dual instruction with a flight instructor
- 3 hours cross country training
- 5 hours of instrument training
- 12 hours solo time
- 5 hours cross country time.
The Level Flight online Ground School experience offers superior quality courses in a delivery model that is inclusive, accessible, and flexible to meet the time and financial needs of students of all ages, lifestyles, and motivations. Connect with our Admissions Office with any questions or sign up now and begin your journey into the skies.
Pilot Training Pathway
Generally, new pilots start with a Private Pilot Licence. If you wish to continue learning and gaining experience or you are choosing to become a career pilot you would need to continue in your training. Follow below to learn more about the typical path of gaining experience and building your qualifications to become a professional pilot. You can click on each licence or rating to learn more.
Recreational Pilot Permit (Possible Start Point)
Private Pilot License (Typical Start Point)
Add Ratings As Required
Night
Multi-Engine
Instrument
VFR Over The Top
Float
Commercial Pilot License
Add ratings As Required
Multi-Engine
Instrument
Instructor
Float
Airline Transport Pilot License
How to Become a Pilot in Canada
Becoming a pilot in Canada is an exciting journey that combines classroom learning with hands-on flight experience. Whether your goal is to fly for fun or pursue a professional aviation career, the process begins with proper training and certification. In Canada, aspiring pilots typically start with a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) before moving on to a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) if they want to fly for a living. Level Flight is the best choice to begin your pilot training journey. Click below to learn more about the typical process for becoming a pilot in Canada.
- Obtain a medical certificate
- Earn a Private Pilot License
- Earn a Commercial Pilot License
- Complete Advanced Training
Every pilot in Canada is required to obtain a medical certificate for the license they wish to hold (CAT 3 or 1 for PPL, CAT 1 for CPL). Level Flight recommends completing this step before or early in your training.
This process involves two main parts: ground school and flight training. Ground school will teach you the required knowledge, while flight training will teach you the skills in the aircraft. Ground school can be done before or at the same time as flight training. Make the best use of your time by signing up for Level Flight's online ground school. Click here to learn more about PPL training. This step can be your final destination if your goal is to be a recreational pilot. To become a professional pilot continue to the next step.
After completing the PPL, students who want to pursue a career as a pilot can advance to CPL training. This process is the same as the PPL with ground school and flight training components, but new and advanced skills are added to the curriculum. Click here to learn more about CPL training.
The next step in the pilot training journey is to obtain advanced qualifications such as a multi-engine and instrument rating. This step is required for anyone wishing to fly professionally but optional for those only looking to fly recreationally. Click here to learn more about advanced licenses and ratings.
Ground School FAQ's
To answer this we need to know what kind of pilot do you want to be. Do you want to be a private pilot and fly recreationally? Or do you want to be a commercial pilot and fly for hire? One thing to note is that flight training can be a variable cost that is dependent on each specific person's rate of progress. Be wary of anyone that will give you a solid low price figure as it may be based on an absolute best-case scenario and not average statistics. Check out the link below and click on each license and rating to learn more about the specific costs and requirements. Each one is listed in the typical order in which you might obtain them.
Generally speaking, a pilot will spend anywhere from approximately $12,000 to $100,000 to become a pilot depending on what kind of pilot they want to be. Note that ground school is the cheapest part of the flight training experience. The actual flying part of the training is where the big money is spent. Flight schools roughly charge an average of $200/hr for each flight.
We are located next to the Calgary Springbank Airport (CYBW). But that won’t matter to you since you can learn from anywhere with Level Flight!
No. The saying you get what you pay for is oftentimes applicable here. Do your homework, choose a program that is modern, provides many avenues of delivery, and does not simply run you through a PowerPoint presentation. The use of high-quality technology to deliver superior ground schools comes at a cost. This might be reflected in the cost of the ground school but can be well worth it.
It’s dependent on which two ground schools you are comparing. There are a lot of great in-class ground schools available from reputable flight schools but there are also ones that have a revolving door of instructors and outdated PowerPoint slides. This can reduce the true effectiveness of the ground school course. By going online the delivery is more consistent, definitely flexible, and oftentimes higher quality. Choosing a company that invests a lot into creating a quality online ground school can be advantageous to you as a student pilot.
Our Team Is ready For You
The team of Ground School educators at Level Flight are highly skilled and experienced airline transport-rated pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Flight Instructors, and other industry experts who combine knowledge obtained in the field with a passion to prepare the next generation of Canadian Pilots to take to the skies. We deliver quality, engaging course content through an online model that meets the needs of today’s student pilot. Connect with our team today to take advantage of Level Flight’s innovative e-learning methods.
Take Flight Now
Level Flight is Canada’s best online ground school. It is our mandate to provide higher quality, more engaging training for Canadian Student Pilots. If you are seeking the exhilarating freedom of flight for a hobby or with aspirations of a career in the skies, Level Flight offers the best ground school experience available. Sign up for our online learning platform now and discover the adventure that awaits you at Level Flight.
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