Why is the trainning more expensive in Canada?

[errece]

I've been searching for an affordable training program and noticed a huge difference in the cost of a Private or Commercial License in the USA when compared to Canada. As of today the currency exchange rate is almost US$1 to Can$1.

 

Why can a Private license be obtained for as low as US$11,350.00 in USA but in Canada the lowest would be between Can$19,000.00 and Can$24,000.00?

 

Thanks

[Rick McWilliams]

The cost of training depends on how you learn. Very few pilots get their license in the minimum number of hours. The private helicopter rating is really a license to learn. I have a hundred hours since my helicopter rating and I am now at the precision level that I would have liked for my private checkride.

 

It is difficult to compare helicopter schools by price. The most important thing is to find a school with an instructor that is right for you and equipment that is well maintained.

[Inferno]

Rick, when a flight school quote you a cost to get to a private rating, they give you minimums. Granted, some students may not make it in the mins, but its part of a school's marketing strategy to show what the cheapest cost for a student would be....

 

As far as canada goes, I don't know why the cost more. I've heard it over and over again that it costs about double, but I couldn't tell you why.

[67november]

First off the training in the US is bassackwards from that of Canada.

In Canada the instructors need to have 5000 hours of flight time to qualify as an instructor so you're paying for the knowledge and wisdom of high time pilots.

[r22butters]

If Canadian pilots need 5000hrs to teach, how do they get it, and why isn't there a mass exodus of US pilots to Canada, aye?

[67november]

they have to "pay thier dues" being ramp rats for the first 3-5 years while they build time doing ferry flight and ship transfers and such, attitude and perserverence are key to success.

then they may get assigned a ship and from there spend years working in the field.

Edited March 24, 2010 by 67november

[HelliBoy]

Socialised Medicine.

 

No but really, training is more expensive everywhere else. Thats why our training market is at least half europeans and while my initial reaction was flippant, ask yourself why America is different from any of these countries...for now.

[klas]

... while they build time doing ferry flight and ship transfers and such....

 

I'd actually rather just do that...

[Whistlerpilot]

I did my training in Canada.

 

There are 4 levels of instructor. To get the entry level (class 4) you need 250 hours helicopter PIC. Most schools use instructors with many many thousands of hours who are at the mature stage of their career. The advantage is learning from someone who has a lot of operational experience.

 

Why does it cost more in Canada?

 

For many decades the Canadian $ was much less than the US $. This meant costs in Canada were higher. Parts are usually bought in US $ for example. The up front purchase cost of a helicopter was up to 40% more plus the tax and fees to import.

 

Taxes are higher in Canada especially for fuel. This effects the cost of everything. A case of beer is nearly double in Canada.

 

Wages in Canada are higher. Aircraft Maintenance Engineers are paid much more in Canada than a comparable A&P/IA. Instructors generally are paid around $100. per hour though there is probably variation amonst schools.

 

Finally, there is virtually no market for private helicopter pilots. Almost everyone does the 100 hour commercial course which usually takes 4 to 6 months. This means there are not that many schools to serve the small training market. Also it is very difficult to become a "Flight Training Unit" so the schools that exist are usually quite established with limited competition compared to the US. There is very little incentive to charge less than your competitor in Canada so training prices are very stable (high). Canadian schools probably have a higher profit margin.

 

To compare to the US, in 2007 when I completed my training there were about 250 new helicopter licenses issued. That same year in the US I'm guessing there was over 2000 helicopter certifications issued.

 

The training quality in Canada is generally much higher, but not worth an American paying double for. On the other hand a Canadian getting trained in the US will save money but may have a much harder time finding work in Canada afterwards.

 

In my first 100 hours I did over 200 full down autos, stuck pedals, mountain flying, and mostly confined/bush landings in Canada. That would be a bad idea in the US system with low time instructors.

 

"100 hour wonders" as new commercial pilots are known sometimes work ground support jobs for years to break into the Canadian pilot market. The idea is that almost anyone can learn to fly a helicopter, but not that many have the personality, work ethic, positive attitude, and simple sticktooitiveness needed to make it. It's a small percentage of low time pilots who slog it out to a flying job. A pilots license is just a license to learn. It's only the first of thousands of steps. Many start, few finish.

 

Right now the US system is easier, quicker, and cheaper!

[67november]

thx whistler, I knew you'd chime in sooner or later.

[Jonathan Hall]

If you are looking for training to become a commercial RTC pilot as a career I would look online at Helicopteracademy.com. You receive great training and build many hours cheaper than any school I know of in the states. You are welcome to contact me for any information.

 

Fly high, Fly safe.

[Eggbeater]

If you are looking for training to become a commercial RTC pilot as a career I would look online at Helicopteracademy.com. You receive great training and build many hours cheaper than any school I know of in the states. You are welcome to contact me for any information.

 

Fly high, Fly safe.

 

That's the second time you've posted an unsolicited free advertisement for your school, Jonathan. Don't you think Helicopter Academy should pay for their advertisements just like every other school?

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking a flight school review from someone that wants to know, but peppering these boards with the same blurb about your school seems pretty tacky.

[Inferno]

Indeed....

That's the second time you've posted an unsolicited free advertisement for your school, Jonathan. Don't you think Helicopter Academy should pay for their advertisements just like every other school?

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking a flight school review from someone that wants to know, but peppering these boards with the same blurb about your school seems pretty tacky.

[Whistlerpilot]

The post above just emphasizes my point about competitiveness in US flight training as compared to Canada. Extremely competitive markets bring prices down, but quality of products often suffer to maintain a profit margin.

 

Here is a link to an article about helicopter training. There is a paragraph about the Canadian model at the very end.

 

http://www.verticalmag.com/control/news/te...=12841&z=11

[rotormandan]

Higher time instructors and less compitition of schools = more expensive but higher quality intruction. Makes sense. Now the $$$ are pretty much = and I also fear that soon the hanger rat for a few years routine might become the same as well. At least the training is well worth the extra $$$.