Diploma of Technical Studies (Full Time)

The Program

The program is 64 weeks long, and operates for four continuous terms.  It is one of the fastest ways in Canada to qualify for a commercial pilot’s licence while attaining a post secondary diploma. The Airline and Flight Operations Diploma program follows training standards prescribed by both Transport Canada and the aviation industry.  It is delivered at the BCIT Aerospace and Technology Campus and at the Boundary Bay Airport.

BCIT, one of Canada’s largest aeronautics schools, and Pacific Flying Club, one of Western Canada’s premier flight training schools, have combined their resources and expertise to offer a unique training opportunity for men and women who wish to become airline pilots and airline managers.  It is the only fully integrated program that combines the training required to qualify for a commercial pilot licence including a multi-engine IFR rating, with instruction on the applied skills and knowledge base necessary to operate an airline.  It is designed specifically to meet the professional growth needs of an aviator in the exciting aviation business.

Job Opportunities

Now is the time to become a pilot and airline manager.  Even with recent challenges in the aviation industry, the industry is poised for continuous growth in future decades,  Retirements and projected growth over the next decade are forecasted to create strong needs for pilots with superior technical skills as well as a background in different areas of aviation such as safety management systems, WHMIS and cockpit resource management.  The Air Transport Association of Canada has identified the need for pilots to obtain broad-based skills in addition to their ability to operate an aircraft.  Today’s pilots will need to be managers as well as pilots – managers of systems, of information and of people.*

Industry statistics indicate that many air operators hire their new pilots directly out of aviation colleges or flight schools.  Air operators have indicated that graduates from college or university would generally make better pilots because of the broader education they receive.*

*Source:  2001 Human Resource Study of Commercial Pilots in Canada, Air Transport Association of Canada.

Program Length

Full-time (30 hours per week) for 64 weeks in four continuous terms

Total flying provided in the program is 203.8 hours over the four terms

Each term must be passed to progress to the next term

The flight training portion of the program is competency based, however, there is a minimum number of flying hours required.  i.e.  most students can expect to qualify for their Private Pilot Licence after flying between 45 hours (Transport Canada minimum requirement) and 60 hours (the average for most people).  The Private Pilot Licence course allows for a maximum 80 flying hours.

Programs are delivered over 16 months, full-time, beginning in September each year with a short winter and a short summer break and ending in December the following year.

Normal Course Hours and Location

08:00 – 15:30, Monday through Friday

British Columbia Institute of Technology

Aerospace and Technology Campus

3800 Cessna Drive

Richmond, B.C.

Note:  Flying lessons are conducted at the Boundary Bay Airport.  Block time is scheduled during the program for flight lessons.  Students will be booked for each flight lesson within the block times by Pacific Flying Club.

The Flying School

Pacific Flying Club, established in 1965, is today the largest flight training school in B.C.  It was the first flight training centre in the Lower Mainland to achieve accreditation with the Private Career Training Institute Agency. (PCTIA) and is a fully participating member of the Air Transport Association of Canada and the British Columbia Aviation Council.  It has a large fleet of modern, well-equipped aircraft and is located at Boundary Bay Airport, south of Vancouver, B.C.  The Pacific Flying Club is recognized in the industry as a leader in flight training.

Tuition Fees

For a complete list of fees associated with this program see our Schedule of Fees

Books, Supplies and Uniform

$2000 in Term 1-2 and $2000 in Term 3-4 (general estimated costs and are subject to change)

Additional costs such as travel expenses for field trips and practicums are the responsibility of the student.

Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for the Airline and Flight Operations Diploma program, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

1.      High school graduation.  English 12 and Math 11.

2.      Pass a Category One Aviation medical examination.

3.      Complete the BCIT aviation pre-entry assessment test (Test fee $70.00)

4.      Attend an entrance interview with the Selection Committe to determine interest and suitability for the program.

5.      Provide an application and registration fee.

Note 1:                  Applicants 19 years of age or older, who have not graduated from high school and have been working for a number of years may be considered as mature students.  All other entrance requirements specified for this program are required by applicants applying as mature students.  Acceptance of mature students is at the discretion of the program selection committee.

Note 2:                  Students applying for admission to the full-time program will be given priority over students applying with prior flying experience credits.  All prior learning assessments will be evaluated on an individualized basis by the program selection committee.

If the prospective student has obtained a Recreational Pilot Permit (RPP) or a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) prior to enrolment in the Airline and Flight Operation Program, a limited amount of flight training experience may be credited towards the program.  Any other previous flight training experience WILL NOT be credited.

Industry Policy

·         A security check will be required to work on or at airports.  This check will be done at the time of assignment to an airport location.

·         Some sectors of the aviation industry will screen for drug and alcohol use.

·         Most aviation companies require Grade 12 completion as a hiring policy.

·         Excellent attendance is an important issue at most aviation companies.

·         Applicants are reminded that major airlines have vision, height and weight restrictions which exceed Transport Canada requirements.

·         Most airlines give preference to those with post-secondary education.

Grading

Student learning is evaluated at the end of each course.  To complete the program, a 70% pass mark is required for each course. (90% for Student Pilot Permit). A full failure of any Transport Canada written examination will result in immediate withdrawal from the program.

To obtain pilot licences and ratings, students will be required to complete Transport Canada examinations and flight tests.

Note:               Students must achieve a Pass standing in all courses in each term to successfully complete the term.  Students who fail or withdraw from one or more courses in a term may be prohibited from continuing in the program, and may be required to apply for re-admission.  When students are permitted to continue with the program, it is their responsibility to present evidence of successful completion of the failed course(s) to the Registrar’s office prior to the end of the next term or before the appropriate credential is awarded, whichever condition is specified at the time or subsequent to the failure.

Program Content – Airline and Flight Operations (Commercial Pilot)

Note:       15 classroom hours equal 1 credit. Total flying in the four terms totals 203.8 hours.

Term 1 (16 Weeks)		Hours	Credits
AVFO 1100	Occupational Health and Safety for Pilots	30	2
AVFO 1105	Computer Skills for Aviators	30	2
AVFO 1110	Interpersonal/Communication Skills for Pilots	30	2
AVFO 1115	Air Navigation and Air Traffic Services and Procedures	30	2
AVFO 1120	Leadership 1 – People Management in Aviation	45	3
AVFO 1125	Flight Dispatching	30	2
AVFO 1130	Meteorology 1	30	2
AVFO 1135	Private Pilot Ground School	60	4
AVFO 1140	Private Pilot Flight Training - Fixed Wing	80	5.5
AVFO 1145	Private Pilot Flight Training - Rotary Wing (Option)	(80)	(5.5)
AVFO 1150	Private Pilot Flight Training - Pre and Post Flight Briefing	80	5.5
AVFO 1160	Private Pilot Licence – Prep and Ride	20	1.5
Term 1 Total		465	31.5

 

Term 2 (16 Weeks)		Hours	Credits
AVFO 2100	Technical Report Writing and Communications	45	3
AVFO 2105	International Trade and Finance for Aviation	45	3
AVFO 2110	Aviation Project Management	30	2
AVFO 2115	History and Development of Transport Category Aircraft	60	4
AVFO 2120	Leadership 2 – Human Factors/Cockpit Resource Management	30	2
AVFO 2125	History and Development of Commercial Aviation	30	2
AVFO 2130	Flight Line Aircraft Maintenance	60	4
AVFO 2135	Commercial Pilot Ground School - Fixed Wing 1	45	3
AVFO 2140	Commercial Pilot Flight Training - Fixed Wing 1	60	4
AVFO 2145	Commercial Pilot Flight Training - Rotary Wing 1 (Option)	(60)	(4)
AVFO 2150	Commercial Pilot Flight Training - Pre and Post Flight Briefing 1	60	4
AVFO 2155	Commercial Pilot Ground School - Rotary Wing 1 (Option)	(45)	(3)
Term 2 Total		465	31

 

Term 3 (16 Weeks)		Hours	Credits
AVFO 3100	Airline Operations and Economics	60	4
AVFO 3105	Commercial Transport, Design and Operations	60	4
AVFO 3110	Aviation Safety and Emergency Preparedness	60	4
AVFO 3115	Fleet Planning and Operations	60	4
AVFO 3120	Mountain, Wilderness and Water Survival Skills	30	2
AVFO 3130	Meteorology 2	30	2
AVFO 3135	Commercial Pilot Ground School - Fixed Wing 2	45	3
AVFO 3140	Commercial Pilot Flight Training - Fixed Wing 2	60	4
AVFO 3145	Commercial Pilot Flight Training - Rotary Wing 2 (Option)	(60)	(4)
AVFO 3150	Commercial Pilot Flight Training - Pre and Post Flight Briefing 2	60	4
AVFO 3155	Commercial Pilot Ground School - Rotary Wing 2 (Option)	(45)	(3)
AVFO 3160	Commercial Pilot Licence – Prep and Ride	10	1
Term 3 Total		475	32

 

Term 4 (16 Weeks)		Hours	Credits
AVFO 4100	Shipping Dangerous Goods By Air	45	3
AVFO 4105	Air Carrier and Airport Security Systems	30	2
AVFO 4110	Quality Systems For A Service Oriented Airline	30	2
AVFO 4115	Community and Public Relations	60	4
AVFO 4120	Leadership 3 – Crisis Planning and Management	60	4
AVFO 4125	Instructional Techniques For The Aviation Workplace	30	2
AVFO 4130	Multi-Engine Ground School	20	1.5
AVFO 4135	Multi-Engine Rating - Flight	20	1.5
AVFO 4140	Multi-Engine Rating - Pre and Post Flight Briefing	30	2
AVFO 4230	Instrument Rating - Ground School	30	2
AVFO 4235	Instrument Rating - Flight	40	2.5
AVFO 4240	Instrument Rating - Pre and Post Flight Briefing	40	2.5
AVFO 4260	Instrument Rating – Flight Prep and Ride	20	1.5
Term 4 Total		455	30.5
Program Total		1860	125.0

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