
The Evolution of the Piper Cherokee: A Pilot’s Favorite
Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C. Image courtesy of Wikipedia. For decades, the Piper Cherokee has remained a staple in general aviation, admired by flight students, instructors,
Gavin Niblock, a Vancouver native, always knew he wanted to become a pilot. Reflecting on his early dreams, Gavin says, “I knew I wanted to become a pilot when I was very young. Around six years old.” Fast-forward to May 2023, when Gavin started the BCIT/PFC program. Now, he’s successfully earned his private pilot’s license, commercial license, and multi-IFR rating. “I’m just looking for opportunities at smaller airlines up north,” he shares his next steps.
Gavin explains the program step by step. “To start, we worked on our private pilot’s license. That was a big first step and took around six or seven months.” After completing the private license, Gavin moved on to earning his night rating, allowing him to fly after dark. “After that, we started time building. We’d fly with classmates or sometimes bring along family or friends. We travelled across the province, building up the hours needed for our commercial licenses.”
Time building is essential to the process: “When we finish our private licenses, we have around 60 or 70 hours, depending on how quickly we complete them. But to qualify for a commercial license, you need to build that up—sometimes well over 100 hours.” During this time, Gavin worked on cross-country flying, which involved trips to different airports across the province. “It builds confidence, hours, and a lot of skills.”
Later, Gavin trained on the Piper Seneca, a twin-engine aircraft, to earn his multi-engine rating. He moved on to his IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) rating. “That was the big step to becoming a commercial pilot because that’s what most airlines require nowadays,” he explains.
Planning flights became second nature. “When we were doing our private licenses, they taught us how to plan cross-country flights. There’s much to consider—your aircraft’s capabilities, terrain, weather, fuel availability. They teach you all that during the private license training, and then you apply it during time building. Feeling confident in your ability to plan and execute a flight safely and efficiently is very rewarding.”
One unique part of the program was a maintenance course at BCIT in January. “We did light elementary work, like changing a tire and lock wiring different aircraft parts. It was a short course, but we learned much from an ex-Air Canada maintenance technician.”
Gavin also compares the BCIT/PFC program to working on a pilot’s license privately. “The big difference is the time. We finished everything in around 18 months, but it was hard work every day—sometimes seven days a week. When the weather was good, you were flying. There weren’t any days off, and you weren’t working at your own pace. It’s fast and efficient but also very demanding.”
He acknowledges that the structured program isn’t for everyone. “If you need to work a job to fund your training, doing it privately might be a better option. But it’s a great choice if you can commit to the program, work hard, and want to finish quickly.”
Gavin says he’s open to different opportunities when asked about his goals. “Whether it’s cargo, passengers, or air work like skydiving or spraying, I’m open to it. I want to travel north, gain valuable life experience, and build my hours.”
Looking back on the program, Gavin says he has no regrets. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. I’ve met lifelong friends, made connections, and gained so much. It’s been a lot of hard work and late nights, but it’s all been worth it.”
Gavin offers this advice for anyone considering the program: “You need to be ready for a lot of schoolwork and late nights. Time management is crucial. When you start flying, you’ll love it, but you need to balance that with your classwork. If you’re passionate about becoming a pilot and willing to put in the effort, this program is a great choice.”
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Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C. Image courtesy of Wikipedia. For decades, the Piper Cherokee has remained a staple in general aviation, admired by flight students, instructors,
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