My passion for aviation started from actually quite a young age, when I was flying between Prince George and Vancouver regularly enough on regional q4 100, I always had the opportunity to go into the flight deck, talk to the pilots, and they would let me sit in the seats and kind of fiddle around with the controls a little bit. So, since then, I’ve always had a passion for aviation. So I started my career, or flying career, back in 2022 when I took my first familiarization flight, and from that day, I knew that it was a career that I was interested in and wanted to pursue.
Once I decided I wanted to be a pilot, I did some research, mainly in my community, to find out whether or not I could do it based on the Nanaimo issue; where I was living at the time, I found a school close to my house where I started my initial flight training. I did my PPL there, and then I decided to pick up the pace and see if I could do one of these more integrated, deeper, or in-depth programs. So that’s where I started looking around, mainly in Canada, and I found BCIT, which was still relatively close to home. I had family in Vancouver and spoke to a graduate that strongly recommended the program. And so I applied.
So I remember coming in on my first day nerve-wracking. It’s a new class, a new group of people. I also remember that even on our first lunch break, when we met with the cohort, we could quickly tell everybody was there to share the same passion. Everybody wanted to become a pilot, and the BCIT program was so great for me because it provides in-depth courses on many facets of the aviation industry, whether it be safety management systems, crew resource management, or technical writing; these are all courses that help you later on in your career.
As I mentioned before, I had done my PPL elsewhere, privately, and then I moved into the BCIT program after I’d done that first license, which was the PPL. So with BCIT, I’m completing my night rating, CPL, license, multi-engine, as well as the multi IFR rating and everything in between,
I would say my favourite rating in the program would have been the multi-IFR. It really gives you the sense of, without actually being an airline pilot, you can hear the airline speaking on the same frequencies as you, and you kind of feel like you’re fitting in with them. And it really gives you that sense of what your career is going to look like.
Multi IFR is a plan that you’ll be flying in here. It’ll be hypersonica, two engines, and then IFR is instrument flight rules. So we’re able to fly pretty much in clouds, lower weather, lower weather, minimums, essentially in bad weather, while most of your flight training is conducted on, you know, clear days where you have to see where you’re going during IFR you’re relying solely on your instruments, first time going in the cloud is quite a memorable experience to say the least. You have no reference to anything except for that instrument panel in front of you, and you just pretty much have to trust that with your life. But obviously it’s a pretty amazing experience
For me, the BCIT program structure worked so well was because I wanted to complete these ratings and licenses essentially as quick as I could. BCIT has it all structured in 18 months, and they offer courses that you just unfortunately you won’t get while doing it privately. So for me, that’s what appealed to me the most, as well as working in a cohort of people that share the same passion as you.
Personally, I think that both routes are great in their own ways. Whether you do it through BCIT, where it’s fast paced and structured and you’d like to pursue your career a little bit quicker get to that airline point, or finish your ratings at a quicker pace. Obviously, BCIT could be a good option for you, but at the same time, say you want to work at the same time, take your time, take it a little bit slower. That’s where the private option is, definitely the one I would choose. I’ve experienced in both and, like I said, the private option, it’s less structured. You’re kind of responsible for your own flight training more so. But BCIT, it’s if you’re willing to put in the work. It can be quite, quite rewarding, but very intensive, and I work load at times.
My most memorable experience during the BCIT program would have definitely been my 300 nautical mile flight. I chose the route where you left from Boundary Bay. You would stop in Williams Lake and then we’ll go all the way up to Vanderhoof. It was very memorable because it’s really the first time I properly left the Lower Mainland or like Vancouver Island area. So it really gives you the sense that you’re on your own, and it’s a sense that your training is now paid off. Obviously, it’s a little bit nerve wracking at first, but once you finally get to Vander hoof and then obviously back to boundary Bay, it’s it’s amazing. It’s definitely the most rewarding flight I’ve experienced today.
The prep that was involved before that 300 nautical mile flight included big ones was: checking the weather, having the correct charts and maps, having nav logs ready, and finally, the flight plan; we also had to call ahead and ensure that all these airports had fuel. I would personally as well go look at these airports on, say, Google Maps, because obviously you’ve never been to these places before, and some of them have some technical approaches that are going to challenge your skills. So those are some of the preparations that were required before these 300 noncommof lights.
Now that I’m done with the BCIT program, I hope to continue pursuing my class foreign flight instructor rating and get employed at PFC to hopefully teach student pilots. Moving forward, after that, I’m hoping to either perhaps go up north to experience some bush flying, or move into a smaller regional carrier. After that, my long term goals would be to move to a larger airline in Canada, hopefully less narrow bodies, and then the absolute end goal of flying wide bodies all around the world,
If you’re looking to pursue a career in aviation with the goal of becoming a pilot, I think BCIT And PFC would be a great option for most people. The training they offer here is fantastic again, as it covers all facets of the aviation world and really deepens your knowledge before moving into the industry. Everybody here that is involved with your training really wants you to succeed, although you do have to put in the work. It’s a fantastic experience, and I strongly suggest it.
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