Aviation Career Paths in Canada: What You Can Do with a Commercial Pilot Licence
When people imagine a career as a pilot, the picture that usually comes to mind is a commercial airline uniform, a jet bridge, and a seat in a wide-body cockpit. It’s an understandable assumption — airline flying gets most of the attention, and it does represent one of the better-paying endpoints of an aviation career. […]
Can AI Replace Pilots? What Future Pilots Need to Know.
Can AI replace pilots? It’s a question that comes up often, especially for anyone considering flight training today. With rapid advances in automation, many assume that aircraft will soon fly themselves. The reality is more nuanced. Modern aviation already relies heavily on automated systems, yet the role of the pilot remains central. This article looks […]
Why Simulator Training Is Becoming Core to Pilot Development
ALSim simulator at Pacific Flying Club—where students build precision, practice procedures, and train for real-world flying before stepping into the aircraft. The Role of Simulators in Modern Flight Training Simulator training has moved from a supporting role to a central component of pilot development. This shift is driven by how pilots are now expected to […]
Glass Cockpits vs Traditional Gauges: What Student Pilots Should Know
The ALSim ALX simulator at Pacific Flying Club features a full glass cockpit layout, allowing student pilots to practice instrument procedures and navigation using modern digital flight displays similar to those found in today’s turbine aircraft. Walk into the cockpit of an older training aircraft, and you’ll usually see several round instruments spread across the […]
What Happens After You Get Your Private Pilot Licence?
By the time you receive your Private Pilot Licence, you have already been living like a pilot for months. You’ve planned cross-countries, monitored weather systems, calculated weight and balance, and managed radio calls in real traffic. The flight test is an important milestone, but it is not the beginning of your aviation life. It is […]
Why Weather Delays in Flight Training Help You Become a Better Pilot
Every student pilot faces weather delays in training, often sooner than expected. You plan your day around the lesson, arrive ready, and check the weather one last time, hoping it’s improved. Instead, the ceiling is lower than forecast, visibility hovers near limits, or winds don’t cooperate. Staying on the ground feels like stalled progress. Early […]
Multi-Engine Rating Explained: The Day Flying Stopped Being Casual
Piper PA-34 Seneca at Boundary Bay Airport. The Day Flying Stopped Feeling Casual Let me tell you something most pilots don’t usually talk about. The first time you climb into an aircraft for your multi-engine rating, it doesn’t feel like a milestone. It feels routine. Two throttles instead of one. A few extra checks added […]
The Evolution of General Aviation Aircraft: What’s Changed Over the Years?
Piper J-3 Cub: distinctive yellow, high-wing light monoplane with tailwheel; trainer and sport aviation; Continental A-65, 65 hp engine. Photo courtesy of National Air and Space Museum Walk onto any general aviation ramp today, and you’ll see aircraft that span decades. A Cessna 172 built in the 1970s might sit beside a modern composite Diamond […]
Top 5 Most Scenic Flights in North America
Photo of Clayoquot Sound by Jordan Giesbrecht courtesy of Tourism Tofino. Scenic Flights in North America offer more than just impressive views — they offer perspective. From the cockpit, the landscape changes. Rivers become threads. Mountains form patterns. Forests stretch in every direction. No road trip or hike compares. For pilots, these flights aren’t just […]
What It’s Like to Fly in Northern BC: Challenges and Rewards
You lift off from a small airport, climb above the trees, and head toward the mountains. Below, rivers wind through thick forests, and narrow gravel roads disappear into endless wilderness. The land feels untouched. And once you leave the circuit, the radio goes quiet. Flying in Northern British Columbia is a different kind of experience. […]