To fly in Canada, a person must be the holder of either a license or permit.
Similar to a drivers license, a pilots license determines the privileges based on the license held.
Recreational Pilot Permit
| You can obtain this permit in less time than a Private Pilot License, but it also carries more restrictions. The RPP allows you to fly with a maximum of one passenger, by day only, in an aircraft with fewer than four seats. Therefore, no other ratings can be added with the exception of a seaplane rating. You are also restricted from flying outside Canada. | |
| Requirements: | |
| Age: 14 to solo, 16 for issuance of pilot permit | |
| Medical: Class 4 | |
| Flight time: (minimum) 25 hours total time; 15 hours of which must be dual, and 5 hours solo | |
| Ground School: No formal ground school required | |
| Written exam: Successfully complete the recreational pilot permit examination | |
| Flight Test: Successfully complete the recreational pilot permit flight test with a designed pilot examiner | |
| Typical Cost based on: 15 hours dual, 5 hours solo and 15 briefing hours – $ 7,500.00 (taxes, supplies, fees – estimate only) |
Private Pilot License
| The Private Pilot License allows you to fly any single-engine aircraft by day. You may add various ratings such as night, instrument, VFR over-the-top, multi-engine or seaplane rating. |
| Requirements: |
| Age: 14 to solo, 17 for issuance of the license |
| Medical: Class 3 through a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner |
| Flight Time: (minimum) 45 hours total time; 17 hours of which must be dual, 12 hours solo. 3 hours dual cross-country, 5 hours solo cross-country and 5 hours instrument time. |
| Ground School: 40 hours ground school is required |
| Written exam: Successfully pass the private pilot written examination |
| Flight Test: Successfully pass the private pilot flight test with a designated pilot examiner |
| Typical cost based on: 25 hours dual, 20 hours solo, 45 briefing hours – $ 14,500 (taxes, supplies, fees – estimate only) |
Commercial Pilot License
| Welcome to the big leagues! The Commercial Pilot License builds your knowledge and improves your flying skills to the professional pilot level. This license also includes the night and VFR over-the-top rating. With a CPL you can now be employed as a pilot. |
| Requirements: |
| Age: 18 for issuance of license |
| Medical: Class 1 through a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner |
| Flight Time: (minimum) 200 hours total time; 100 hours pilot in command; including 20 hours cross country. After the issuance of the Private Pilot license: a minimum of 65 hours including, 35 hours dual, 20 hours instrument, and 30 hours solo. |
| Ground School: 80 hours of ground school is required |
| Written exam: Successful completion of a written examination |
| Flight Test: Successfully pass the commercial pilot flight test with the designed pilot examiner |
| Typical cost based on: 35 hours dual, 30 hours solo, 60 briefing hours – $ 21,000 (supplies, fees, estimate only) Does not include time building hours required to have a minimum of 200 hours total time for the issuance of the license. |