On this page you will find a summary of the requirements for the various licences and ratings issued by Transport Canada. Not all of these courses are currently taught by me – please ask if you have any questions.
Recreational Pilot Permit
To obtain a pilot permit – recreational a student shall be a minimum of sixteen years of age.
A student shall obtain a Class 4 medical certificate before being eligible for a PPR.
A student will obtain a minimum of 60% in each of the following four mandatory subject areas as well as in the overall written examination Pilot Permit – Recreational – Aeroplane (RPPAE) or Private Pilot Licence – Aeroplane (PPAER):
- Air Law – regulations, rules and orders, air traffic services, practices and procedures, and licensing requirements relevant to the permit;
- Navigation – navigation, radio aids and electronic theory;
- Meteorology;
- Aeronautics – General Knowledge – airframes, engines and systems, theory of flight, flight instruments and flight operations.
A student will complete a minimum of 25 hours recreational pilot flight training under the direction and supervision of the holder of a flight instructor rating – aeroplane in aeroplanes operating with a Certificate of Airworthiness.
The flight training shall include a minimum of:
- 15 hours dual instruction flight time, including a minimum of 2 hours cross-country flight time, and
- 5 hours solo flight time.
A student shall successfully complete the prescribed flight test for the issuance of a Recreational Pilot Permit, or the prescribed flight test for the issuance of a Private Pilot Licence.
TP 12467E – Study and Reference Guide – Recreational Pilot Permit – Aeroplane
TP 12475 – Flight Test Guide – Recreational Pilot Permit – Aeroplane
Private Pilot Licence
To obtain a PPL a student shall be a minimum of seventeen years of age.
A student shall obtain either a Class 3 or Class 1 medical certificate before being eligible for a PPL.
A student shall have completed a minimum of 40 hours private pilot aeroplane ground school instruction on the following subjects:
- Canadian Aviation Regulations,
- Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight,
- Meteorology,
- Airframes, Engines and Systems,
- Flight Instruments,
- Radio and Electronic Theory,
- Navigation,
- Flight Operations,
- Licensing Requirements, and
- Human Factors, including pilot decision-making;
A student shall have obtained a minimum of 60% in each of the following four mandatory subject areas as well as in the overall written examination Private Pilot Licence – Aeroplane (PPAER):
- Air Law – regulations, rules and orders, air traffic services, practices and procedures, and licensing requirements relevant to the licence;
- Navigation – navigation, radio aids and electronic theory;
- Meteorology;
- Aeronautics – General Knowledge – airframes, engines and systems, theory of flight, flight instruments and flight operations.
A student shall have completed a minimum of 45 hours private pilot flight training in aeroplanes under the direction and supervision of the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating – Aeroplane. A maximum 5 of the 45 hours may be conducted on an approved aeroplane simulator or flight training device.
The flight training shall include a minimum of
- 17 hours dual instruction flight time, including a minimum of 3 hours cross-country flight time and 5 hours of instrument time of which a maximum of 3 hours may be instrument ground time; and
- 12 hours solo flight time, including 5 hours cross-country flight time with a flight of a minimum of 150 nautical miles which shall include 2 full stop landings at points other than the point of departure.
Within the 12 months preceding the date of application for the licence, a student shall successfully complete a flight test as pilot-in-command of an aeroplane in accordance with Schedule 3 “Flight Test for the Issuance of a Private Pilot Licence – Aeroplane” of Standard 428 – Conduct of Flight Tests.
Study and reference guide and flight test standards:
TP 12880 – Study and Reference Guide for Written Examinations for Private Pilot Licence
TP 13723 – Flight Test Guide – Private Pilot Licence – Aeroplane
Night Rating
A student for a night rating shall acquire in aeroplanes a minimum of 20 hours of pilot flight time which shall include a minimum of:
- 10 hours of night flight time including a minimum of:
- 5 hours dual flight time, including 2 hours of cross-country flight time,
- 5 hours solo flight time, including 10 takeoffs, circuits and landings, and
- 10 hours dual instrument time.
A student shall successfully complete a qualifying flight.
Instrument Rating
Training will be conducted for and towards the following (minimum) Transport Canada requirements for the issue of an instrument rating:
A student shall obtain a minimum of 70% on the written examination Instrument Rating (INRAT) which shall include the following subjects:
- Canadian Aviation Regulations;
- Instrument Flight Rules and Procedures;
- Meteorology;
- Instruments;
- Radio and Radar systems; and
- Navigation.
A student shall complete a minimum of:
- 50 hours of cross-country flight as pilot-in-command in aeroplanes of which 10 hours must be in the appropriate category; and
- 40 hours of instrument time of which a maximum of 20 hours may be instrument ground time. The 40 hours instrument time shall include a minimum of:
- 5 hours of dual instrument flight time acquired from the holder of a flight instructor rating,
- Fifteen (15) hours of dual instrument flight time provided by a qualified person as specified in section 425.21(9); and
- one dual cross-country flight under simulated or actual IMC conditions of a minimum of 100 nautical miles, the flight to be conducted in accordance with an IFR flight plan to include at two different locations, an instrument approach to minima.
A student shall successfully complete the prescribed flight test.
TP 691E – Study and Reference Guide for the written examinations for the Instrument Rating – Aeroplane and Helicopter
TP 9939E – Flight Test Guide – Instrument Rating Groups 1, 2 and 3 Aeroplane
Instructor Rating
Before commencing flight training for the Class 4 Instructor Rating – Aeroplane, an applicant shall hold a Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot Licence – Aeroplane and have completed either:
- a minimum of 200 hours total time including 20 hours instrument time, of which a minimum of 10 hours shall be instrument flight time; or
- the commercial pilot licence – aeroplane/instrument rating (CPL(A)/IR) integrated course.
Before commencing ground school instruction for the Class 4 Instructor Rating – Aeroplane, an applicant shall have successfully completed the written examination and flight test for the Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane.
A student shall complete a minimum of 25 hours of Instructor Rating ground school instruction which shall include:
- practical application of the basic principles of learning and techniques of instruction;
- preparation and use of lesson plans;
- procedures for planning and presenting preparatory ground instruction, pre-flight briefings, in-flight instruction, and post-flight debriefings;
- theory of flight required to teach the air exercises;
- aircraft flight manuals and aircraft operating limits;
- presentation of pilot decision-making concepts; and
- the use of the Transport Canada Flight Instructor Guide, Flight Training Manual, Canadian Aviation Regulations, Part IV and the appropriate Flight Test schedules and guides.
A student shall obtain a minimum of 70% in the written examination Flight Instructor Rating – Aeroplane Class 4 (AIRAF).
A student shall complete in aeroplanes a minimum of 30 hours of dual flight instruction on overall pilot proficiency and the presentation of all exercises set forth in the Flight Instructor Guide and shall include a minimum of 5 hours of training in the teaching of instrument flight skills
A student shall successfully complete the prescribed flight test.
TP 15219 Study and Reference Guide for written examinations for the Flight Instructor Rating Aeroplane
Commercial Pilot Licence
To obtain a commercial pilot licence a student shall be a minimum of eighteen years of age.
A student shall obtain a Class 1 medical certificate before being eligible for a CPL.
Training will be conducted for and towards the following (minimum) Transport Canada requirements for the issue of a commercial pilot licence.
A student shall have completed a minimum of 80 hours commercial pilot aeroplane ground school instruction on the following subjects:
- Canadian Aviation Regulations,
- Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight,
- Meteorology,
- Airframes, Engines and Systems,
- Flight Instruments,
- Radio and Electronic Theory,
- Navigation,
- Flight Operations,
- Licensing Requirements, and
- Human Factors, including pilot decision-making;
A student shall obtain a minimum of 60% in each of the following four mandatory subject areas as well as in the overall written examination Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane (CPAER):
- Air Law – regulations, rules and orders, air traffic services, practices and procedures, and licensing requirements relevant to the licence;
- Navigation – navigation, radio aids and electronic theory;
- Meteorology;
- Aeronautics – General Knowledge – airframes, engines and systems, theory of flight, flight instruments and flight operations.
A student shall
- complete a minimum of 200 hours flight time in aeroplanes, of which a minimum of 100 hours shall be pilot-in-command time including 20 hours cross-country pilot-in-command flight time, and
- following the issuance of a private pilot licence — aeroplane by Canada or another contracting state, complete 65 hours of commercial pilot flight training in aeroplanes consisting of a minimum of:
- 35 hours dual instruction flight time, under the direction and supervision of the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating — Aeroplane, including:
- 5 hours night, including a minimum of 2 hours of cross-country flight time;
- 5 hours cross-country, which may include the cross-country experience stated in the previous clause; and
- 20 hours of instrument flight time in addition to the experience stated in the previous two clauses. A maximum 10 hours of the 20 hours may be conducted on an approved aeroplane simulator or synthetic flight training device.
- 30 hours solo flight time including:
- 25 hours solo flight time emphasizing the improvement of general flying skills of the applicant which shall include a cross-country flight to a point of a minimum of 300 nautical mile radius from the point of departure and shall include a minimum of 3 landings at points other than that of departure; and
- 5 hours solo flight time by night during which a minimum of 10 takeoffs, circuits and landings were completed.
- 35 hours dual instruction flight time, under the direction and supervision of the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating — Aeroplane, including:
A student shall successfully complete the prescribed flight test.
TP 12881E – Study And Reference Guide for Written Examinations for the Commercial Pilot Licence Aeroplane
Flight Test Guide – Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane – TP 13462