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About the RFC Team:
The Rockcliffe Flying Club is a Transport Canada approved flight training unit and private career college that offers both recreational and professional aviator training.

RFC’s training school has a dedicated team of over 20 staff to help you achieve your aviation dream.  Our fleet includes Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Diamond DA20, and Diamond DA42 aircraft along with a certified Redbird flight simulator.

Nicholas Piper, Chief Flight Instructor, manages the training program at RFC and supervises the instructional staff, which includes five Class 1 instructors among our diverse team of industry veterans.  Nick has an open door and is always willing to discuss your training needs.  He is also a Juno Award winning musician.

Pamalyn Maskell, Operations Manager, oversees the school’s affairs and ensures a smooth running of the club.  Our dispatchers and ramp attendants are the face of the company on the ground, always ready to help you out and ensure that RFC provides a friendly and supportive training environment.

Learn

Training Orientation Meeting:
Once you have decided to start training, book your no-charge meeting with one of our Senior Instructors, to discuss the process, what you would like to do and how to proceed. Even if you do the introductory flight first, we would like like to meet you anyways. We want to ensure you are matched with the right training program. Just call or drop by to book an appointment.

Introductory Flight :
This is where your flight training journey begins! You will have a pre-flight briefing, 1/2 hour of flight time and will let you get a real feeling of what flying is about. It actually counts towards your training time. To book an introductory flight with an instructor, just call or drop by and we will be pleased to book a flight with one of our instructors.

If you decide to go ahead, the first step is a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), or a Recreational Pilot Permit (RPP).

Both involve ground training and flight training, a written exam and flight test. For details click on the appropriate license in the Training section.

Enjoy

The Rockcliffe Flying Club is more than just a flight school. We’re also a flying club with many active members. Your licence is just the beginning of the journey.

With a PPL, you can continue on by upgrading your licence and adding ratings.  RFC offers training toward:

Join us for our many non-flying events—such as Wings Dinner, Volunteer BBQ, Christmas Potluck, Canada Day celebration, Battle of Britain fly-by, and more—or just hang out and talk aviation with other club members at Tony’s BBQ and gazebo.  Located on the shore of the Ottawa River, RFC is a great place for planespotting, biking, or boating.

How Much Will it Cost?
Depends on many factors including the program you are enrolled in, how often you are able to fly, and how quickly you progress. Again, see the details for each license.

5 steps to blue sky!

The Rockcliffe Flying Club’s 5 step program will get you to a Private Pilot Licence in 5 Easy Steps. You will easily see the progress you are making in learning the necessary skills to be a safe pilot and have fun getting there.

Step What you will learn What you will be able to do
1 – Basics How an airplane flies, how to control it, how to prevent and recover from potentially dangers situations, and most importantly, how to land! Takeoff, fly to a local destination, climb, descent, turn, safely land the airplane.
2 – Solo! We will send you out by yourself for the first time in an aircraft, and then you will practice takeoffs and landings in different situations. You will have your student pilot permit and radio license and you will be able to fly around the airport, under the supervision of an instructor, but alone in the airplane!
3 – Spreading Your Wings We will review the exercises in step two, learning better control, explore procedures to be used in cases of emergencies, and some more navigation You will be able to leave the airport by yourself to practice exercises which you will have done first with an instructor.
4 – Preparation for Flight Test We will review together and let you practice solo all the maneuvers you will need to be proficient in for your flight test. We will also do a practice flight test with you to ensure you are ready for the real thing. Refine your skills, build your confidence, and complete your first epic 150 NM cross-country flight!
5 – Flight Test, Written Test, and LICENCE! This is the real takeoff. The written test will test your knowledge of theory, regulations, procedures, and meteorology. The flight test will establish if you are safe to let go and carry passengers. The pilot examiner will be your first official passenger. If you have completed all the hours required, pass the flight test and the written test, you will be ready to go. Congratulations! Launch your career as a pilot and start really learning!

Experience our Redbird Full Motion Simulator