Canada has a strong flying club tradition, and you can learn everywhere from busy city airports to quiet grass strips. Most of the schools and clubs listed on AviatorFinds are in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Around Vancouver, there are clusters in Delta, home of Boundary Bay Airport, and at Langley Regional Airport, where Langley Flying School and West Coast Pilot Club are based. Island Coastal Aviation teaches at Pitt Meadows.
Canada at a glance
- Main areas: Greater Vancouver, Toronto, southwestern Ontario, Ottawa and Gatineau, Montreal and Quebec City
- What you can learn: Recreational Pilot Permit, Private and Commercial Pilot Licences, night and multi-engine ratings, helicopters, gliding and aerobatics
- Schools listed: 43 on AviatorFinds across five provinces
- Training highlight: Learning in English or French, from city-centre Billy Bishop in Toronto to country airfields
Jump to: Flight schools Choosing a school Events FAQs
In Ontario, Island Air Flight School and Alec Myers Flight Training both teach at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the waterfront. London has three schools, including Diamond Flight Centre at London International Airport, and Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre trains at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. For gliding, the London Soaring Club is a not-for-profit club run by volunteers.
Further east, the Smiths Falls Flying Club flies from Smiths Falls-Montague Airport in the Rideau Corridor, and Near North Aviation covers Parry Sound and Muskoka, from recreational permits to commercial licences with night and multi-engine training.
In Quebec, Aeroclub Gatineau Ottawa and Select Aviation College are both based at Gatineau. Passport Hélico in Mascouche is a helicopter school, Lachute Aviation offers professional and aerobatic courses, and ALTITUDE Centre de l’Aviation trains from Victoriaville with other bases in the province.
Flight schools in Canada
These are the flight schools, clubs and training organisations in Canada listed on AviatorFinds, grouped by province and in alphabetical order. Tap a card to see contact details, location and what each one teaches.
British Columbia
Ontario
Quebec
Alberta and Manitoba
See all Canadian flight schools All flight schools & clubs
Choosing a flight school in Canada
- Decide which permit or licence you want. A Recreational Pilot Permit is a quicker route to flying for fun, while a Private Pilot Licence gives you more freedom. Ask each school which it teaches.
- Ask about winter flying. Find out how each school handles the winter months, from cold-weather operations to how often lessons are lost to weather.
- Check the language of instruction. Many schools in Quebec teach in French, and some teach in both French and English.
- Visit before you book. Look at the aircraft, meet the instructors and ask how many students they are training at the moment.
- Ask what the price includes. Aircraft hire, instructor time, club membership, ground school and exam fees are often charged separately.
- Start with a trial lesson. It is the easiest way to find out whether a school and an instructor suit you.
New to flying? Start with how to become a private pilot: lessons learned and beginner tips and learning to fly in a Cessna 172.
Run a flight school or flying club in Canada that isn’t listed yet? You can add your listing here.
Aviation events in and near Canada
Upcoming events in Canada:
Learning to fly: guides from our blog
Frequently asked questions
Where can I learn to fly in Canada?
The schools listed on AviatorFinds are mostly around Vancouver in British Columbia, across southern Ontario from Windsor to Kingston, and in Quebec around Montreal, Gatineau and Quebec City. There are also listings in Calgary, Fort McMurray and Saint Andrews in Manitoba.
Can I learn to fly a helicopter or a glider in Canada?
Yes. Passport Hélico in Mascouche, Quebec, is a helicopter school, and Rotor Services near Waterloo, Ontario, offers helicopter training and tours. For gliding, the London Soaring Club flies near London, Ontario.
What licence do I need to fly in Canada?
Pilot permits and licences in Canada are issued by Transport Canada. Most people start with a Recreational Pilot Permit or a Private Pilot Licence, and you will need a medical certificate before you fly solo. Transport Canada explains the requirements for each one.
Official sources
- Transport Canada: Flight crew licences, permits and ratings
- Transport Canada: General information on pilot licences and permits
More flight school area guides
- Flight Schools in Cornwall: Newquay, Bodmin, Land’s End and gliding at Perranporth.
- Flight Schools in Devon: Exeter Airport, Dunkeswell and gliding at North Hill.
- Flight Schools in Dorset: Bournemouth Airport and the hilltop grass airfield at Compton Abbas.
- Flight Schools in Hampshire: Popham, Blackbushe and Farnborough, from microlights to commercial courses.
- Flight Schools in London: Elstree, Biggin Hill, Redhill, Denham and more around the M25.
- Flight Schools in Scotland: Perth, Glasgow, Prestwick, Fife, Inverness and Aberdeen.
- Flight Schools in Arizona: Chandler, Falcon Field in Mesa and Stellar Airpark.
- Flight Schools in Hawaii: Honolulu, Kalaeloa, Dillingham and Kahului on Maui.
- Flight Schools in California: Camarillo, Santa Paula, Concord and Truckee Tahoe.
See every area on our Area Guides and Flight Schools by Area pages, or browse all flight schools, clubs and associations in the directory.
Header photo: James Abbott from West Kelowna B.C., Canada / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped)