Our testimonials are written by our students themselves and are published in their original form to preserve their authenticity (spelling mistakes and all…!).
First Name: Simon
Age: 21
Hometown: Lyon (France)
Training: A.E.C.
Helicopters: R22, R44
Start of training: September 2017
From a very young age, I wanted to become a helicopter pilot, and personally, it wasn’t easy to just jump into it overnight because of all the questions that come to mind and the challenges involved.
The image people have of this profession doesn’t always match reality. That’s why I’d like to share with you how my journey at this school began, after four months of training.
After earning my science-track high school diploma, I went traveling to improve my English, which is very important in this field. I then worked to save money, given the cost of pilot training in Canada, which is significantly higher than in Europe. That’s why I decided to enroll in a flight school in Canada.
The hardest part for me was figuring out how to answer all the questions I had, such as which school to choose, the quality and cost of the program, the visa, housing, job prospects, and so on.
As I mentioned, it’s hard to choose a school, and it’s important to talk to the school and visit it to form your own opinion.
It was very easy to meet with Helicraft, since they organize information sessions in France; I was able to meet with them twice in Lyon before making my decision. It was also easy to communicate with Helicraft’s administrative team regarding enrollment and all the steps involved in obtaining a visa.
I still recommend starting your visa application at least two months in advance, because in my case it was a bit complicated to obtain due to the extensive proof of financial resources they require, and the process can take some time to be processed.
I therefore arrived at Helicraft in September 2017 to pursue a commercial pilot license and then move on to the A.E.C. program, which will prepare me to obtain both the European and U.S. licenses.
After researching various flight schools in Canada, I chose Helicraft, and I truly believe it’s hard to find a better quality of training than what they offer. Everyone who works at this school is there to train us as “pilots,” not as “customers” of some business. I feel right at home there, and that’s why I’m at school even on Saturdays!
During my undergraduate program, the instructors’ experience and knowledge ensured that I received a high-quality education. They’re there to help us succeed and support us 100%. Our instructors often give us little challenges, during which we have to give a presentation on theoretical concepts. It’s become a game among us; it helps us learn a little more every day and creates a great atmosphere.
From the moment I arrived, the work atmosphere was cheerful, and I didn’t expect to find such a warm environment—while still being rigorous, since the training is demanding.
I also didn’t expect to start flying so quickly, as I took my first flight two weeks after starting my training, which allowed me to immediately put the theory into practice.
I chose Canada partly because of the cost of training—which is three times cheaper than in Europe—and partly because of the quality of the Canadian pilot’s license. Flying in Canada isn’t always easy in the winter due to the weather, which can cause slight delays in our training schedule, but it allows us to experience a wide range of flying conditions.
Helicraft provides us with housing that’s relatively close to the school (10 minutes), but we still need a way to get there, since in the winter we don’t want to walk far outside! This arrangement really takes a weight off our shoulders when we arrive. It’s also helped me become very close with my classmates, since there are four of us in our Helicraft house.
Another major advantage of Helicraft is that it hires its own newly certified pilots. The school also operates as a company that takes on various external aviation contracts, which allows us to support and assist experienced pilots and gain a deeper understanding of the piloting profession. It’s a great stepping stone to kickstart your career. That’s my main goal after obtaining my Canadian Private Pilot License (CPL).
I couldn’t have asked for better training, and I think Canada and Helicraft offer a great opportunity to become a pilot.