Commercial Aviation Diploma

The Commercial Aviation Diploma (CAD) program is for men and women who are interested in pursuing a career in commercial aviation. The program provides students with university-level business competencies as well as Transport Canada commercial aviation licensing requirements. Graduates are qualified to be employed as pilots with charter companies, regional carriers and private corporations, and upon attaining sufficient flying hours, will also have job opportunities with major airline companies. Graduates may also find employment in other aviation-related careers.

The Commercial Aviation diploma program consists of two distinct and separate areas of study - aviation and flight training courses, and university-level academic courses. The flight training is taught at the Southern Interior Flight Centre facility located at the Kelowna International Airport and consists of Transport Canada-prescribed flight training, simulator training, aviation theory and exams. The business portion of the program is completed at Okanagan College and consists of two, 3-credit academic courses per semester for a total of eight 3-credit courses over a 24-month period. Notwithstanding general policies of Okanagan College, the academic courses must be completed concurrently with the flight training portion of the Commercial Aviation Program. Students must have prior approval from the Dean for any program modifications.

The Commercial Aviation program is made available through a co-operative partnership between Okanagan College and the Southern Interior Flight Centre (1993) Ltd. The academic portion offered by Okanagan College is subject to normal Okanagan College regulations and tuition fees. The aviation and flight training portion is offered by Southern Interior Flight Centre and is not subject to Okanagan College control and regulations, although all tuition fees for academic courses and flight training are paid to Okanagan College. Okanagan College will maintain records of the student's flight training achievements as provided by Southern Interior Flight Centre on the official Okanagan College transcript.

Commercial Aviation Fees: Approximate: subject to change.

Students can expect to pay approximately $59,000 for tuition and flight training fees. Tuition fees for the flying portion are dependent upon the number of hours required to complete the flying and training requirements. These hours will vary according to the skill level of individual students. Please note that students who book an aircraft, simulator or instructor are responsible for related charges and cancellation penalties will apply. Fuel costs will be reimbursed to students at the Kelowna fuel rate set by Southern Interior Flight Centre. Costs above this rate are the student's responsibility.

Student Dress and Survival Equipment: Students will be required to wear the prescribed clothing for commercial pilots and should anticipate the costs of purchasing and maintaining their own appropriate dress (white "pilot" shirt, black pants, socks and dress shoes, and a black tie). Students should anticipate preparing and maintaining their own personal survival pack to be carried on cross-country flights.

Career Opportunities: include pilots with charter companies, regional carriers and private corporations as well as additional job opportunities with major airline companies.

Admission Requirements

• B.C. secondary school graduation (or its equivalent), or mature student status.
• English 12 with minimum 60% or alternatives.
• Students graduating from secondary school in or prior to 2012: Principles of Mathematics 11 or an equivalent Advanced Level Adult Basic Education mathematics course, or a minimum of 70% in Introductory Mathematics 11, or a minimum of 60% in Applications of Mathematics 11.
  Students graduating from secondary school in 2012 or later: A minimum of 60% in one of Pre-calculus Grade 11, Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11, or Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics Grade 11. Mature applicants without Mathematics 11 may write the mathematics diagnostic test (MDT), administered by Okanagan College. A minimum score of 16/25 on the MDT is required.
• Private Pilot License.
• Category 1 Aviation Medical.
• Letter of recommendation from the Southern Interior Flight Centre indicating successful completion of a personal interview, aptitude test, and proof of financial ability.

NOTE: Private pilot training requires two months of full-time attendance and up to six months of part-time attendance. Contact the flying school for details.

Graduation Requirements

A diploma in Commercial Aviation is awarded to students who successfully complete the 24 credits of required business, communication and math courses listed in the program outline and present a letter from Southern Interior Flight Centre indicating satisfactory completion of aviation theory courses, Transport Canada Commercial Pilot License, a Multi-Engine Instrument rating, and the IATRA written exam.

Program Outline