General Arts and Science - Aviation Management at Algonquin College

Launch your career as a commercial pilot.

The two-year General Arts and Science Ontario College Diploma with a concentration in Aviation Management program provides you with the knowledge and skills to become a commercial pilot.

Learn the required level of proficiency necessary to complete the Transport Canada Pilot License written examination (CPAER) and practical flight test. Some classes take place at the Ottawa Flying Club, Rockliffe Flying Club and the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, providing all the skills needed to start your career.

Industry-professional instructors also teach you practical skills such as fuel handling, aircraft handling, and winter operations. Learn about cockpit resource management, maintenance skills and dispatching. Acquire a background in business and management, which prepares you for various facets of the aviation industry.

Experience up to 200 hours of flight experience at an Algonquin College approved flying partner. It is a non-funded activity that costs $70,000 over the two years and is subject to change without notice.

In your final semester, you can elect to take a course in either Instructor Rating, Float Rating or Initial Aeroplane Type Rating, each of which will help you specialize for future employment opportunities.

Graduates may find employment with charter service companies as:

• line pilots flying passenger and freight
• land or sea-based pilots flying single and / or multi-engine airplanes.

Graduates may also pursue a career as a flight instructor.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Are organized in their work and pay attention to detail.
• Want to work in a challenging environment.
• Have strong observational and analytical skills.
• Are highly motivated and committed to attaining goals.
• Have good interpersonal skills.

Careers

Graduates may find employment with charter service companies as line pilots flying passenger and freight, land or sea-based and single or multi-engine airplanes. Graduates who choose an Instructor rating may begin teaching ab-initio students on the principles of safe aircraft operations. Flight instruction is an entry-level position and one that is currently in demand worldwide. Due to the recent increase in hiring within the airline industry many instructors have moved into the airlines leaving employment opportunities for graduates.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Develop, through general knowledge gained in a wide range of subjects, insight into both self and society.
2. Develop flexibility and clarity of both thought and expression in order to develop communications competence to a level required by business and industry.
3. Understand and utilize critical thinking processes and problem solving techniques.
4. Examine and evaluate various aspects of our changing society to assist in developing a sense of personal and social responsibility as a citizen in society.
5. Employ basic vocational skills drawn from the areas of the Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences of Vocational Studies (Business, Technology).
6. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).
• Mathematics, Grade 12 (MAP4C with a grade of 60% or higher) or Grade 11 (MCF3M with a grade of 50% or higher) or equivalent.
• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT) Overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20.

Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English and mathematics.