Calgary-Okotoks Flying School - Okotoks, Alberta

Local C.

If only I could give zero stars, the owner is very opinionated, micro-manager that frequently lies to prospective students about training timelines and student priority within the schedule. When given a time slot within the schedule, and flights are canceled due to weather or aircraft maintenance and for whatever other reason your training will be delayed beyond the three months scheduled for you. If you don't have your license by the end of the three months you WILL be replaced by new students and they will schedule you whenever they feel like it. Oftentimes students will be scheduled for a flight and a delay will result in their flight being postpone to later in the day. Unfortunately, students will wait all day for said flight only for it not to happen due to chronic mismanagement and micromanagement. The owner having only a Private Pilot license lacks the experience of being a certified instructor with commercial training. This would not be an issue had he let the Chief Flight Instructor, and instructors do the jobs he hired them to, unfortunately, he has not done so. I do not recommend anyone use this school. He offers a one time fee, which is supposedly a low-cost option. This is not the case because his hourly rates are $195 per hour for both the Piper Cherokees and Cessna. $85 an hour for instructors while dual, and $75 an hour while on the ground. He does not have a certified simulator which would be fine however he charges between $50, solo, $75, dual for its use. Calgary Flying Club comparatively charges $60 duel. Not only is it a much nicer, much more realistic glass cockpit, with full-motion, but it is also certified and allowed to log hours in the Pilot Training Record.

Jordan U.

I'm a current student at the Calgary-Okotoks flying school. A great learning environment, the instructors are talented and spend the time to help you improve whether its flying or in the academics. We have a flying schedule so there is little questioning on when and what your doing next which makes it easy to plan your days around. One of the greatest decisions of my life and if possible ill be doing CPL with them too. Flying should be fun and it is here.

Josh B.

Read before you give them money.

Owner (Tim Ulmer) refuses to pay money owed to students after school was unable to provide services. Invoices have been confirmed that they were received weeks ago. Voicemail keeps saying he is on vacation. Upon waiting for return from vacation, immediately back on vacation for another 2 weeks while still refusing to take calls, return emails, or reimburse money owed.

Additionally,
Planes are falling apart. Only Cessna requires to be flown in "full rich" because the engine is in such bad shape.
Past instructors try to send you out in a broken plane they were just flying and should be well aware of its mechanical issues.

"Platinum program" means nothing. Constantly bumped for other students.

Plus...
Most of the 5* ratings were paid for with "swag" which is against Google policy.

Beware. Go anywhere else for your training.

Nim B.

Flight School is moving to High River or Olds. Avoid flight school at all costs - owner oversubscribes students for program and doesn't have enough airframes for all students to complete fixed price program when maintenance, breakdowns and weather cause cancellations of flights. This results in poorly trained pilots who do pass and also causes other students to leave because of insufficient time to complete program within 3 month period. Owner withholds PTRs from students when demanding extra payments. Training contract is terrible and one-sided for the owner allowing him to terminate contract on a whim.

Alex A.

Ive been at C-OFS for a few months now doing my PPL course, and since the first day I’ve had good experiences with the school itself in the in class sessions, simulator sessions as well as in flight. Even through ups and downs in my personal life the school and instructors/staff have been helpful and supportive to getting me to reach my goals. I would recommend this school to any new flyers or anyone looking for some air time or simulator time. Every business has their fluctuation of good and bad but to keeping straight I definitely give props to the Okotoks school!!

Aidan M.

I trained here for my PPL starting early January 2020. I have just completed all of my training as of today and have been pleasantly impressed with the school aswell as the education from it. The package price is a huge enticing figure for many, the payment instalments are fair and spaced evenly enough to be manageable even without a loan, this helps lots. Having the constant schedule of being blocked MWF 7:30-1200 or 12:30-5 and TThS 7:30-12 or 12:30-5 make working a full time job and doing this program manageable.

The instructors have great knowledge that ranges all the way up to major airlines, and genuinely care about the students as long as they are engaged and show up to learn. It’s a 2 sided sheet for this, put in the effort and they will go to the moon and back to have you completed and educated. The owner, Tim, is a great personality and genuine person from first contact to even today, he will always take your questions, concerns, compliments, and try to craft the school from your input. Even during the COVID-19 closures, we were communicated with and Tim attempted his best to keep us all flying, which was just another sentiment to his person.

At the end of the day i had an amazing learning experience and this school has changed the community of aviation for the better. A great opportunity with great results. Big thank you to the CFI, Bruno; Instructors: Rohit, Brayden, TD, Grant, Wayne, and Ben; and Ops Managers Parsa and Alex!

William G.

I enrolled in the ppl corse here and besides having a great experience with all my instructors I also appreciated the level of professionalisms whilst providing a fun and social environment

teenietanis

Its like a small family. The staff want to be here, making it a great environment to learn in. I highly recommend the training program here.