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Canadian Air Force Pilot Training

Canadian Air Force

The Canadian Forces Undergraduate Pilot Training System (UPTS) trains air force pilot training candidates for employment in either helicopters, jets or multi-engine operations.

Canadian Forces pilots typically must possess an undergraduate degree from a university. This is due to the fact that all pilots are commissioned officers, and to be an officer you must have a university degree.

If you don't have a university degree you can still enroll under a limited program, however you must make strides to get your degree within your first nine years of service.

Selection for the Canadian Air Force begins at the Recruiting Centre.

Candidates who pass the

apptitude test,

interview,

security check, and

medical fitness requirements attend the Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Centre (CFASC) at 8 Wing, Trenton in Ontario.

While you are in Trenton you will write an Aircrew Test Series (more apptitude tests) and fly 4 missions in the Canadian Automated Pilot Selection System (esentially it is a simulator but a little more advanced than Microsoft Flight Sim!)

Once you are successful in Trenton you then travel to Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) at Downsview in Toronto where you will undergo just shy of a week of medical tests to determine your fitness for air operations. These are some pretty indepth medicals. Including an ultrasound of your heart!

Those of you who successfully pass the written, practical and medical tests of CFASC, will be offered employment in the Canadian Forces.

If you accept your pilot position will then attend the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, and the Canadian Forces Language School, in St Jean Sur Richelieu, Quebec where you will receive Basic Officer Training and language training prior to commencing flying training. This will take upwards of 11 months.

CF 18

Canadian air force pilot training consists of a series of progressive phases of training.

Each phase becomes progressively more complex and difficult than the previous.

Pilot candidates are awarded their Canadian Forces pilot “wings” after the following selection and training phases are successfully completed:

Phase I - Primary Flying Training is conducted with 28 hours on the Grob 120A at Portage La Prairie in Manitoba.

Phase II with approximately 90 hours is flown on the Raytheon CT156 Harvard II at 15 Wing Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan.

If you are selected for helicopters you will do Phase III with 84 hours on the Bell 206 Jet Ranger back at Portage La Prairie.

If you were selected for multi engine then you will also go back to Portage La Prairie for 70 hours on the Raytheon C90A King Air.

If you were one of the fortunate ones who were selected for fighters then you will stay at Moose Jaw to fly 72 hours on the BAE CT155 Hawk.

Selection for helicopter, multi-engine or jet employment is made during Phase II after the bulk of your course has completed the Basic Instrument Test.

After successfully completing Phase III you will head off to your respective Operational Training Unit (OTU) to be checked out on the platform that you will fly.

Canadian C-17

If you are interested in joining the Canadian Forces as a pilot then please visit the Canadian Forces Recruiting Website

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