Flight School - Recreational Pilot License

A Recreational Pilot Permit gives you the freedom to safely operate small, single-engine aeroplanes under visual conditions during daylight hours in Canada with a maximum of one passenger. It is intended for individuals who want a less expensive way to fly for fun and do not need the full privileges of a Private Pilot License. The only additional qualification that may be added to a Recreational Pilot Permit is a floatplane rating.

Sea to Sky Air is authorized by Transport Canada to provide training towards a Recreational Pilot Permit. This training requires a minimum of 25 hours total flight time, of which 15 hours must be dual (with a certified flight instructor) and 5 hours must be solo (as the sole occupant of the aircraft). The remainder of the hours can be either dual or solo and will be determined upon student skill and progress. Within the minimum 15 hours dual, a student must complete 2 hours of cross-country flight time. Unlike the Private Pilot License, the Recreational Pilot Permit does not require any instrument training or solo cross-country flight time. Upon satisfactory completion of the flight training, the student will conduct a flight test conducted by a Transport Canada examiner, or a person designated by them.

There is no formal ground school required for the Recreational Pilot Permit, however, all RPP students are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the private pilot ground school as it provides valuable information and knowledge that will help you succeed during the mandatory written examination and flight test. If students choose, the ground school component is typically taught in a classroom setting with a group of students and will be at least 40 hours of material. Upon satisfactory completion of the ground school, the student will conduct a written exam (60% pass mark) administered by a Transport Canada representative.

You may begin dual flight training at any age, although the minimum age to be issued a Student Pilot Permit (required for solo flight) is 14 years and the minimum age to be issued a Recreational Pilot Permit is 16 years. You do not need to begin ground school prior to flight training, or vice-versa. Flight training can begin at any time of the year and is conducted in a one-on-one basis. The ground school course (optional for RPP students) is usually offered a few times a year at our Squamish location.

Prior to receiving the Student Pilot Permit for solo flight, you must have completed at minimum, a medical declaration form with a GP Doctor for a category 4 medical certificate. Another option available for RPP students is to conduct a more in depth medical examination (as required for Private License) with a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner and receive at least a category 3 medical certificate from Transport Canada. A few designated examiners in the Squamish area are:                                                                  

The following cost estimate has been provided to assist those who are interested in pursuing a Recreational Pilot Permit and is based on a realistic completion time of 35 hours flight time, rather than the minimum 25 hours required by Transport Canada. Although prices may vary slightly due to individual skill and local conditions, the following is a fairly accurate account of what is to be expected: