Ever wanted to fly a 747? - Groupon
 

Well, my school is putting on/hosting a groupon deal. You get 30mins in a 747 simulator.

Was told by my teacher today that you'll basically do a takeoff, do some turns, maybe a stall, then an ILS approach for landing.

It's $69 for 30 mins. Normally it's $250/hour. It costs $50 alone to get the thing up and running as it's a massive power draw. So it's basically being done at cost.

Pretty fucking good deal.

Maybe i'll see some of you guys around the school.

http://www.groupon.com/abbotsford

Wow, that's pretty cool. I'm probably going to get this... :D

EDIT: Bought. Can't wait to use it.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what's the difference between this and just like a Piper or Beechcraft Multi IFR simulator?

It's not just IFR, there are screens... and it's much bigger yo. ;)

ok I saw some pics 747 simulator...looks like the cockpit and everything is in exact scale

ahh ok thanks!

Guess which one is which.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....simulator1.jpg

http://www.flypfc.com/mfd/open-deck-only.jpg

That looks pretty cool. I'm thinking about it.. :p I'm guessing you're in the Aviation program at UFV?

Correct

Very cool. Totally considering this.

Becoming a pilot eh Gab? Baller!

Just a quick question Gab

Would you suggest the aviation program at BCIT or the one at UFV?

I'll try to remain as unbiased as possible.

What's so unique about the UFV program is that there is only one other school in Canada offering the same program (Bachelor Business Administration - Aviation). The other school is in Ontario. It's one of two schools that gives you a Degree with your flying, sure you could go to Selkirk but that's a diploma. And it's far away.

That being said, if you just want to get your licence and have a degree or don't care about one. You can also do that at Coastal Pacific Aviation (UFV), that way you don't have to wear a uniform haha.

Coastal is also very formal, mimicking the "industry". Also, although some complain, you go heavy into IFR in your commercial year. It costs you more money and does nothing but prep you for next year, you decide if it's worth it.

But, I have never talked with anyone from BCIT. Your best bet would be to talk to someone from there. I can tell you why Coastal is so amazing, but I can't compare it to BCIT as I don't know the program. What I can assume is that it's a new program and generally you get better as time goes on.

Anymore questions just PM me:) Oh, and it's fucking expensive haha.

sorry, what does UFV stand for?

also, so at the end you get a Bachelor of Business in Aviation and a.... PPL? commercial? ATPL?

University of the Fraser Valley.

PPL, CPL, Multi IFR (Category 3), Instructor Rating (Class 4?) or 747 Sim time. ATPL, hahah. No, when i'm 30 maybe. Need lots of hours for that. Oh, and you'll have done you IATRA exam.

Hope to see some people around taking advantage of this!

lol here at bcit the commercial aviation ppl call the multi IFR a group1 IFR..

Ya, after I wrote that I was at school and realized my mistake haha. Ya, you get a group 3 IFR (I think) with Coastal. Category 3 has to do with precision approaches..

why not try to get into an airline and they will pay for the training and you save money and get the license?
I have a friend that took just the written CPL and apply to CX, got hired and CX paid for the rest for him to get license and the required hours.

You do realize how difficult it is to get into a program like that? Cathay has a program, there's a guy in the year ahead of me who's in Australia now for it. I'm trying the A/F route instead myself.

being a pilot has really lost its prestige nowadays

commercial airline pilots are looking more and more like bus drivers, both in terms of how they are paid and how they are presented...

The money is secondary. And you're thinking of passenger jet pilots. There's a reason I have no interest in doing that just yet.

I'd want to roll that sonofabitch, and crash it upside-down into the runway.

I wouldn't even suggest going through an aviation program. Get your PPL/CPL/MIFR and anything else you want through one of the many great FTUs on the lower mainland, and get a diploma/degree in something actually useful, if you're gonna be spending the money for it. You'll save a ton of money, and won't have to play "pretend airline operations" while doing ab initio training in a 172.

The degree is gonna be worth nothing for most jobs, until the time that you apply to a major such as Air Canada, who pre-screen for post secondary education on applications. Even then, they don't care what kind of diploma or degree you have, just the fact that you do indeed have one. Much more useful to get a diploma in even something as simple as Business Admin, rather than a completely useless "Airline and Flight Operations" diploma, that won't even help you in the industry its designed for.

Gab, shoot me a PM, I'd love to meet some new aviation minded folks on the mainland haha. Just moved here from Victoria and finished my CPL/MIFR and did my float rating late last year, pursuing a job opp at the moment (In Vancouver, silly I know lol).