Simviation Forums

Awhile ago I posted a quiery regarding flight schools in Canada vs. South Africa, to which Saretoga was a big help. Now I have made the decision, that study permits aside, I'm going to continue my training in Canada. My original school while great is going to cost me my arm, leg, both kidneys, and maybe somemore essential organs, so I'm looking into other schools there. And I think I have found a winner in this one. So any follow up advice anybody before I start my applications? Any help, feed back, or reccomendations will be considered and apprieciated.
The school I've shortlisted is called Harv's Air and is based in Manitoba, the website is http://www.harvsair.com/
And to me it looks great, but I have to remember that I have not touched the controls of an aircraft for just over two years and I think desperation to fly again may be clouding my judgment, so also feel free to grab me by my ankles and pull me down to Earth.
Thanks.
Roy

Not sure at all how things are in Canada, but I'm still curious about whether or not you looked into a flying club. If they have enough aircraft and CFI members, you can save an awful lot of money (getting your IFR rating, I assume?).
But in any case, sooner or later you've got to take a chance and go for it, or weigh one negative against another.  I recently decided to resume flying (also after 2 yrs) at an FBO close to my house, as opposed to driving almost 1 1/2 hours each way to where my old flying club has re-located. The hourly rates aren't as good at the FBO, but at this point the time and convenience factor is worth a lot to me. When I'm ready to start my IFR training, I'll probably do it through them, unless some windfall comes my way and I can pony up the dough for an accelerated course.
Harv's Air looks OK, but definitely go see for yourself before you commit.

Ya, see if they have some sort of demo flight, a lot of the schools in the US do, and take it. Looking at their site, the pictured pilots look pretty happy, like they are enjoyin' it, and the instructors are wearing casual clothes, and casual is something you want in the attitude for a flight school. Sounds like they pump lots of cash into their planes, a GREAT asset for any flight school, and they do have a nice fleet. Looks good, but I say take a demo flight, and good luck!

Thank you both for your replies, and sorry about the spelling of your nickname Saratoga. A try out flight would be nice, but I'm on the wrong side of the world for that (Asia at the moment) so I'm going to have to commit without knowing anything. I'm trying to find a couple of pilots here where I live who've been there which is how I found my previous school. Saratoga; did you notice that seriously low hour Cessna 152 they have? Something like 6 hours?!?
Anyway, still got to make a decision...
Thanks again.
Roy

No problem about the name. That is kinda odd, surely that is engine time. 6 hours on a 152 is, well impossible... That is a very nice fleet, they all have GPSs and you can take them to the USA (some of them anyways) and they have a Pitts! You lucky b******!!!! Overall, on a never seeing them scale of one to ten, I would give it an 8, which is pretty good for a flight school, about average.

Here's a suggestion: see if you can find someone who is a pilot up north (USA) or in Manitoba and see if they have ever heard of the flight school.

The only other thing I can ask is when do you plan on starting? If it's like this after AirVenture, I can get customs stuff and hop up there from AirVenture once it's over.

6 hours? whew!  Question is, what year is it?  Hasnt even gone through the breakin cycle ill bet

Rather than "buy a pig in a poke", why not try to contact people in Manitoba who know this school before you commit? Worth a try... but from the looks of this school, it would probably be a good deal. I've seen worse!!

Ya, seen a lot worse.

Here is a link to the news site concerning that low hour 152.
http://www.harvsair.com/media/mintcessna.htm
It's a 1979 model.

Hoping to go in about 2 monthes or so, once I get my student permits/visas/etc. sorted out.
Roy

Good luck Roy!

I can just imagine that Cessna. Ahh that new car smell.

Awhile ago I posted a quiery regarding flight schools in Canada vs. South Africa, to which Saretoga was a big help. Now I have made the decision, that study permits aside, I'm going to continue my training in Canada. My original school while great is going to cost me my arm, leg, both kidneys, and maybe somemore essential organs, so I'm looking into other schools there. And I think I have found a winner in this one. So any follow up advice anybody before I start my applications? Any help, feed back, or reccomendations will be considered and apprieciated.
The school I've shortlisted is called Harv's Air and is based in Manitoba, the website is http://www.harvsair.com/
And to me it looks great, but I have to remember that I have not touched the controls of an aircraft for just over two years and I think desperation to fly again may be clouding my judgment, so also feel free to grab me by my ankles and pull me down to Earth.
Thanks.
Roy

2 of my fellow classmates from my aviation college are taking thier flight training from Harv's.  I've heard nothing but good things from them.

If I were you, i'd check out their info vid (http://www.harvsair.com/site/resources/aviation-movies.html)