BSc Aviation: What's that Like?

Author: Lestyn V Lobo
Posted on February 19, 2023

What does it feel like to study a major where you have to learn the material at 6500ft? With the majority of incoming international students leaving their life back home and travelling from all around the world to a small town in the heart of NB, Canada, to study the art of flying an airplane, it does sound like a rewarding and exciting field, doesn’t it!  As a third-year BSc Aviation international student, I am going to walk you through my own experience of being a Mount A and MFC student and take you through a day in the life of an Aviation student.

Why did I choose Aviation?

If you read my other blog posts, you will learn that I share a cultural background with three different countries: Kuwait, Portugal, and India. Having such a diverse background inspired me to pursue the Aviation industry as I spent the totality of my life travelling back and forth between countries. No doubt, Aviation is an evolving field with airlines looking for newly skilled pilots every single day.  Before the world entered the drastic pandemic, pilot would require 1000 plus hours before they could serve as PIC or co-pilot in several airlines. While the pandemic was effecting livelihood and jobs around the world, recent pilot graduates benefited greatly as they could enter the airline network with as low as 250-500 hours which is a huge advantage to MFC-Mount A graduates as we graduate with 250 hours at the end of our fourth year with four licenses: PPL, CPL, IFR, and ATPL.

What does your first year look like?

Sadly, for those who hope to fly with the inception of the program, I hate to break it to you, but aviation students do not start flying until the start of the second year. First-year aviation students focus entirely on Mount A courses: five courses in the summer followed by five in the winter. Biggest tip I can provide to an incoming first-year aviation science student is to select courses listed in the Academic Calendar and arrange a meeting with an academic advisor to understand the courses you require to begin flying in the second year. Additionally, networking with upper-year aviation students is a huge perk. Why? Well, for one, they will be able to connect with you with a medical examiner in the city which needs to be done before the start of the second year. Moreover, connecting with experienced aviation students in the field can also ensure that you have someone with whom you can carpool with to get to the city for your audiogram, ECG, and medical exam. Achieving your CAT 3 medical by the summer of your first-year will enable you to fly solo as soon as you gain the relevant experience in your second-year.

What does your second year look like?

 Second-year introduces a student to the world of aerodynamics, aircraft engines and design, navigation, and many more topics covered in PPL aviation ground school. Time-management is crucial in your second-year. Managing your time effectively will ensure that you optimize your flight training hours, theoretical ground school, and finally three Mount A courses. This certainly differs with each student but interacting with fellow peers on best practices to follow in your second year as well as arranging a meeting with the aviation program advisor will ensure you remain on top of things. Your upper-year peers are your best bet in ensuring you remain on track with your degree. Being an aviation student is a unique opportunity which trains a student to multitask, problem solve, think critically, and achieve discipline. Studying Aviation at Mount A is truly a thrilling experience equipping students not only with real-world experience needed to enter the industry but also relevant skills of situational awareness and knowledge of intricate flight characteristics and operations. In your second-year, you will realize that flying a plane is truly a rewarding  break between your MtA studies and evening ground school classes. By the end of your second year, you will not only be familiar with the Moncton airspace and navigate through NB readily but also possess a PPL license.

What does my third-year look like so far?

Third-year standing means you have received your PPL and making your way through building your hours to achieve the CPL license. I am currently training towards achieving my 195 total flight hours to be recommended for a CPL flight test. You will enter your second year possessing relevant knowledge of flight operations and confidence in handling a single-engine aircraft. Third-year is quite exciting as you can unlock several different airports like Halifax, Trenton, PEI Charlottetown, Sydney NS and take your friends on flights with you

Entering the Aviation field can be a tad challenging in your second year but with adequate support from fellow peers and instructors, it will truly pay off in no time with you constantly saying to yourself and your peers, “wow we are flying actually flying a plane! We made it!”