Moncton Flight College
Encyclopedia
The Moncton Flight College (MFC) is a pilot training school based at the Greater Moncton International Airport
(CYQM) in Dieppe
, New Brunswick
, Canada
. MFC is the largest private flight school in Canada. The college has trained over 16,000 pilots from around the world since 1929. Moncton Flight College went into receivership on February 14th 2011, all aircraft operation were grounded for Liability Obligations, but as of February 22 , 2011 a deal with Canlink aviation has been in the works to buy out the company and turn it from non-profit into a for-profit business.
. The site for the first airport in Moncton was chosen, and work was started in April 1929. However, hard times followed shortly after the airport was complete with the onset of the Great Depression
, and all flight activity virtually ceased. It was not until the late 1930s that flight training began again at the Moncton Flying Club. By the end of 1939, the Flying Club was officially incorporated and had a fleet of two privately owned planes.
Canada declared war on Germany
on September 10, 1939, and the Moncton Flying Club was given the opportunity to run the "Elementary Flying Training School, Royal Canadian Air Force," (#21 E.F.T.S., R.C.A.F.) newly opened in Chatham, New Brunswick
. Training got started at the school in early July 1941, immediately after the first intake of airmen. The Fleet Finch
biplane used by the school was a hardy machine with a five-cylinder engine and fabric-covered wings and fuselage. By 1945, Moncton Flying Club was operating three Elementary Flying Training Schools across Canada.
By the 1950s, the Moncton Flying Club had acquired a considerable fleet of aircraft, including four or five Tiger Moth
s, two Fairchild Cornells, three Aeroncas, and a Cessna
T50. Despite tough economic times, membership numbers increased and the Club's notoriety grew. When an allocation of Air Cadets arrived for training, a dormitory and canteen were set up on the premises. In 1949, night flying was added to the curriculum, despite the lack of radar
equipment. The Club even put together an air show, the first of many to come, with Harvards and Sea Furies
competing and a stunt pilot from Quebec City
participating.
The school grew quickly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and in 1961 the Flying Club was awarded its first Yorath Trophy, symbolic of Canada's top Flying Club. In 1962 the Club took over operation of Atlantic Central Airlines, which consisted of a twin Apache and amphibious Cessna 180. These additions complimented the Club's single engine charter service and enabled it to conduct twin engine training.
June 12, 1965 marked a black day in the Club's history, the historic hangar
was destroyed in a devastating fire. However, those involved with the Club were determined to rebuild the premises, and on October 8, 1966 the new hangar and dormitory was officially opened.
By the mid 1970s, students were joining from almost every country in Europe and Asia. An Eight bay "T" hangar was built during 1974–75, and were used by private owners and the club's aircraft.
In the 1980s, MFC changed its marketing name to "Moncton Flight Centre". For a time a fleet of Piper Navajo aircraft were operated for charters and light parcel express, initially under the name "Hummingbirds" and eventually "Eastwind Flights". In the fall of 1989, the Board of Directors chose to focus on flight training and the assets of Eastwind were sold.
In more recent times the college had been growing quicker than ever, becoming the largest in Canada. In 2006 the school was awarded the largest pilot training contract ever in Canada, to train 800 Chinese
pilots. The college announced in 2007 it would soon open a new campus in Fredericton
to handle the quickly increasing student population. MFC had also recently signed an agreement with Mount Allison University
to offer a Bachelor's degree in Aviation.
Diamond DA20-C1 Eclipse
Cessna 172
Piper Seminole
Bellanca Citabria
King Air 200 Flight Training Device (FTD) / Simulator
ATC 810 Simulator
Greater Moncton International Airport
Greater Moncton International Airport or Moncton/Greater Moncton International Airport is located in the city of Dieppe east northeast of downtown Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada...
(CYQM) in Dieppe
Dieppe, New Brunswick
Dieppe is a Canadian city in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.-Geography:Dieppe is located on the Petitcodiac River east of the adjacent city of Moncton...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. MFC is the largest private flight school in Canada. The college has trained over 16,000 pilots from around the world since 1929. Moncton Flight College went into receivership on February 14th 2011, all aircraft operation were grounded for Liability Obligations, but as of February 22 , 2011 a deal with Canlink aviation has been in the works to buy out the company and turn it from non-profit into a for-profit business.
History
The official organizational date of the Moncton Flying Club coincides with the date of the first Air Pageant, held July 1, 1929, to raise money for the airport. A group of citizens had decided that Moncton should be an air center of the MaritimesMaritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
. The site for the first airport in Moncton was chosen, and work was started in April 1929. However, hard times followed shortly after the airport was complete with the onset of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and all flight activity virtually ceased. It was not until the late 1930s that flight training began again at the Moncton Flying Club. By the end of 1939, the Flying Club was officially incorporated and had a fleet of two privately owned planes.
Canada declared war on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on September 10, 1939, and the Moncton Flying Club was given the opportunity to run the "Elementary Flying Training School, Royal Canadian Air Force," (#21 E.F.T.S., R.C.A.F.) newly opened in Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
. Training got started at the school in early July 1941, immediately after the first intake of airmen. The Fleet Finch
Fleet Finch
-See also:* List of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in Canada -Bibliography:* Molson, Ken M. and Taylor, Harold A. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. ISBN 0-920002-11-0.* Page, Ron D. and Cumming, William. Fleet: The Flying Years. Erin,...
biplane used by the school was a hardy machine with a five-cylinder engine and fabric-covered wings and fuselage. By 1945, Moncton Flying Club was operating three Elementary Flying Training Schools across Canada.
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
s, two Fairchild Cornells, three Aeroncas, and a Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
T50. Despite tough economic times, membership numbers increased and the Club's notoriety grew. When an allocation of Air Cadets arrived for training, a dormitory and canteen were set up on the premises. In 1949, night flying was added to the curriculum, despite the lack of radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
equipment. The Club even put together an air show, the first of many to come, with Harvards and Sea Furies
Hawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
competing and a stunt pilot from Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
participating.
The school grew quickly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and in 1961 the Flying Club was awarded its first Yorath Trophy, symbolic of Canada's top Flying Club. In 1962 the Club took over operation of Atlantic Central Airlines, which consisted of a twin Apache and amphibious Cessna 180. These additions complimented the Club's single engine charter service and enabled it to conduct twin engine training.
June 12, 1965 marked a black day in the Club's history, the historic hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
was destroyed in a devastating fire. However, those involved with the Club were determined to rebuild the premises, and on October 8, 1966 the new hangar and dormitory was officially opened.
By the mid 1970s, students were joining from almost every country in Europe and Asia. An Eight bay "T" hangar was built during 1974–75, and were used by private owners and the club's aircraft.
In the 1980s, MFC changed its marketing name to "Moncton Flight Centre". For a time a fleet of Piper Navajo aircraft were operated for charters and light parcel express, initially under the name "Hummingbirds" and eventually "Eastwind Flights". In the fall of 1989, the Board of Directors chose to focus on flight training and the assets of Eastwind were sold.
In more recent times the college had been growing quicker than ever, becoming the largest in Canada. In 2006 the school was awarded the largest pilot training contract ever in Canada, to train 800 Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
pilots. The college announced in 2007 it would soon open a new campus in Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
to handle the quickly increasing student population. MFC had also recently signed an agreement with Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
to offer a Bachelor's degree in Aviation.
Programs & Courses
- Bachelor of Science, Aviation Major (BSc(Av))
- Diploma in Aviation Technology (PILOT)
- Integrated Commercial Pilot Course (ICPC)
- Traditional Pilot Training Program
- Recreational Pilot Permit
- Private Pilot License (PPL)
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
- Instrument Ratings
- Multi-Engine Rating
- Class 4 Instructor Rating
- Aerobatic Instructor Rating
- Advanced Education
- Safety Management Systems (SMS)
- Crew Resource Management (CRM)
- Airside Vehicle Operator Permit (AVOP)
Fleet
Diamond DA20
The Diamond DA20 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation aircraft designed for flight training. In addition to its role as a civil and military training aircraft, it is also used for personal flying by pilot-owners.-Development:...
- The Diamond Eclipse had become the college's primary trainer as of September 2003. The college owns and operates 17 Eclipses.
Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
- The college owns and operates 7 Cessnas.
Piper Seminole
Piper PA-44 Seminole
|-Related content:Related development* Piper CherokeeComparable aircraft* Beechcraft Duchess* Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar-External links:*...
- The college owns and operates 3 Seminoles, which are used for multi-engine and multi-IFR training.
Bellanca Citabria
- This tail dragger was used for Aerobatic instruction, upset training and tailwheel checkouts. The college owned and operated 1 Citabria. The Citabria was ground-looped and replaced by a Decathlon.
- The King Air 200 FTD is a Transport Canada certified level V device. Although not a full motion sim, has a 200 degree view from the flight deck, and is used to simulate various mechanical and weather situations, particularly in training of crew resource management (CRM). This is the first one of its type bought in Canada.
ATC 810 Simulator
- The ATC 810 Simulator is used to introduce the student to the first stages of instrument flying by concentrating on procedures and IFR navigation. The Moncton Flight College owns and operates 2 ATC 810's which simulate the Piper Navajo. Both are fitted with HSI's, DME's VOR's, ADF's and dual radios. Each simulator also has a plotter to allow the student to see exactly what they have done during their session.