Receive up to $20,000 entrance scholarship for your tuition fee when accepted to this program. Learn more about the scholarship.
The Flight Training program, offered through a unique partnership between Confederation College and Seneca Polytechnic, is a first-of-its-kind program for international students who want to study in Canada and pursue a career as a commercial pilot.
This 24-month, Transport Canada–approved program combines academic study with early, intensive flight training delivered directly by qualified instructors at two of Ontario’s leading aviation institutions. All flight training is included in the tuition, with no additional in-flight fees.
Students train across two locations: the first 12 months at Confederation College’s Aviation Centre of Excellence at Thunder Bay International Airport, followed by 12 months at Seneca’s aviation campus at Peterborough Regional Airport. Training includes modern aircraft, type-certified flight simulators and state-of-the-art facilities at both campuses.
From the first week, students begin flight training and progress through private, commercial and multi-engine instrument instruction. Graduates complete the requirements for the Transport Canada Commercial Pilot License and Instrument Rating – Group 1 (Multi-IFR), preparing them to operate multi-engine aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules.
The program delivers career-ready graduates through structured, on-campus training, including 620 hours of ground school, 127 hours of instructor-led flight training and 100 hours of solo flight time. Transport Canada licenses are internationally recognized and can be converted to FAA or EASA licenses through established pathways.
Students enrolled at Confederation College are guaranteed residence in Thunder Bay, with residence support available during the Seneca portion of the program in Peterborough.
Throughout this program, you will:
Note: This program is available to international students only.
Courses in this program are delivered in person, hybrid and online. All inflight training will take place through Confederation and Seneca’s facilities.
This program does not meet the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility requirements.
Graduates of the certification program are well-prepared for a variety of exciting careers in the aviation industry, including:
Flight training follows clear standards to make sure every student is ready for the responsibilities of piloting an aircraft.
At Confederation and Seneca, flight safety and quality are our top priorities and we are here to help you prepare for your studies and understand how success will be measured. Progress is measured by your ability to reach key milestones within the training hours set out for you in the Training Manual.
We know students learn at different speeds. That’s why a limited number of extra training hours may be provided if remedial training is required.
These hours are meant to help you with specific difficulties, but they cannot be extended indefinitely. Beyond this allowance, further training will not be authorized if performance standards are not being met.
While many individuals can achieve basic flight proficiency, not all will demonstrate the sustained aptitude necessary for commercial-level operations.
Research in aviation psychology and training outcomes consistently shows that not everyone possesses the cognitive, psychomotor and decision-making abilities required to become commercial pilots. These abilities include:
Your instructors, support staff and administrators are here to support your learning and give you every opportunity to succeed.
Ongoing, impartial feedback is part of professional training—it ensures you know where you stand and what’s expected.
