Many schools reimburse the tuition fee paid by attendees. As the client will receive instruction and resources that can benefit the entire flight school, we encourage every instructor to inquire if their flight training unit will cover at least some of the cost.

We know that sometimes things don’t work out. Please review our cancellation policy for complete details .

The self-paced online e-Fresher portion of the course provides all the necessary background info you’ll need as an attendee and is designed to be a learning experience, not a test. The two-day conference portion will contain further presentations from experts, but will not be “just a lecture”. Significant time is set aside for attendees to work in small groups practicing techniques, discussing flight training, developing training plans, preparing analysis, etcetera. There are open discussions for the entire group as well. It is a time for all instructors present to work together to learn new techniques and improve their knowledge and skill. It’s a learning experience for everyone – in other words, a great form of professional development. You can learn more about our course topics here.

The short answer is yes! We have a variety of instructor classes at our courses from many different flight schools. Not only do all instructors benefit from our course, but also from the input, experiences and ideas of the other instructors attending the course. Even if you haven’t had a chance to use your rating since it was issued, you will be able to follow along and participate. You may be interested in reading testimonials from clients such as yourself.

As an interactive professional development course, fluency in English is necessary to follow along and participate during the presentations. There is group work with colleagues, and various oral and written assignments. Clients should self-assess their ability to learn and participate in this environment – and their comfort level in doing so. An ICAO aviation language rating of 6 (Expert) would normally be suitable. Those who hold an Operational level (ICAO 4-5) may also be well suited to the course when they have expert level comprehension and interaction, but were perhaps rated as operational for a reason such as minor pronunciation errors. Our goal is to welcome as many people as possible to the course, so that they can improve and develop as a flight instructor. At the same time, we want to ensure everyone feels comfortable participating, so that they can be successful in the course. Therefore, those who hold an Operational rating must contact us for a brief telephone or video conversation before registering, so that we can provide feedback and let them know if the course would be suitable for them. There is no charge for this pre-course language assessment.

The self-paced on-line e-Fresher component is completed at your leisure prior to the in-person course. It covers the foundational knowledge for the course so that more time during the conference can be allocated to discussions and activities.

For the two days of conference, attendees should normally plan to be available from 0800-1700 Eastern for an in-person course, and 0900-1800 Eastern for a virtual course. The actual times will be sent in your welcome package.

Each day of conference consists of a variety of topics. Most modules are 75-90 minutes in length, including breakout groups.

Free parking is available for all attendees and the facility is adjacent to Highway 401. For attendees flying their own aircraft, the hotel is only 11km from Waterloo International Airport (CYKF). Convenient airline service is available from Toronto Pearson (CYYZ), Waterloo (CYKF), Hamilton (CYHM), and London (CYXU). Please contact us if you require further information.

No. All necessary facilities including restaurants are available at or within walking distance of the hotel.

With the introduction of virtual on-line conferences, there is no longer sufficient demand for in-person conferences outside of southern Ontario. We encourage you to visit our Cambridge in-person course, or join us virtually from the comfort of your home or office.

Please note that due to low-demand for in-person courses, we have temporarily suspended our in-person offerings. We invite you to join us at one of our many virtual courses.

Upon successful completion of all course requirements, we will issue you a course completion certificate and submit your name and file number to Transport Canada. You will need to complete a Rating Application Form (26-0083) and mail or email it along with a copy of the course completion certificate and $30 rating application fee to your local TC office. For virtual online courses, course completion documents will be emailed to you.

You will be provided with temporary privileges via a certified true or digital copy of your completion certificate depending on which course you attend.

This process will be reviewed on the last day of the course.

As long as your Aeroplane instructor rating is valid on the first day of the course (including Cat 1 medical), you can use this course to renew your rating if you meet the other CARs requirements (421.66) to do so. Your rating is valid to the end of the day noted on your license. For example, a rating that expires June 1st is valid on June 1st. If the course starts June 1st and runs until June 2nd, you will need to receive your temporary privileges from us before you resume instructing on June 2nd (this will be e-emailed if you attend a virtual conference).

If the course is completed within the 90 days preceding your rating expiry date, your rating will renew as if you completed the course in the month prior to your expiry. For example, if your Class 3 rating is valid until July 1 2020 and you complete a course during May 2020, you will renew to July 1 2022. However, if you take a course earlier than 90 days, it will renew to the first of the next month. In the above example, if you take a course in February, your Class 3 renews to March 1 2022. In some cases, the Interpretation Act allows for 91 or 92 days; this may happen when a course ends on the first or second day of the month. If you are close to 90 days, please contact us for clarification.

This course is approved for renewal of Canadian aeroplane flight instructor ratings only.

You may renew your Aeroplane instructor rating up to two consecutive times through an alternate means, such as the FIRC (every 3rd renewal needs to be via flight test). For more details, you should refer to CAR 421.66 and check it against your personal circumstances.

The presenters are all passionate, experienced, and successful professionals – including Class 1 Instructors, Chief Flight Instructors, Pilot Examiners, Airline Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Accident and Air Safety Investigators, Human Factors Specialists, Maintenance Engineers, Lawyers, Aviation Managers, and Entrepreneurs.

Over many years of running the FIRC, our presenters have brought a combined 500+ years of aviation experience, representing over 24 different FTUs, Air Operators, and Organizations providing a variety of opinions and insights. Our current presenter roster can be found here.

Book directly with the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre via phone at 866-622-1505 and let them know you are attending our course. Full details will be provided once you have submitted your registration for the course.

No, the course generally does not contain any materials beyond what a qualified flight instructor already has access to. In the event a guest speaker requires something unusual, we will provide it as part of your course fee.

You will be required to cover incidental costs such as printing (materials are provided in PDF format only), food, transportation, accommodation, TC rating application fee, etc.

No. The on-line e-Fresher self-paced component of the course must be completed before the conference portion. Registration closes no later than 72 hours prior to the start of the course (earlier if the course sells out) to ensure sufficient time to complete the on-line component.

Payment in full must be completed at the time of registration. Your seat in the course is not confirmed until payment is received.

While a flight test proves what you already know, a refresher course covers many new topics allowing you to expand your skill set; making you more marketable and successful as an instructor. This can also help prepare you to upgrade your rating; giving you the potential to earn more income. The course itself is often less expensive than renting an airplane and doing a flight test – plus it’s tax free. Finally, interacting with instructors from across the country helps you build a professional network you can call on throughout your career.

No. In order to provide the best client support and learning experience, we will schedule either one or the other.

If attending a virtual conference, clients must have access to reliable high speed internet (minimum 5 Mbps) and a device (mandatory desktop/laptop – no tablets or phones) with speaker/headphones, microphone, and video camera (e.g. web cam) of a suitable quality and reliability that they can be effectively heard and seen. Clients will have an opportunity to attend a technical “open house” prior to the course to confirm their technology and understanding is adequate.

Individuals who are not comfortable with the use of technology for virtual conferences should enroll in an in-person course.

Please note that due to low-demand for in-person courses, we have temporarily suspended our in-person offerings. Those who are not comfortable with the use of technology are encouraged to use an alternative means of renewal.

Zoom Workplace was selected as our course software for its security, reliability, flexibility, and classroom features such as break-out rooms, whiteboard, PowerPoint, etc.

Clients are able to use the free version of the software to participate in our courses.

We have a dedicated on-site telephone help line to provide assistance.

Please note that the client is responsible for all services on their end of the connection, such as computer hardware and connectivity.

The Quality Assurance Manager or delegate on each course will be continually monitoring each attendee via video.

Courses are scheduled approximately every three to four months, as the CARs allow instructors to attend a course up to 90 days prior to their rating expiry with no reduction in validity period.

We normally offer 3-5 courses per year - in spring, fall, and winter.

It is recommended that flight instructors investigate upcoming course dates six months prior to expiry and register as early as possible to ensure a space on their desired course. Registration opens approximately 90 days prior to each course.

We are committed to providing a safe and comfortable learning environment with health and safety measures that meet or exceed Public Health requirements. Please keep in mind that these may change on short notice. Contact us if you have specific questions.

Both options are similar in course content, with small modifications to optimize for the delivery method of the course. This means all courses have group exercises in break-out rooms, as well as larger discussions, in addition to the presentations and other activities. However, if you place a high-value on networking, social activities, and “hangar talk” the in-person course should be a priority for you as there are more opportunities to do so. If you place a higher value on the convenience of being able to attend remotely from the location of your choice, on-line is the way to go. Of course, attending on-line also means that you must be comfortable with the use of technology. If you are a person that learns better “in the room” than the in-person course would be a better choice.

Please note that due to low-demand for in-person courses, we have temporarily suspended our in-person offerings. We invite you to join us at one of our many virtual courses.

The online course is run similarly to an in-person course, with significant breakout rooms and group work.  The modules themselves are also interactive discussions, rather than a lecture-hall type of presentation. The class size is capped in order to keep the event manageable and ensure that everyone can participate and enjoy a top-rated experience.

Due to past issues with the rating extension program, we are not currently accepting registrations from those on a rating extension.

If you have extenuating circumstances, you may contact us before you register and the Chief Instructor will determine if an exception can be made.

Exceptions will only be granted for truly exceptional circumstances. Situations such as not planning for rating renewal sufficiently in advance will not be approved.