Give students a real first step into aviation — not just a presentation about it.
Canadian Flight Trainers works with schools, educators, youth organizations and aviation partners to make meaningful aviation education more accessible to young Canadians — from our completely free PSTAR course to full Private Pilot Ground School.
We are not here to replace aviation teachers. We are here to support them.
Aviation programs need more than enthusiasm
Students are naturally drawn to aviation. The challenge for educators is turning that interest into structured, accurate and genuinely useful learning. Teachers may be expected to cover flight operations, navigation, aviation weather, radio communication, safety, regulations and career pathways — sometimes without specialized material or a flight instructor in the classroom. Our online programs are built by working Canadian aviation professionals around the Canadian aviation system, Transport Canada requirements and the practical knowledge students will eventually need at a flight school or aviation workplace.
PSTAR Preparation
The PSTAR is the first Transport Canada aviation exam most new aeroplane students encounter — 50 questions, 90% to pass. Our complete preparation course is free: no purchase, no payment information required.
- Structured lessons covering all 14 PSTAR subject areas
- Based on Transport Canada’s current PSTAR study guide
- Practice questions and three full sample exams
- Progress tracking and real flight instructor support
Aviation Radio & the ROC-A
The Restricted Operator Certificate–Aeronautical lets a person operate radios on aeronautical frequencies — relevant to pilots, certain drone operators, and people working around aerodromes. Developed by an ISED-accredited examiner and Class 1 flight instructor.
- Canadian radio regulations and standard procedures
- Aviation phraseology, normal and emergency communications
- Realistic radio scenarios — learn why, not just answers
- Official ISED examination available with our examiners
PPL Ground School Cohorts
For students ready to move beyond exploration: 40+ hours of structured Transport Canada–accepted instruction across air law, navigation, meteorology, and aeronautics — no aviation experience required.
- Dedicated enrolment pathways for partner schools
- Educators can follow student progress and course activity
- Qualifying students may earn a recommendation letter for the PPL written exam
- Begins in a classroom, continues into real flight training
The PSTAR course is 100% free. Seriously.
Introduce it to an entire class, assign it as independent enrichment, or share it with students who aren’t ready to commit financially. At sign-up, students can optionally donate to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health — or enter $0. The official exam is completed later through an authorized flight training unit or approved location.
Supporting the Aviation & Aerospace SHSM
Ontario’s SHSM–Aviation and Aerospace has five required components: a bundle of nine credits, sector-recognized certifications and training, experiential learning and career exploration, one or more reach-ahead experiences, and a sector-partnered experience. Students complete three compulsory certifications (CPR Level C with AED, Standard First Aid, and WHMIS) plus four electives selected by their school board from the Ministry’s approved categories. Here’s where our courses fit the elective side.
| CFT course | SHSM elective category it can support | Details |
|---|---|---|
| PSTAR | Advanced training in a techniqueFree · ~10 hours | Air law and flight procedures leading toward the Transport Canada Student Pilot Permit exam. Free for every student. |
| ROC-A Radio Course | Advanced training in a technologyISED-accredited exam | Aeronautical radiotelephony — a lifelong federal certification students keep forever. |
| PPL Ground School | Advanced training in a technique40+ hours · TC-accepted | Full private pilot ground school. Counts toward the student’s PPL requirements after graduation. |
| Navigation modules | Compass / map / GPSWithin PPL ground school | Charts, compass navigation, dead reckoning, and GPS — directly matching this Ministry elective category. |
A Canadian Flight Trainers course should not be described as automatically satisfying an SHSM requirement — the Ministry maintains an SHSM-approved course list for the sector, and each school board selects the certifications it recognizes. Our role is to make that review straightforward: we provide course outlines, learning outcomes, instructional hours, assessments, student progress information, completion records and instructor qualifications for board review.
Career exploration beyond “airline pilot”
Air traffic control, maintenance, dispatch, airport operations, aviation weather, avionics, aerospace engineering, safety. We support virtual career presentations, Q&A sessions with working professionals, flight-training pathway workshops and radio demonstrations — before students make expensive training decisions.
See the next step, clearly
Interview a commercial pilot or flight instructor, learn how ground school connects to flight lessons, compare college, university and direct-entry routes, and review what’s expected of a new student pilot. Adapted to the age and pathway of the students.
Aviation is applied math
Co-designed with the classroom teacher around ICE, coding, or math-literacy skills: plan a VFR cross-country route, calculate time, distance and fuel, complete a weight-and-balance exercise, assess a changing weather scenario, or evaluate the operational and business case for a proposed flight.
Turn ground school into an Award Skill Development goal
The Award is a globally recognized framework for young people aged 14–24, delivered in Canada through schools and community organizations. Participants set SMART goals in four sections — and sustained aviation learning is a natural fit for Skill Development. Ground school, aviation studies and radio training have long been recognized Skills activities in Canada.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
A ready-made SMART goal
“Over the next 13 weeks, I will spend at least one hour each week improving my aviation knowledge by completing ground school lessons, reviewing my quiz results, and recording what I’ve learned about safety, weather, navigation and Canadian flight operations.”
Approved by the student’s Award Leader before beginning, through their Award Centre.
Evidence, built in
The Award asks for regular, progressive effort — about an hour a week — not cramming. Every lesson, quiz and exam attempt in our system is time-stamped as the student completes it, giving them ready evidence for their Online Record Book alongside their own reflections.
Assessor-ready records
A teacher, flight instructor or another suitable adult may serve as assessor, subject to Award requirements. We can confirm participation and progress from our course records — the same verification we provide for every ground school student.
Partnership options
Start free, or build something structured — whatever fits your program.
Free Educational Resource
Introduce students to aviation through the free PSTAR course — no larger purchase required. Suited to aviation clubs, career days, intro classes, Air Cadet squadrons and students exploring pilot training.
School Cohort
Structured access to PPL Ground School or another program for a group of students, with designated educators receiving progress and completion data.
Custom SHSM / Classroom
A classroom activity, presentation, reach-ahead experience or sector-partnered experience built with the educator around the school’s learning objectives.
Scholarship & Sponsored Access
Companies, associations and foundations can sponsor ground school access — for high school aviation students, Air Cadets, students in remote and northern communities, young women in aviation, Indigenous youth, and students facing financial barriers.
How it works for a student
Enrol
Start with the free PSTAR course, or jump into ROC-A or full PPL ground school.
Register the goal
Doing the Award? Have your Award Leader approve the activity. In an SHSM? Talk to your SHSM lead.
Learn progressively
Complete modules at roughly an hour a week. Our platform records every step as you go.
Get recognized
Completion is verified from our records — for your Award assessor, your SHSM tracker, and your future flight school.
Built by aviation professionals. Designed for students.
Help your students take their first real step into aviation.
A student doesn’t need to wait until arriving at a flight school to start learning how aviation works. Whether you want to introduce a class to Canadian aviation, support an existing SHSM program, sponsor future pilots, or create a complete ground-school pathway, we’d be glad to talk about what your organization is trying to accomplish:
- Free PSTAR enrolment for your whole class, squadron, or Award group
- Course documentation packages for school board and SHSM review
- Guidance on registering ground school as an Award Skills activity
- Virtual classroom visits and career talks from working aviation professionals
Frequently asked questions
Does a Canadian Flight Trainers course automatically count as an SHSM certification?
No. Ontario’s framework provides categories of acceptable elective training, but each school board selects the particular courses it recognizes. We provide course outlines, learning outcomes, assessment information and completion records to support that review.
Is the free PSTAR course the official Transport Canada examination?
No — it’s a complete preparation course. Students complete the official examination through an authorized flight training unit or other approved location.
Can students earn their ROC-A through Canadian Flight Trainers?
Students complete their preparation with us and arrange an official examination with an ISED-accredited examiner. The certificate is issued after successful completion of the official examination process.
Can ground school count toward the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award?
It may be used as part of an approved Skill Development activity when the student sets a suitable goal, participates consistently, tracks progress, works with an assessor and meets the other Award requirements. Students should have their goal approved by their Award Leader before beginning.
Do students need flight experience before starting?
No. The free PSTAR course, ROC-A preparation, and PPL Ground School can all be started before a student begins practical flight training.
Can teachers monitor student progress?
Yes — dedicated school partnerships can be structured so designated educators receive access to relevant student progress and completion information.
Do you only work with Ontario schools?
No. The SHSM information on this page is specific to Ontario, but our school, youth, scholarship and ground-school partnership options are available across Canada.
Can an aviation company sponsor students?
Yes. Companies, associations, foundations and other organizations can discuss sponsored access for selected students, scholarship recipients or complete cohorts.
Program recognition notice: Recognition of a Canadian Flight Trainers course toward an SHSM, school curriculum, scholarship, Award requirement or other third-party program is determined by the responsible school, school board, Award Centre or program administrator. Canadian Flight Trainers will provide reasonable course documentation to assist with that assessment.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada and the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) are programs of their respective organizations. Canadian Flight Trainers Ltd. provides Transport Canada–accepted ground school instruction and progress verification.