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Today we will talk about the Pilot Schools in Ecuador. We will take a tour of the main aviation schools in Ecuador and analyze their fleets, technology, regulations and challenges within a complex local commercial air market, where growth prospects are limited.
I invite you to read the «Guide for the Aspiring Pilot«, first part of our special on the Blog and our third installment how «Get a job as a Pilot«.
According to the Directorate of Civil Aviation of Ecuador, in the country there are 8 legally registered pilot schools, operational and other 3 suspended, of which its main providers are operating at the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in the city of Guayaquil. In Ecuador there are approximately 500 pilots, between private, fumigators and commercial, of which the 20%, according to unofficial data, are looking for work. As we explained a short time ago, the complexity of the domestic air market is delicate and is even in a kind of recession, So what do flight schools do to maintain their operations and attract new students?? How do these schools evolve to adapt to such a demanding market?
Pilot schools in Ecuador
These institutions in recent years have outlined specific strategies to attract, mainly to young people recently graduated from college, towards their schools by offering exclusive benefits such as direct financing, free hosting, modern aircraft, etc. Next, we review some of the main schools in Ecuador, we will talk about your story, fleet, perspectives and more, some of them agreed to collaborate directly with this report, so you can find more exact data and additional information about these.
West Pacific Flight Academy
It is one of the newest schools in the country and has its central base of operations in the city of Quito., although their flights take place in the Province of Esmeraldas, specifically in the city of Tachina, where does your airport operate, this city is located 225 kilometers northwest of the capital of Ecuador.
West Pacific Flight Academy begins its operations by teaching Private Airplane Pilot courses, in the city of Quito 22 April of 2013 and the 27 May at its facilities in the city of Tachina – Esmeraldas. Currently operating from Cessna 150 and a Cessna 172. With the growth of the school and the reception of potential pilots, the school purchased a Beechcraft Baron and a Piper Aztec for multi-engine rating.
Under the new regulation imposed by the Directorate of Civil Aviation, RDAC 141, the school is certified and authorized to teach Private Airplane Pilot courses, Instrument Rating, Multimotor Enabling, Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor.
- EXPANSION PLANS OR FLOTA RENOVATION. – West Pacific currently has 3 single-engine aircraft and is the only one in the country with two multi-engines and constantly invests in the renewal of its avionics equipment, state-of-the-art navigation/communication, as well as in the adequate and preventive maintenance of all its aircraft. It currently has the projection of adding one more aircraft to its fleet in the short term.
- PROJECTIONS AS A SCHOOL ON THE LOCAL AIR MARKET. – It is currently in the process of multinational certification as an ICAO school., this certification will allow West Pacific to open its doors, not only to the national market, but also to people from other countries who are looking for a school, this will apply to all ICAO affiliated countries.
Datos West Pacific
– Graduated commercial pilots: 18
– airline pilots: 4 in the process of admission.
– Current Fleet:
- 2 Cessna 150
- 1 Cessna 172
- 1 Beechcraft Baron B55
- 1 Piper Aztec PA23-250
– Web page: www.westpacificflightacademy.com
CEDCAERSA
CEDCAERSA is a new pilot school, whose main objective is to be a training center for pilots who already have their license and wish to increase their flight hours and advance in their career towards commercial pilot.
All information about this school can be found in detail here: www.nlarenas.com/2017/12/nace-cedcaersa-centro-de-capacitacion-aeronautica
Data CEDCAERSA
– Current Fleet:
- Cessna C-152
- C-172
- Piper PA-23 Aztec
– Web page: NOT AVAILABLE
GRANDAVIATION
Another school that recently started operations. Founded in the year 2012, obtained its certification before the DGAC in September of the same year. It has its facilities, hangar and maintenance at the José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport in the General Aviation terminal hangar #5 and its operational offices in the same city of Guayaquil.
Additional to its operation based in Guayaquil, the school offers the Ground School service in the cities of Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa Regional Airport) and in Quito.
- EXPANSION PLANS OR FLOTA RENOVATION. – This school is the only one in the country and South America to have an international certification such as the CESSNA PILOT CENTER, in addition to having modern and factory aircraft, maintaining international standards in the training of pilot students.
The fleet of aircraft has Garmin technology 1000 that allows students to become familiar with the new world standard air navigation systems.
- PROJECTIONS AS A SCHOOL ON THE LOCAL AIR MARKET. - During the year 2017 the school hopes to open its facilities and programs to applicants from Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and the United States.
GrandAvitation data
– Graduated commercial pilots: 34
– airline pilots: 3
– Current Fleet:
- 5 Cessna 172 – Garmin 1000
- 1 Piper PA-44
- 1 Piper PA-34
- 1 Piper PA-28
– Web page: www.grandaviation.com
Flying Club of Ecuador
The Flying Club of Ecuador, whose acronym is "ACE", was founded on 20 February 1931 and without a doubt it is the school with the greatest seniority and experience in the country.. Thursday 8 October of that same year and with the presence of authorities and a large public, the Aeroclub Aviation Field was inaugurated, southwest of the city of Guayaquil. This aerodrome had spacious hangars and served for the traffic of private planes, also the headquarters where the first civil aviation courses in the country were given.
Over the years and thanks to the great acceptance of this new type of profession in the country, was carried out 22 of January of 1943 the graduation of 15 first pilots of the Aeroclub, having in its entirety already more than 1.200 graduate aviators, being the oldest and most prestigious of its kind in Ecuador. Since its foundation, the Aeroclub has always maintained its base of operations in the city of Guayaquil..
-EXPANSION PLANS OR FLOTA RENOVATION. – The ACE is in the process of creating the school for cabin crew thanks to the extensive infrastructure of the school. It also has the school for aviation mechanics, where they will develop complete skills both in the maintenance and repair of aircraft. What's more, as part of the extension, has decided to implement a satellite base in the city of Machala, in order to continue providing its services to Ecuadorian pilots.
As part of its macro modernization project, will upgrade one of their Cessna 172 con Garmin 1000 and will implement a Robinson helicopter to its varied fleet 44 and a new Cessna 172.
Data Aeroclub of Ecuador
– Graduated pilots: 1.200
– Current Fleet:
- 4 Cessna 152
- 2 Cessna 172
- 1 Piper PA-18
- 2 Piper PA-38
- 1 Piper PA-44
– Web page: www.aeroclubdelecuador.com
Pastaza Aviation School
The EAP school is one of the classic and most recognized in the country. Despite this, it was not possible to know more information about his history or training. This pilot training center, It is located at the Shell Mera Airport, in eastern Ecuador, where just like falcon, teaches courses for Private Pilot, Commercial pilot, Validation of licenses and Instructor Pilot.
Data Aviation School Pastaza
– Current Fleet:
- 2 Cessna 150
- 1 Cessna 172
- 1 Piper PA-30
– Web page: www.eap.com.ec
ESAV Aviation
Aviation School AVIACIONESAV or ESAV as a trade name, It has been formed since April 2009 and certified before the DGAC in the year 2012. Today it has a fleet of aircraft made up of 2 C172, 1 C152, and a PA-23, having certificates all the courses that a school under the part 141 can offer as is: PP, PC, IFR, Multimotor Enabling, CFI, CFII, CFMulti, Flight Instructor update and to obtain the PTLA, and soon ESAV will be certified as Air Taxi under part 135.
ESAV data
– Current Fleet:
- 1 Cessna 152
- 2 Cessna 172
- 1 Piper PA-23
– Web page: www.aviacionesav.com
Amazonas Air
It is the newest of all the pilot schools in Ecuador. Amazonas Air operates at the Jumandi Airport in El Tena with 2 Cessnas 172
Amazon Facts
– Current Fleet:
- 6 Cessna 150
- 1 Cessna 172
- 1 Cessna 182
- 1 Cessna 310
– Web page: NOT AVAILABLE
Aerosertec
It is another of the new schools that have appeared in recent 2 years in Ecuador. Aerosertec has an administrative base in the city of Quito and its classes are practical and theoretical instructions are held at the Shell Mera Airport.. This school teaches Private Pilot courses, Commercial, Instrumental and Complex Ratings. Validation of Foreign Licenses and ICAO English. The following is known about this school:
Datos Aerosertec
– Current Fleet:
- 2 Cessna 150
- 2 Cessna 172
- 1 Cessna 182
– Web page: http://escueladepilotos.maytrabajosaereos.com
Ecuadorian Aviation School
The following is known about this new project:
Data Ecuadorian Aviation School
– Current Fleet:
- 2 Cessna 172
– Web page: www.aviacionecuador.com
RDAC Regulation Part 141
Before addressing in detail the schools that operate in the country, it is appropriate to know the regulations that govern these institutions.. In Ecuador, the Directorate of Civil Aviation has recently updated the RDAC 141 that focuses on the operation and technical requirements for Civil Aeronautics Training Centers for flight crew training, cabin crew and flight dispatchers. In this document of 71 pages details the entire process that a school must go through in order to be certified and, Thus, start operations in the country.
According to the level of instruction that each school wishes to offer its student pilots, Some of the requirements that must be met are:, not necessarily ordered by importance:
- The curriculum for each proposed instructional program;
- The specific objectives of each course and the distribution of the workload, so as to ensure the quality of instruction;
- The description of the aircraft and flight training equipment for each proposed training program;
- Description of audiovisual aids and teaching material, including the bibliography used for the theoretical courses;
- The list of qualified instructors for each proposed training program;
- Curricula for the initial and recurrent training of each instructor, included in the proposed training program;
- For each classroom in which theoretical instruction is developed, the maximum number of students will be twenty-five (25);
- Updated maps and charts;
- Information from aeronautical information services (AIS) updated;
- Updated weather information;
- (Communications for the link with the air traffic control service (ATC) and with the operations office.
These are some of the basic requirements among many others, such as the requirements for a Chief Instructional Pilot, where it must have a minimum 1000 flight hours as pilot in command, Basic flight instruction experience gained as a certified civil aircraft flight instructor or as a flight instructor in a military training program, or a combination of both consisting of at least two (2) years and a total of five hundred (500) flight hours; O, one thousand (1000) flight hours.
The normal certification process, once you meet all the requirements in the RDAC 141 is between 6 months until 2 years, according to compliance with those established in the regulation and even airport of operation, hangars and aircraft to certify.
According to data from the Directorate of Civil Aviation, until June 2014 in Ecuador there were registered 33 aircraft for flight instruction, of which 30 are in operational status. These planes are::
| SCHOOL | REGISTRATION | MANUFACTURER | MODEL | MANUFACTURING YEAR |
| IBARRA SCHOOL | HC-CJG | CESSNA | 172P | 1983 |
| JIMÉNEZ BARRIONUEVO JACK | HC-BDJ | CESSNA | 182-P | 1976 |
| WEST PACIFIC | HC-CNA | CESSNA | 150M | 1976 |
| WEST PACIFIC | HC-CNB | CESSNA | 150M | 1976 |
| WEST PACIFIC | HC-CMZ | CESSNA | 172N | 1979 |
| WEST PACIFIC | HC-COW | BEECHCRAFT | 95-B55 | 1974 |
| WEST PACIFIC | HC-CIQ | PIPER | PA-23-250 | 1961 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-BKC | PIPER | PA-38-112 | 1982 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-BJP | PIPER | PA-44-180 | 1981 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-CHAIN | CESSNA | 152 | 1980 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-CIH | CESSNA | 152 | 1980 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-CMA | CESSNA | 152 | 1980 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-CHV | PIPER | PA-38-112 | 1978 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-BEX | PIPER | PA-18-150 | 1973 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-COD | CESSNA | 152 | 1981 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-BCV | CESSNA | 172-F | 1965 |
| AERO CLUB | HC-BCU | CESSNA | 172-F | 1965 |
| AERO GRAND | HC-CMV | CESSNA | 172 R | 2000 |
| AERO GRAND | HC-CMU | PIPER | PA-28-R | 1981 |
| AERO GRAND | HC-COR | CESSNA | 172 SP | 1983 |
| AEROCLUB PASTAZA | HC-CLJ | PIPER | PA-30 | 1963 |
| AEROCLUB PASTAZA | HC-BKH | CESSNA | A150L | 1974 |
| AEROCLUB PASTAZA | HC-CHR | CESSNA | 150 M | 1976 |
| AEROCLUB PASTAZA | HC-CMW | CESSNA | 172S | 1999 |
| AEROTAISHA (BUSTOS RICHARD) | HC-CNC | PIPER | PA-34-200T | 1979 |
| AEROMORONA | HC-COJ | CESSNA | 152 | 1981 |
| MARCELO ALOMIA YEROVI | HC-BAN | CESSNA | 172-M | 1973 |
| MARCELO ALOMIA YEROVI | HC-CNP | CESSNA | 150J | 1969 |
| MARCELO ALOMIA YEROVI | HC-BAH | CESSNA | 172M | 1975 |
| MARCELO ALOMIA YEROVI | HC-COQ | CESSNA | 172RG | 1980 |
*Source: Directorate of Civil Aviation of Ecuador
Until the closing of this report, an updated list could not be obtained from the aeronautical authority., in any case, the current fleet of the main schools in the country will be indicated later.
high fly
Faced with a stagnant Ecuadorian commercial air market, the situation for schools is not the most favorable, but each one is looking for opportunities to expand their markets, reach new and potential customers, but always seeking to guarantee the best training, high maintenance standards and the best experience for those seeking to fulfill their dreams, so that once his career is over, these pilots have the best tools to insert themselves in the demanding world aviation work environment.
Although Ecuador is a small market, in population terms, schools have grown in the country and several new actors have appeared, which shows that, despite the scenery, the business of fulfilling dreams continues to be profitable and interesting for local and foreign investors.
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I am interested in finding a flight training school in Cuenca. Can you give me any info about this topic?
HI Bill, there is no flying school in Cuenca.
Greetings
I request sufficient information to be a commercial pilot. Please help me..
Hola William, I recommend you contact directly the schools indicated here.
Greetings
I have a son who will finish high school 16 years, not disabled, I ask if you can enroll in the School for pilots,,,? favor requirements .
To. Augusto Jalón-Guayaquil-Ecuador
Hello Augustus, of course you can, I recommend you contact each school directly to help you.
sir larenas,Thank you for such valuable information. My question is if these schools and flight hours are recognized in the US. enough to be able to continue studying in the schools of that country and later work there. My son was born in the US and is currently residing in Ecuador. Thank you.
Of course, You must carry out the process of validating the hours from here to there and that's it.
Please inform the duration of the course and the possibilities of promotion and continue specialized studies
I recommend you contact each school named here.
Good evening, can you help me with information about the School in Quito that has validation and what are the requirements?
Thanks
The schools in Quito are ESAV, West Pacific and Ecuadorian Aviation School, about the requirements consult with them directly.
good afternoon to study in ECUADOR WHERE SHOULD I GO AND WHAT STEPS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION
TO : JACQUELINE
What you can do, is to contact each of the schools mentioned here.
Good morning. I want information about the course, cost and everything in detail for Ecuador Guayaquil
What is the price and how long does it take to get to make a commercial pilot???
In addition, these schools leave with approximately 250 hours of flights and those required internationally is at least 500 in other cases of 1000 Where could I complete those hours and what price would I have for each hour of flight? Thank you
You should consult directly with each school.
How long does it take to find a job for a stewardess in Ecuador?
Impossible to say an exact time.
How much. The flight attendant course costs in Ecuador
Each airline handles different values, sometimes they charge, others not.
Good morning, I'm Anna, if I work as a stewardess, can I get my license?
No, only with one airline.
? Some of the colleges employ United States FAA-licensed flight instructors.?
With validated license, Yes.
Hi Nicolas, I really liked the post. It is quite complete and it is of great help but you could report those academies that have permits and certifications to give the TDC course. Thank you, It would be a great help.
None, I recommend you read: https://www.nlarenas.com/2018/03/guia-para-ser-tripulante-de-cabina-de-pasajeros/
I need a commercial aviation school that accepts credit from the cenecit
Ask each of the schools listed.
Nicholas , Could you tell me if the operation of LSA aircraft is authorized in Ecuador? ( Light Sport Aircraft ) and VLA ( Very Light Aircraft ) in flight schools or only FAR /CSA certified aircraft 23 ?, I only see Piper and Cessna as model airplanes. Thanks.
Hi Eduardo, LSAs and VLAs have different certification and use, there are very few here and they are private. There are some private pilot courses to have this exclusive license, but not pilot schools.
Good afternoon, I am interested in my grandson who is in the seventh level of environmental engineering at UDLA and for his suggestions, want to study for commercial pilot, in the most measured way, please give address and telephone numbers to go to the school for better information. Thanks.
I recommend you contact each of the schools directly..
Hello, good afternoon, could you help me by informing me if only these schools are the ones that are legal? For example, the ANDEAN AIR school ?? IT HAS A LOT OF ADVERTISING BUT I DON'T KNOW THE NAME HERE??? Thanks
Lina, the list is only the current one and certified by the DGAC, none other is legal.
Good night price to be a pilot
Depends on each school, there is no fixed value.
Good evening, Indeed, the detail of the Schools seems correct to me. I represent AEROAMAZONAS, legal name, or AMAZONAS AIR, commercial name, certified school in the city of Tena, Jumandy Airport., We are a new School with a different vision of doing aviation based on the experience as a DAC Inspector and as a pilot., all our instructors have completed the TRAINAIR course, and we are the bidders in terms of cost the most convenient in Ecuador, we currently have two Cessna 150 and we are in the process of increasing for October 2018 a 6 Cessnas 150, a Cessna 172, a Cessna 182 and a Cessna 310.
Dear Captain, Nice to meet you and thank you for your comment updating the information about your school, we will include it. at orders, too, with our professional website services, social networks, etc.
Good afternoon Captain Bilbao , if you would be so kind to indicate the address of the ESAV School. I am interested in the pilot career.
Thanks for your reply
Good afternoon , my name is JESUS ALBERTO BOSCAN SALCEDO ; Venezuelan , I am a Rotary Wing pilot and I want to know where I can direct my resume, with the purpose of putting my knowledge at the service of some School of Aviation Pilots.
Thanks
Thank you very much, And then again I congratulate you for your very good management of keeping informed about the realities in national and international aviation..
Best regards
Very kind Renan. at orders.
Good day, my congratulations for this type of information about pilot schools in Ecuador, but I think that to make this type of information , it would be to do it in a deeper way, obtaining the information in the DGAC or reaching each of the schools, to know the reality of each one and more not to speculate or write by comments of students or pilots themselves who do not have truthful knowledge, since this is going to be very helpful for people who want to start in the world of aviation and can take the best option.
For your information the Aviation School AVIACIONESAV or ESAV our commercial name, It is formed from April 2009 as stated in the Super de CIAS and certified by the DSGAC in the year 2012, and today our fleet of aircraft are from 2 C172, 1 C152, and a PA-23, having certificates all the courses that a school under the part 141 can offer such as PP-PC-IFR-Multiengine Rating-CFI-CFII-CFMulti-Flight Instructor Update and to obtain the PTLA, and soon we will be certifying ESAV as Air Taxi under the part 135.
Of our students we have 6 pilots are now in Aerolineas Ecuatoriana working as First Officers and more than 40 pilots graduated as Pilots.
If you like you can contact me on my cell phone 0987512657 to expand the information.
Cheers
Atte.
Cap. Rena Bilbao
Dear Captain, thank you for your comment. Precisely, before writing this post, I contacted all the schools, writing to each of them to the emails that were found online and to their social networks, some participated as you can see and others did not.
With your information I have updated the data on ESAV. Greetings.
Hi Renan, I am Brazilian and I am looking for a good place to study, live and do my flying hours I'm in the 3 th year of high school but I'm already planning everything. Could you ask me some questions and give me advice on which are the best countries in Latin America and the world with the best prices to become a pilot??