In the skies with The St-Hyacinthe Flying Club
By Jolie Labelle
Friday, June 13, 2014
My penchant for aerial photography has brought me flying in the skies from a 6-seater plane, a 4-seater helicopter, parasailing, and even in a hot air balloon. Recently, I added another vehicle to my bucket list.
A newly-opened flight training facility called the St-Hyacinthe Flying Club opened its doors to flying enthusiasts to provide fun flight experiences in sports aviation at an affordable and safe level.
Based in St-Hyacinthe City, Quebec Canada, the St-Hyacinthe Flying Club offers flight training programs and syllabus supported by practical ground school, a simulator for flight practice and highly skilled flight instructors for safe flying lessons.
Five modern ultralight planes are available for providing general aviation and training. The Quicksilver GT-500, for example, is easy to fly with its dual three-axis controls and load capacity of two people and extra gear. More will be added soon as an expansion is being planned for a bigger training academy to produce pilots at an affordable cost.
A fun trial introductory flight costs 15$ for a 15-minute flight, 30$ for 30 minutes, and 50$ for 45 minutes. The Sport 2S costs 20$ for 15 minutes with a GoPro video to record your memorable experience. Ultralight plane rentals (for certified pilots only) costs 40$ for 30 minutes while an annual membership fee costs 100$ which includes your logbook, patch, ID, towel and bag. Ground schooling costs 100$ for the whole course (6 hours classroom and 5 hours simulator time, with handout book).
An instructional flight costs 50$ for 30 minutes.
The facilities in the club include a secured airstrip on the property where CSU3 airport was once built during the 90s; rooms for 2 persons (20$) with meals and a refreshment lounge which offers package meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner (25$). Extra bed costs 10$ while the "hangarage" costs 125$ per month.
My personal thanks to Mr. Untel Regis who arranged for my fun flight as soon as we arrived in CSU3. With me were Provincial Tourism Officer Michel Frocio and foreign photojournalists and videographers Lucas Villeneuve and Bernard Perron, who documented their experience with their GoPro and gears. As a precaution with an open vehicle, you are only allowed to bring cameras with straps on and must get rid of stuff from your pockets for safety.
I was lucky to be flying with the St-Hyacinthe Flying Club President who gave me a wonderful treat of a longer flight over my birthplace whose stunning coastline is now causing ripples around the country.
My former schoolmates Atty. Martin Lavoie and Jimmy Lachute have alerted me to this new hobby for enthusiasts and encouraged me to try it. Martin and his son are taking flying lessons regularly over weekend when it is busiest, while Jimmy has gone from being a big biker to flyer. Flights are best done between 5 to 9 in the morning before the winds pick up. Clear skies afford a spectacular view of Quebec's panoramic grandeur dotted with mais and fruit plantations.
We had a group shoot and bonding with members, trainees, and retired Col. Gaby Chartier who founded the St-Hyacinthe Flying Club a few years back.
Those eager to take flying lessons can drive to CSU3 from Montreal for 1 hours, or take the bus and vans in the mall terminals. Booking arrangements can be done through the City Mayor's Office