Now accepting pre-registration for 2025-2026

Required by both current PRPS students and new Out of District students.

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Build a Career in the Aviation Industry

The Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace estimates 55,000 workers are required by 2025 to keep up with demand and meet growth requirements in the aviation industry. Training costs are often a barrier and students at SAFA pay just under $15,000 for all three years as compared to between $20,000 - $30,000, depending on how many flight hours are needed to master each skill, to earn a private pilot’s license through a flight school.

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A Program Built on a Local Partnership with Super T Aviation

Super T Aviation is a family owned and operated company based out of Medicine Hat Alberta. Part of the Bar XH Sales family of companies, Super T Aviation has been proudly serving southern Alberta since 2008 with charter fleet ranges from Cessna 172s up to the Piper Navajo. “Super T is proud and privileged to be part of this unique in-Canada program, which is a collaboration between private enterprise and a public-school division. Students in this program, whether they are learning to fly an airplane or learning to build an airplane, are gaining confidence and abilities through these activities that other high school students can only dream of.” Terri Super is the owner of Super T Aviation, which is one of the oldest and most respected flight schools in Canada. Each year, more students enrol in SAFA, which is good for the industry as pilots are much needed. A former student of SAFA now works as a flight instructor for Super T Aviation, which is good for the students as he understands what it is like to be flying while in high school. The SAFA courses are not the same as high school courses as a minimum of 60% is needed to pass and there are no retakes of exams, which come from Transport Canada and are regulated. Students will be sent home if they aren’t prepared to fly and haven’t done the preparation work beforehand. If the instructor feels a student doesn’t know the procedures and are prepared when arriving at class, they won’t be allowed to fly. “It’s a great course and I think the students who get into it and see the value in it, they mature and it’s a great skill to learn and that’s what it is, a skill one has to apply themselves to. Once they get the notion this is not just a high school course, I need to apply myself, I see them begin to blossom over the three years and it becomes important and they start working as a team,” concluded Terri Super.

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How to Apply for the Program

There are many academic and physical requirements to the program. Before you apply, make sure your student qualifies and is eligible for SAFA.

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The Psychological Component to Flight Training

Greg Godard, PRPS Psychologist, provides the psychological educational component for SAFA students. “Psychological education curriculum for Flight is about preparation, the mental game of flying because pilots aren’t supposed to be in the air if they are sick, tired, or on medication,” stated Godard. Pilots need to have an ongoing self-assessment and can be grounded if they present with mental health problems. “All health issues can be highly impactful for pilots, especially if they are flying 200 people across the ocean, you want them to be of sound mind. I try to do eight sessions a year with flight, and they are basically things like rezoning your attention, concentration, executive functioning skills – what to do in the air when you have a sudden headache or you get really tired or a burst of emotions – basically self-regulation, the mind game of flying."

Student Testimonials

Are you interested in applying to the Flight Academy program? Here is what our current and former students have to say about being part of SAFA.

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Our Program Background

The Dave Rozdeba South Alberta Flight Academy (SAFA) is named after Dave Rozdeba, a former teacher within Prairie Rose Public Schools and an avid flight enthusiast. Dave worked as an administrator and coach at Eagle Butte High School from 1996 until his declining health prevented him from continuing to work. With a family history of flight, Dave was instrumental in founding the Family Fun and Flight Show where he served as Flight Boss. This show has been renamed to the Dave Rozdeba Memorial Airshow, which is held every two years at Medicine Hat Airport. Dave passed away in 2017 at the age of 51.