Teen aims to get student pilot permit the day he turns 14 at Brampton-Caledon Airport

Permit would allow Lucien Distler to do solo training flights

By Zachary Roman

Aviation has always been a passion for Marco and Lucien Distler.

Lucien is 13 years old and has been visiting air shows with his dad, Marco, since he was a young boy. Marco has always wanted to get his pilot's license, and after the pair visited the massive Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin, Lucien became sold on the idea too. He wanted to take his passion for aviation to the next level.

“I really, really started to pick up with aviation, read all about it, and had a huge interest,” said Lucien.

The father and son duo began taking ground school at the Brampton Flying Club, which is located at the Brampton-Caledon Airport in Caledon. Ground school is where prospective pilots begin their training, studying a wide variety of aviation topics such as aerodynamics and airport rules. 

Lucien's first flight was an “Intro Flight” with the Brampton Flying Club, where anyone can go up in the air with an instructor and try flying for $140.

“From that point on, that's when I really began,” said Lucien.

The Distlers visit the airport every Saturday for ground school, and are beginning their in-flight training as well. Lucien has been flying three times so far, and he's set to ramp up his flight time this spring as the weather gets better. He's hoping to get flights in on both weekend days every weekend, and maybe take a few days off of school to fly, too. Lucien has already passed one of the required written exams needed for his student pilot permit, and is now studying for the next one.

If all goes according to plan, Lucien should be able to get his student pilot permit the day he turns 14, June 9. This would enable him to do solo training flights taking off and landing at the Brampton-Caledon Airport. However, safety is always Lucien's priority so he won't rush the process if it ends up needing to take a little longer. He said it's interesting that in Canada you can fly solo before you can drive solo. 

When Lucien was researching aviation, he found it shocking how few young aviators there are, and even more so how few women aviators there are. He said becoming a pilot is much more doable than one might think.

“I feel like people think that it might just be too difficult for them to do,” said Lucien. “If you try at it, it's really just a very feasible thing.”

Lucien and Marco do their flights in planes they rent from the Brampton Flying Club. The club has a large fleet of planes ready to go at any time, and have many aircraft that are great for beginner pilots.

Looking ahead to the future, becoming a commercial pilot is definitely a career Lucien is considering pursuing. However, he wants to go to university first as he's currently in an accelerated program and getting great grades. 

In the future, Lucien and Marco want to be able to fly together. Marco said the journey of learning to be a pilot has been amazing for him. He's working towards getting his private pilot license.

“It's not about how fast you can get a license because it's a fun activity, it's a passion project,” said Marco. “The biggest fun is the fun of learning.”

Lucien noted learning to fly is often when a recreational pilot does their most flying. While aviation is more accessible than some might think, it's ultimately not a cheap pastime.

Being in the sky is an unbeatable feeling for Lucien.

“It's just wonderful… it's a fully different perspective. [The aircraft] is so small, it's nothing like being in a large commercial aircraft,” said Lucien. “I feel very free up there.”