We are pleased to announce that the BCGA Board of directors has appointed Anne Stevens to the BCGA board to fill a recently vacated position. Anne's appointment will allow her to get a feel for the role before being nominated for election at the next annual general meeting. 

Anne is a very active member of the association, she has become the heart and soul of the Vanderhoof Airport and has a passion for aviation and community that is hard to beat. Anne was also the recipient of the BCGA Onkarbir Singh Toor Memorial Bursary in 2018 which recognizes a pilot who has overcome adversity in pursuing their passion for flight. Lastly we would like to acknowledge that we are long overdue in welcoming our first female member to the BCGA leadership team. 

A Message from Anne:
"As a kid living on the coast in Alert Bay and Shearwater, I was fascinated with the float planes and amphibians that shared the docks and harbours. One never forgets the sound of a Beaver roaring to life on a misty morning. Forty years later after a few careers and raising two daughters with my husband Rick, a chance conversation with a pilot at an airshow inspired me to take an introductory flight and life was never the same! Four years later I am a student pilot, Secretary of the Vanderhoof International Airshow and active member of the Vanderhoof Flying Club. "

A welcome maintenance schedule relief for small, private aircraft owners impacted by the pandemic. Hearing industry and owners’ concerns, Transport Canada is providing interim policy changes to help affected aircraft owners and operators during these COVID-19 times. In collaboration with your Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME), you can apply certain tolerances and deviations to your maintenance schedule, such as: 1) inspections performed every 12 months in accordance with STD 625 Appendix B; no greater than 15% and 2) Out of phase task intervals performed in accordance with STD 625 Appendix C; no greater than 10%.


For example, where a 12 month inspection is carried out at 13.8 months (12m +15%) based on an applied 15% tolerance, the next inspection is due 12 months from the date of the inspection was completed.


Should you not go through an AME, you can do through your TCCA office. Please see attached industry notice for details.

Recognizing that many Civil Aviation Medical Examiners (CAMEs) are not seeing patients or those seeking medical certificates in their offices or clinics on a face-to-face basis due to the ongoing pandemic, Transport Canada has announced temporary provisions for the renewal of medical certificates permitting the use of virtual visits instead.
​
The temporary measure is not applicable for those seeking their first medical certificate. Furthermore, if the CAME cannot determine with certainty the fitness of the applicant, a traditional face-to-face examination will be necessary.

Also exempt from the new measures are applicants whose medical condition has changed, those whose current medical certificate has any of the following limitations or restrictions:

1. Licence restricted;
2. Permit restricted;
3. 3 months only;
4. 6 months only;
5. 9 months only;
6. 12 months only;
7. 24 months only;
8. Subject to letter dated;
9. Private Pilot Licence (PPL) privileges – 12 months only;
10. Valid only when another air traffic controller available and competent to assume your duties;
11. With an accompanying pilot;
12. Not valid for Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) renewal.

The new measure is valid until either March 31, 2021 or when the Minister of Transport cancels it, whichever occurs first.

Follow this link for more details.

​

Bill Mahoney, Interim Chair of COPA’s Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that Christine Gervais (no relation to Bernard) has been appointed its new President and CEO. Christine brings with her over 20 years of experience in the field of aviation as a commercial pilot, an air traffic controller and, more recently, a manager in airspace and level of service management.

Christine holds a current commercial pilot licence which she earned with the Ottawa Flying Club’s Professional Pilot Development Program over 20 years ago. A follow up float endorsement lead to the start of her professional aviation career. She has flown the great de Havilland Beaver in Northern Ontario, a Grand Caravan from Africa to South America (and many more flights and aircraft in between). She completed her final professional landing as a corporate pilot.

Following the birth of her son, she successfully trained and joined Nav Canada as an air traffic controller and worked in the Ottawa control tower for nearly a decade. Fluently bilingual in English and French, for the last four years Christine has been dedicated to management at Nav Canada, with her most recent role in Level of Service. During this time, she gained comprehensive experience as a leader in a high-performance team and advanced her education in project management.

She has maintained her pilot licence recency requirements, both on floats and on wheels.

Christine brings with her not only significant experience in the field of aviation, but also professionalism and leadership skills. Her network has prepared her well to successfully assume the role of COPA’s President and CEO. In addition, her ambition, combined with her professional ethics, exemplifies that she is ready and capable of undertaking new challenges.

Her sustained passion for the wild blue yonder will serve her well as COPA’s advocate to advance, promote and preserve the freedom to fly for all of General Aviation in Canada.

Christine will be starting on June 22 and transition with Bernard for a few weeks.

Sincerely,
Canadian Owners and Pilots Association 
75 Albert Street, Suite 903
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5E7
Tel: 613.236.4901

On Sunday May 17th 2020, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds experienced a tragic accident in Kamloops which claimed the life of Capt. Jenn Casey and injured Capt. Rich McDougall. The Snowbirds were nearing the end of Operation Inspiration which had the team flying over many Canadian cities from coast to coast to lift the morale of Canadians during the COVID19 crisis. As a result of the accident in Kamloops it became clear that the team would be unable to complete the mission as the team dealt with the accident. 
 
Aviation is a small community. Whether civilian or military, we are a family and we are all Canadians. On the evening of the accident, the BC General Aviation Association (BCGA) reached out to its members to gauge interest in conducting a mass single file fly over of the Vancouver area the next day, in an effort to pay respect to the fallen Snowbird and to do our part as an aviation family to complete their mission in an effort to raise the spirits of Canadians.

On Monday May 18th 3 flights of BC aviators took off to pay tribute to the Snowbirds and to do their part to finish the team's mission. Ten aircraft flew over Kelowna lead by Trevor Jones. Another ten aircraft paid tribute over the Sea to Sky corridor lead by Colette Morin and Alexis Thind. Lastly, a group of thirty-one aircraft lead by Ryan Van Haren, Fred Carey and Henry Ilg departed Abbotsford and toured the Lower Mainland.

It is important note that this act of solidarity and  respect was not about the pilots that took part but rather about recognizing the Canadian Snowbirds, remembering Capt. Jenn Casey and uplifting Canadians. 

Response of the media and the public was overwhelming. It is apparent by the coverage that it received as well as the hundreds of posts on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter with the hashtag #operationbackupinspiration. 

On behalf of all the pilot in the BC General Aviation Association I wish to give my condolences, gratitude and respect to all those that took part, those that supported the mission and most importantly to the Snowbirds, Capt. McDougall and to the family of Capt. Casey. 

With humble gratitude, 
Ryan Van Haren
President BCGA

OTTAWA, May 5, 2020 – NAV CANADA cont​inues to take action, implementing the best preventative measures possible to ensure the continuity and safety of Canada’s air navigation system throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

As part of this response, air navigation services will be temporarily suspended overnight at 18 air traffic service facilities, including air traffic control towers and flight service stations, and locations which receive remote airport advisory services. Transport Canada has approved these temporary changes to levels of service, which will be in effect for a period of 120 days, subject to prevailing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Affected airports will remain open and aircraft will continue to be able to land and depart.  ​For every site where overnight ATS service will be temporarily suspended, the following enhanced services will be available:

• At a minimum, Limited Weather Information System which consists of hourly wind, temperature, dew point and altimeter information. This will maintain 24 hours/day IFR access to all airports.  
• Communication capability during all phases of flight, via flight information centers (FICs) and/or area control centers (ACCs). This will maintain communication between pilots and the respective FIC and/or ACC in order to provide current and forecast weather, NOTAM, IFR approach and departure clearances, with communication coverage to or below circuit altitude with most sites having coverage to the ground.

The temporary level of service change will allow NAV CANADA to implement flexible staffing, reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for our operational units. These new measures greatly reduce the likelihood of a full unit closure and keep operators and the flying public safe through continued delivery of essential air navigation services.
 
Quick Facts

• This temporary change has been made after a prudent assessment of overnight traffic levels at all affected locations against the services required to fully ensure safe operations, in consultation with our unions and with the support of Transport Canada.
• At its area control centres, NAV CANADA has implemented a “crew” system that minimizes interaction between teams. However, this level of staffing is not available at some of our regional facilities without the temporary reduction in service. 
• NAV CANADA has undertaken a full and detailed risk analysis to ensure that the temporary level of service changes at affected sites can be implemented safely. These changes will help to ensure that our critical services remain available for when there is demand. 
• Pilots can receive detailed information about these new levels of service through NOTAM.
• NAV CANADA’s safety record is one of the best in the world amongst air navigation service providers. We have achieved this record based on a regulated decision-making approach with safety at the very core of all that we do.
• These temporary reductions will be in effect in the next week for a period of 120 days, subject to prevailing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific details for each location are available by NOTAM.
• Overnight air navigation services will be suspended at the following facilities:​ 
  • ​Fort Nelson BC (CYYE) 
  • Port Hardy BC (CYZT)
  • Prince Albert (Glass Field) SK (CYPA)
  • Cranbrook BC (CYXC)
  • Penticton BC (CYYF)
  • Terrace BC (CYXT)
  • Red Deer Regional AB (CYQF)
  • Fort St. John BC (CYXJ)
  • Kamloops BC (CYKA)
  • Deer Lake NL (CYDF)
  • Charlottetown PE (CYYG)
  • Saint John NB (CYSJ)
  • St. Anthony NL (CYAY)
  • Sandspit BC (CYZP)
  • Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy NS (CYQY)
  • Kelowna BC (CYLW)
  • Victoria Intl BC (CYYJ)
  • Abbotsford BC (CYXX)

News Release
For Immediate Release
 
COVID-19 : Temporary suspension of service at select Canadian border services locations
 
May 12, 2020 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canada Border Services Agency
 
Further to the reduction of service at some Canadian land border ports of entry on April 15, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) today announced the temporary suspension of service at certain small vessel reporting sites, small airports of entry, ferry terminals and to the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) program. These COVID-19 related measures are temporary, and in effect as of May 12, 2020, at 23:59 EDT. They will remain in effect until further notice.
 
The CBSA will proceed with the temporary suspension of service at a total of 342 small vessel reporting sites and 126 small airports. Air and marine traffic will be redirected as appropriate.
 
The small vessel reporting locations are primarily marinas and telephone reporting sites that support recreational boating. With the high-traffic boating season fast approaching, the CBSA typically observes an increase in the volume of travellers coming to Canada at these sites for recreational purposes, which are currently prohibited.
 
In support of the Government of Canada’s objective to have all inbound travellers assessed for symptoms of COVID-19, the Agency is redirecting air and marine traffic to ports of entry where the CBSA maintains or can deploy officer presence.
 
Additionally, a number of ferry operators have decided to suspend services between Canada and the United States. This decision was made independently by each ferry operator. 
 
The RABC program, which is only available in parts of northwestern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, has been temporarily suspended. Permit holders cannot use their RABC permit to enter Canada until current Canadian travel restrictions are lifted.
 
The Government of Canada continues to introduce border measures to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada. All discretionary or optional travel into Canada continues to be prohibited.
 
The CBSA remains committed to ensuring that Indigenous people continue to be able to move within and between their communities, and are able to provide and access essential goods and services.
 

























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​Quick Facts

• This temporary suspension of service will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as the public health situation evolves.

 

• Travellers are required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering upon entry to Canada and while in transit to isolation or quarantine, unless the mask or face covering needs to be removed for security or safety reasons.

 

• Travellers who are granted entry into Canada will be informed of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)’s mandatory 14-day isolation requirement. This is mandatory for all coming into Canada even if they do not have any symptoms, as they are at risk of developing symptoms and infecting others. If they do have symptoms, they will be referred to a health professional.

 

• Travellers will also be required to provide their contact information and place of isolation to help PHAC monitor and enforce compliance with the 14-day isolation requirement. 

 
Associated Links
·        Factsheet: List of ports of entry remaining open
·        Directory of CBSA Offices and Services
·        Remote Area Border Crossing program
·        Border Information Service
·        Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
 
Contact
 
Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
questions@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
1-877-761-5945
 
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