There is currently an election process taking place in BC & YT to fill the vacant director’s position, that was previously held by Bryan Webster.    Bryan vacated this position early due to work pressures, therefore the term of office for this election will be two years vice the usual four year term.     

The voting process started today and the poll will be open until April 4th.     Please go to the COPA web site at: copanational.org and follow the directions found on the front of the home page.     You will need your COPA membership number and password to log on to the members only section, and then choose the members only button that will take you to voting button.    A few members have had some difficulty in logging in, but if you follow the directions carefully you should have no difficulty.    If you do have problems, or for those members that wish to vote by a paper ballot, you may contact, COPA’s Office Manager, Heather McLaren, her telephone number is 613 236 4901 ext 110.  

The candidates information can be found in the March edition of the COPA Flight newspaper and their bios and other information are listed in the voting section when you cast your ballot.  

The three candidates in the running for BC & YT are:

Ken Armstrong
Joe Hessberger  
Carter Mann

Please take the time to vote.   Every vote counts particularly in light of the fact that the voter turn out for these COPA elections is historically extremely low (typically 1%!)   Please make sure that this is not the case in this election as your vote is important in choosing the best candidate that will donate their time and energy to represent you and your Freedom to Fly.   

  W.T. (Tim) Cole 

BC & YT Director
Canadian Owners and Pilots Association 
tcole@copanational.org

On February 20th 201 6, we held a BCGA member tour of the Nav Canada Area Control Centre in Surrey, BC. The ACC is the central hub for ATC in British Columbia; it is home to the regional administrative offices, training centre, technical specialists and all radar air traffic control in and around British Columbia.

The tour was limited to 10 attendees and filled up almost immediately with many more members expressing interest in future tours that we will endeavor to arrange and make available to the membership. 

The tour started off in the boardroom and began with introductions and a brief overview of Nav Canada's work and responsibilities. Time flew as members asked excellent questions about airspace and procedures specific to the lower mainland and its complex airspace. I think it is safe to say that the session was very informative and all those pilots in attendance walked away with some "insider tips" and a new perspective on how to make their flights safer, more expeditious and how to work with the controllers to make their flight easier.  

The session was hosted by controllers from both Vancouver and Victoria Terminal.

Some of the topics covered included:
- Class "C" Restrictions
- Techniques for initial radio contact with Vancouver/Victoria Terminal
-Water crossing procedures
-C YVR VFR Transit Routes
-CYYJ VFR Arrival Routes
-Class C vs. Class D Airspace
-Declaring an Emergency
-Requirements to fly Trans-border
-Wake Turbulence

We also talked about some "hot spots" / "pinch points" where pilots should uses extra caution and some techniques for flying in these areas:
-King George Corridor (CZBB - CYNJ/CYXX)
-Point Roberts vs. Arrivals fro Rwy 26 in Vancouver
-Active Pass
-North of Sumas Mountain vs. Westjet Arrivals to CYXX
-Whatcom VOR

After the boardroom session we went upstairs to the operations floor and members were shown the various control positions and the 5 specialties within the ACC including, Vancouver Terminal, Victoria Terminal, the High Enroute Sectors, Flow Control & Flight Planning. 

We also discussed and demonstrated some of the tools that controllers have available in at their console and when aircraft information looks like on the screen. One of the other thigs that we looked at was how all the navaids in the province are monitored 24/7.

After the Ops Floor We then went back to the boardroom and answered a few more questions and called it a night. 

The tour lasted 3.5 hours which can mostly be attributed to the BCGA members being so engaged and asking some great questions. The intent of the tour was to give local pilots some insight into what occurs on the other side of the radio and to put some faces to some familiar voices in a hope that on their next flight they will feel more comfortable and confident interacting with ATC. Given the success of this tour, we anticipate holding more in the future. 

Tim Cole (Director of BC/YT for COPA) has asked us to pass this on to our members:​

A couple of planes from Abbotsford are intending to fly to Oshkosh this summer.

We would like to see if we can group up and discuss routes accommodations on routes etc.

I am taking a 206 and I believe that our Piper archer will also be going. I have a very good useful load and would volunteer to take others baggage etc if their aircraft are limited

.If anyone is interested maybe we could form a group. I would be happy to help co ordinate
Keith Wilson MD (COPA Flight 83)

Monday February 8th 2016 (Family Day Holiday in BC) we held a short notice fly-out to a gravel bar on the Fraser River about 3 miles east of Agassiz. 

The weather looked good the day before and a few phone calls were made and information about the informal meet-up was posted on the BCGA website and the BCGA facebook group. We flew out to the site expecting to see 4-5 planes but what happened throughout the afternoon was nothing short of amazing! 

The first planes arrived around 1130am and the meetup lasted until shortly before 4pm. Throughout the afternoon we were joined by over 18 aircraft carrying over 30 people. While we sat on the beach enjoying a bonfire and roasting some wieners and marshmallows we were treated to flypasts from close to a dozen other pilots who didn't land but attended the event none the less. The afternoon was filled with stories and good company. There were even some youngsters running around having a blast!

Aircraft in attendance included but were not limited to: Multiple Advanced Ultralights, a Turbine Marchetti, a Beaver on Floats, Cessna 170s,172s,180s,185s, Citabrias, Piper Pacers, Bearhawks and several others. 

Aircraft the flew past ranged from Cessnas to several RV's and even a Nanchang and a Robinson Helicopter. 

Most flights came from the Lower Mainland however Mr & Mrs Ferguson even made the trek down from Springhouse Airpark (near Williams Lake) to join us. 

Highlights included: A great turn-out, making new friends, random fly pasts and 2 pilots who ended up waist deep in the February waters of the Fraser River trying to help the Beaver get to shore.

We are so happy that this event was such a success! With the help of our members and other local pilots we are strengthening the local aviation community and it feels great! The camaraderie among aviators young and old is alive and it is up to us to keep it strong which is one of the key missions of the BC General Aviation Association. It was said by several pilots today "This is what flying should be" and they were right!

The BC General Aviation Association is the latest organization to become a registered COPA flight.
COPA's mission is to protect Personal Aviation and promote it as a valued, integral and sustainable part of the Canadian Community. This is closely aligned with The BCGA's objective to promote safe and enjoyable flying throughout British Columbia. 

The BCGA works with individual pilots, flying clubs and COPA flights to promote camaraderie between pilots and to encourage British Columbia’s aviators to expand their horizons and explore new destinations.

As a registered society the BCGA has begun the process of acquiring tenureship rights to an abandoned airstrip on Crown land with the hopes of its members coming together to make it usable once again.

The BCGA welcomes all new members and is a great way to supplement your existing flying club membership. It is free to become a member of the BCGA as it is funded by voluntary member contributions.

The BCGA has members across British Columbia and its neighboring provinces and is lead by a board of directors that is diverse as the province itself and truly represents British Columbia’s pilots and their regionally specific needs. The BCGA looks forward to building a strong relationship with COPA, contributing to COPA for Kids and working with COPA on behalf of British Columbian pilots.  We are proud to be affiliated with COPA as Flight #194.

---------------------------Official Details----------------------------
• WHEN: Starts at daybreak, October 1, 2016
• WHERE: Anywhere on the planet Earth that men fly!
• WHO: Any pilot of an aircraft considered an "ultralight" and/or "open air." Ultralight, PPG, PPC, Trike, Paramotor, Hang Glider, Hot Air Balloon. Any imaginative, magnificent flying machine.

• WHY: Because the limitations of these aircraft mean it is unlikely all of us around the world will ever get to fly together. But we CAN all fly the same sky, on the same day everywhere on the planet, making this the FIRST Virtual Worldwide Fly-in!

STEP 1. Go to the WUFI-Map and add your name! https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=1815267

STEP 2. Join the discussion! https://www.facebook.com/groups/magnificentmen/

150202 CYCW CHILLIWACK
AIRPORT RESTAURANT CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS PIE UNAVAILABLE  UNTIL FEB 6TH
PILOTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE THEIR GIFT OF FLIGHT AND EXPLORE OTHER AIRPORTS
FULL LIST OF AIRPORT RESTAURANTS AVAILABLE HERE
1602021800 TIL APRX 1602061800