Last year we announced that BCGA Member and scholarship winner Aidan Charles would be flying across Canada in an ultralight aircraft to raise money for Hope Air. 

At the beginning of last summer a decision was made to postpone the flight to this summer to allow more time for planning and aircraft preparation. Since last summer Aidan (17 years old) who aims to have a career in as a commercial pilot has started working for a local airline as a ramp lead as a first step to reaching his flying goals. 

We support Aidan's difficult decision to abandon his cross Canada flight in order to focus on his career aspirations. Aidian has donated the $660 that he had raised for his flight to Give Hope Wings which is in its final stages of circumnavigating North and South America to raise money for Hope Air. Give Hope Wings is lead by BCGA director David McElroy and we are glad that despite Adian not flying across Canada the money has gone to the worthwhile charity for which it was raised. 

We wish Aidan luck in his career and look forward to flying across Canada with him at the helm of an Airbus or Boeing some day. 

Skye Avionics in Campbell River has generously offered a 25% discount to BCGA members on ELT tests and 2 year tests: (altimeter, transponder, encoder). We are thankful to Skye and other businesses that support our community and offer benefits to our members. This is just one way that we hope to provide value to you and enhance your aviation experience. For more information on other member benefits please visit our Sponsor Page.

February 15, 2017 (1152am Pacific)
We have very few details at this moment but one of the fuel suppliers have issued a notice accross much of Western Canada advising that any 100LL delivered after December 28, 2017 from a specific refinery be quarantined pending further investigation and that 100LL delivered after January 1, 2018 should not be used. Members have reported having no issues in the past weeks with fuel but caution should be taken as these warnings are not issued lightly by the fuel companies.

So far this seems to have impacted:
Boundary Bay Airport
Abbotsford Airport
​Pitt Meadows Airport
​Nanaimo Airport
Smithers Airport 
Kelowna Airport
Kamloops Airport
Penticton Airport
There may be more.....

CHECK NAVCANADA NOTAMS FOR FUEL AVAILABILITY

The common denominator appears to be that it is fuel supplied by Esso. We will post updates as they become available. 

Letter From Imperial Oil:

Good morning,
​
Imperial has become aware that aviation gasoline picked up by wholesale customers at Strathcona refinery in Edmonton since Dec. 28, 2017 may have a product quality issue..
 
Please do not use or distribute this product. Our primary concern is that the product quality issue may cause interference with onboard fuel gauge sensors.
 
Imperial will make arrangements with you regarding future handling of this product, and we will provide more information as it becomes available.
 
We regret this inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding.

Minette Ledrew of COPA Flight #97 (Avalon) in St. John's Newfoundland has contacted us to help them organize a Survival Shakedown. They are currently in discussions with their local search and rescue teams to get support for the exercise. Their exercise will be modeled after the BCGA Survival Shakedown and will most likely be called a Survival Shakedown surely with some Newfoundland twist thrown in. 

We are excited to be assisting them in organizing their exercise and will gladly share our experiences and tips to ensure that their exercise is a success. As mentioned at the COPA Convention in Kelowna last June, we are willing to help any other club or organization in organizing a survival exercise. We want to ensure that as many pilot as possible in Canada have access to and are receiving this training. 

We are thrilled to be working with a flight club on the other side of the Country / Continent to truly bring this training coast to coast. 

Thanks to BCGA member Simon Potter, registered BCGA members will now enjoy a 10% discount at Eco Outdoor Sports on Broadway in Vancouver. Eco Outdoor stocks a wide range of outdoor gear and apparel and this member discount is a great way to save a few dollars when purchasing outdoor gearor sprucing up your survival kit with quality items. Eco outdoor stocks brands such as Northface, Icebreaker, Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardwear, Salomon etc.

This member discount applies to everything in store and is another example of how members help members get value out of being part of our dynamic community. 

​*DIGITAL BCGA MEMBERSHIP CARD REQUIRED 

Eco Outdoor Sports
202 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1P6
@ecooutdoorsports

The nominees for the 2018 COPA elections have been announced. There has been unprecedented interest in the position with seven nominees for two available positions. We would like to thank Joe Hessberger for his service on the COPA board and look forward to continuing to see him as an active member of the local community.

What is even more impressive than the number of nominees is the diversity of the regions represented. We ask that you take time to review the nominee bios and take the time to vote. Regardless of who is elected we are confident that BC and Yukon will be well represented and thank all the nominees for stepping forward on behalf of our Province's COPA members.

The BC/YT Nominees Are:
David Black - North Vancouver (BCGA Member)
Pat Cochrane - Coldstream
Arthur Loring - Kamloops (BCGA Member)
Peter Lythall - Fort Saint John (BCGA Member)
Ken Welte - Nanaimo (BCGA Member)
Marc Whittemore - Kelowna
David McElroy - Kelowna (BCGA Director)   Video Address From Dave McElroy


Voting takes place online between February 14th, 2018 at 12PM EST and April 2nd, 2018 at 9AM EDT.

George Miller has been named the new Airport Manager at Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. George is a veteran Canadian Air Force Pilot, Former Snowbird Pilot, Langley Airport Manager and current leader of the Fraser Blues aerobatic team. George was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2015 and was awarded the Belt of Orion.

George's appointment to the Airport Manager position brings a welcome breath of aviation experience and passion for general aviation and the community that surrounds it. The BCGA and the Pitt Meadows Airport Community welcomes his appointment and looks forward to a bright future for the airport.  

It is a positive step to have someone leading the airport that has a vested interest in the success of General Aviation and a working knowledge of the various facets the surround the running of a successful airport and leading a successful team which he has demonstrated throughout his illustrious aviation career.