We are proud to announce the launch of the BC General Aviation Private Airstrip Access Program (PAAP). The basis of the program is to get private airstrips that had been previously closed to public access opened up for us to enjoy.

There has been a lot of work put into this project by many Airstrip Owners, BCGA members and also by the legal firm of Chris Knight LLC. The basis of this program is that the airstrip owners sign up to participate based on the knowledge that they cannot be sued.

Pilots and passengers sign a waiver that prevents them from suing the airstrip owner no matter what happens. This allows pilots access to ALL the strips listed in the program as long as the conditions outlined by the airstrip owner/operator are met.

In many cases PPR is still required but in the past you were always denied due to liability concerns and now you will usually be allowed to use the airstrip. We only have a few airstrips listed at this time but we are talking to many airstrip owners and hope to have them onboard shortly.

The airstrips that are part of our launch announcement are:
-Clearwater
-Echo Valley Ranch
-Cortes Island
-Sidney Island

If you know of any airstrips that you would like us to try and get in the program send us a note.

All BCGA members will have access to the PAAP webpage on the BCGA website using their login credentials. The Private Airstrip Access Program page is located in the MEMBERS dropdown menu.

Fly Safe and Have Fun!
Ken Wardstrom,
BCGA Director.

We are pleased to announce that Arthur Loring has been appointed by the BCGA Board of Directors as the new Director for the Okanagan. Arthur recently ran in the COPA director election and was the runner up to David Black and outgoing BCGA Okanagan Director Dave McElroy. 

Arthur is an active and enthusiastic member of the flying community and despite being relatively new to the world of aviation has already become a well known pilot in Kamloops and is promoting and bringing new energy to General Aviation in the Okanagan. Arthur owns and operates a Diamond DA20 and is the Vice President of the Kamloops Flying Club. 

Arthur will tell you that the BCGA played a role in his decision to take the leap into aircraft ownership as he saw that there was an active community of aviators in the Province which motivated him to take his flying to the next level. 

The appointment of Arthur Loring came on the suggestion of Dave McElroy who was elected as the BCGA Okanagan Director at the 2017 AGM. Dave recently completed his Give Hope Wings flight around the Americas and raised over $500,000 for Hope Air. As the current President of the Kelowna Flying Club and recently elected BC/YT COPA Director, Dave felt that the BCGA Okanagan Director position would be better served by an enthusiastic, motivated and up and coming leader in the community and specifically suggested that Arthur fill this role. The BCGA Board thanks Dave for his service and for putting the community first. We look forward to continuing to work with Dave in his new role with COPA and as an active BCGA member. 

Arthur's appointment is an exciting development for the BCGA. We known that Arthur will work hard for the community both on a local and provincial level and we look forward to hearing about and implementing Arthur's ideas and initiatives. 

For more information on the BCGA Leadership team CLICK HERE