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.
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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.

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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