Dear BCGA Members,

As the year draws to a close we reflect on what was 2016. While it was a difficult and unpredictable year on the global stage it was a fantastic year for the BC General Aviation Association. 

In the past year the BCGA has grown to include 680 members and its associated Facebook group (BC General Aviation) hosts 1000 members. While the www.bcaviation.ca website is the core of the BCGA for official matters, the Facebook group has become a wealth of information and community unto itself. 

In the past year we have seen a community come together in the name of aviation. The BCGA hosts pilots, controllers and aircraft engineers all of whom bring their own experiences, opinions and expertise. The BCGA is as much about information sharing as it is about social gathering.

In 2016 as an association we have: 
Hosted a survival exercise,
Conducted Seminars,
Arranged tours of air traffic control facilities, and specialty aviation service providers,
Come together through social media and flight to locate missing aircraft,
Used social media to share our flying experiences and to learn from one another,
Fostered positive relationships and dialogue between pilots and air traffic controllers,
Supported charities,
Cleaned up airstrips,
Hosted Barbeques & fly-outs (both on and off airport,)
Promoted fly-ins and numerous aviation events for flying clubs and organizations province wide,
​Become a Registered Non-Profit,
Become a COPA Flight,
Become a BC Aviation Council Affiliate,
Started a Scholarship Program,

The BCGA would not exist without the support of its members and sponsors. We want to thank you for believing in this community and for doing you part to support general aviation in BC. As members, your engagement has been the motivating factor that drives the association leadership to continue to provide fresh and exciting content and activities. 

We look forward to many safe flights in 2017 and thank you for your support in 2016. 

Respectfully Yours, 
BCGA Leadership

      Carter Mann, Manager of Government Affairs

COPA is proud to welcome Carter Mann, as the new Manager of Government Affairs starting on January 16, 2017. Carter will be reporting directly to Bernard Gervais, President and CEO, and working out of the Ottawa office.

Carter has extensive knowledge and experience with general aviation in Canada, and deep understanding of past, current, and ongoing issues facing the industry

He also has extensive knowledge of machinery of government and government/legislative process at all levels of government and developing Ministerial level briefing materials on emerging policy developments

Carter is a certainly well-organized, committed and dedicated, able to respond to rapidly changing schedules and situations.

He will help COPA in developing proactive and reactive communications plans, earned media and social media, to our members and the various stakeholders of general aviation, the regulator and air navigation service providers that interact with COPA.

As quick background notes, Carter can claim the following:
• Press secretary to various Ministers
• Parliamentary, Executive or Constituency Assistant to various elected officials
• Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) University of British Columbia, Kelowna, B.C.
• International Studies (Political Science) Lund University, Lund, Sweden
• Licensed Private Pilot with additional endorsements for multi-engine, seaplanes, gliders, night flying
• TT375.9 including PIC time on following types: Nanchang CJ-6, Beech 18, DeHavilland Beaver, Cessna 182, Cessna 172, Bellanca Citabria, Puchacz SZD- 50-3
• Delta Heritage Airpark Management Committee member
​• Boundary Bay Flying Club (COPA Flight #5) Vice-President 

The BC General Aviation Association proud to announce its new Awards & Scholarships Page. www.bcaviation.ca/awards

On it you will find details of our newly established aviation bursaries.

1. The Erissa Yong BCGA Aviation Bursary
2. The Sparky Imeson Memorial BCGA Bursary
3. Onkarbir Singh Toor Memorial BCGA Scholarship
​
Thank you to the members that have alocated funds to make this possible and a special thanks to our affiliate organization the BC Aviation Council for helping to facilitate this award.

The fine folks at Western Propeller have invited 15 BCGA members to attend a tour of their facility. If you have ever wondered what goes into maintianing, overhauling or repairing a propeller then this tour is for you. You will learn about one of your aircraft's most critical components. 

This tour is now full and we are taking names for the waitlist. 

For more information and to RSVP please visit:
​www.bcaviation.ca/proptour

Seven years ago, Transport Canada changed the format of our pilot's license from the old blue sheet of paper that never expired to the new passport looking Aviation Document Booklet that does expire.

The initial booklets had a 5 year expiration date but the newer ones are good for 10 years. It has been brought to our attention that some of our members were not aware that the booklets expire and the aviation doctors are not necessarily checking the validity of the book before putting the medical stamp on it.

We inqured with sources at Transport Canada and the unofficial word is that you sould cease flying if your booklet is expired until you apply for and receive a valid book. If you incur a CADOR while flying on an expired book the fines start at $1000.  (For clarification on this statement please see the first 2 comments below this article)

Please take a moment and check your Aviation Document and put a reminder in your calendar 3 months prior to the expiration date so that you dont get surprised.

Here is a link to the Transport Canada form to replace or renew your Aviation Document:

http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/wwwdocs/Forms/26-0726E_1306-05_E.pdf

ADVICE: If you find that your booklet is expired do not fly, get it renewed as soon as possible and contact info@bcaviation.ca for some guidance.  

In celebration of Canada’s 150th Birthday, my goal is to attempt to fly my small airplane to over 150 airports throughout Canada. I hope to visit at least one airport in each of the provinces and territories.

This is a tribute to the importance that aviation and airports have played in keeping Canada vibrant and prosperous.

You can help celebrate and make a difference too.  I hope you make a donation to two remarkable aviation charities – “Hope Air” and “COPA’s Freedom to Fly“.

For more information please visit: http://www.flycanada150.ca/ 

                                                                                                   Darin Graham

Inaugural IMC Club Meeting
Master the Art of Instrument Flying
Wednesday, December 7  |  6 p.m. PST
Maxcraft Avionics Building – Pitt Meadows (YPK), Vancouver

Come join us for the first meeting of the Vancouver chapter of the IMC Club, organized by co-chairmen Rick Johnson and Steve Nunn. Join a community of pilots willing to share experience, promote safety, and help improve your IMC flying skills.

At this inaugural meeting, prospective members will be given the opportunity to meet and interact with IMC Club founder and EAA Flight Proficiency Manager Radek Wyrzykowski.

BBQ by donation at 18:00 & the meeting starts at 19:00.

Register in advance to be entered in the door prize draw – $495 value v-beech@telus.netor steve@stevenunn.com.

EAA/IMC Club, through the EAA's worldwide network, provides organized "hangar flying" focused on building instrument flying knowledge and skills. The organization network promotes a safety culture through continued education and believes that safety and proficiency are developed through education and experience. Monthly meetings offer an opportunity to share in-flight experiences and valuable safety tips.

What is the IMC Club
IMC Club is the brain child of Radek Wyrzykowski; a Master Certified Flight Instructor, Instrument and Multi-Engine Instructor. As a flight instructor in Norwood, Massachusetts, Radek developed a volunteer mentor program to help instrument pilots improve their proficiency, and they loved it.

What is the purpose of EAA/IMC Club?
At EAA/IMC Club, our purpose is to promote instrument flying, proficiency and safety. Along with IFR flying and monthly local chapter meetings, we offer a resource-rich website which provides an electronic experience base. Our intent is to create a community of pilots to share information, provide recognition, foster communications, promote safety and build proficiency in instrument flying. IMC Club offers monthly meetings in which pilots can network and share knowledge and experiences.

Do you need to bring anything?
First, bring your thoughts or story and be willing to share them with the group. This meeting is very interactive. Participation by the group is a key element to the IMC Club meeting. Others have found it helpful to bring along a copy of their flight manual, GPS manual, and charts. If you navigate with an iPad, bring it along.

Who can attend?
You don't need an instrument rating to attend. This meeting is open to all current, non-current, and future instrument pilots.

For more information about the IMC Club, please visit www.eaa.org/imcclub