Oshkosh 2016 Photo Gallery

Flight 8's Mike Shaw is in Oshkosh with his wife, Gail, for the fly-in and sent some photos, despite the rain and cooler temperatures that they have seen.

Canadian Pilots Invitation at Oshkosh 2016

Book Review - Canadian Aviation Weather

• Canadian Aviation Weather, First Edition
• by Captain Doug Morris
• Published by Avmet Weather Consulting, Oakville, Ontario, September 2015
• 8.5" X 11" paperback
• 340 pages, including an author's biography
• $69.95

Canadian Aviation Weather is the first aviation textbook that I have been asked to review. Up until now, most of the works sent to COPA for review have been history books or at least books of aviation stories, so this was something new, landing with a 1.03 kg (2.3 lbs) thump on my desk.

My first thought was, "why do we need a new textbook on aviation weather?" The author makes his case, "this book will fill the massive void that existed in Canada regarding a solid up-to-date discourse on meteorology for Canadian pilots." And he really is right in that regard. I mean, despite his homage to the legendary work, Weather Ways, on page 255 of this new book, some things have changed since my copy came out. Like the author, my copy of Weather Ways is marked "third edition, 1961". We now have weather radar, lightning detection, Nav Canada, climate change and a far better understanding of many things meteorological, from volcanoes to space weather. So I agree with the author, that the 21st century calls for a new weather text.

It is hard to argue that there is anyone more qualified to write this book than Doug Morris. Morris is an Air Canada captain on A320s, with more than 21,500 hours in the air. Like most of us, he started on small aircraft and worked his way up in the industry, flying light piston twins on courier flying in Atlantic Canada, yes, right in all that weather they get down east. Being a high-time pilot alone, though, does not qualify one to write weather text books. This is where Morris sets himself apart, as he worked for four years as a weather forecaster for Environment Canada, in a diversity of assignments, including writing east coast aviation forecasts, so he has seen the business from both sides. In fact it was his time as a forecaster that motivated him to learn to fly, something few pilots will be able to fault.

In more recent years Morris has become a writer on meteorology, while carrying on his piloting duties, writing for publications such as Air Canada's enRoute, Wings, Canadian Aviation and Weatherwise. He also gives talks to public audiences on weather, as well as aviation safety topics and gives weather training to new hires at Air Canada, too. Sometimes, when the weather is in the news, he gets the media call to be "an expert weather guru", so you may have seen him on TV as well.

So what is in the book? This is a beginner's book of aviation meteorology, aimed at people on the private pilot course, so Morris starts from the beginning, with a large number of short, sharp chapters, numbering 36 in all, including the three appendices. The topics start with the basics, like the atmosphere, stability and lapse rates, clouds, atmospheric pressure and then work into fog, visibility, air masses, fronts, wind shear, airframe icing, turbulence and thunderstorms, before delving into the reading of METARs, TAFs, GFAs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, FBs (formerly FDs - wind aloft forecasts). From there the book shifts gears and the author presents a broad look at Canadian regional weather, where to find good met stuff on the internet, reading weather charts and understanding jet streams. He then moves into how ground and airborne weather radar work and how to use both. Next is satellite imaging, dealing with hurricanes and post-tropical storms, how space weather affects circumpolar flying and a chapter on volcanic ash. Yes, he even mentions the April 2010 Icelandic Eyjafjallajökull eruption and the air travel havoc it caused, not to mention the havoc in the news rooms where on-air news readers had to pronounce it. Finally there are appendices on airport identifier codes, RVR and the use of UTC time in weather.

Traditionally aviation weather texts have been, well, a bit dry to read. Most student pilots expect that, after all meteorology is a science subject and there is lots to learn and just plain memorize. Morris seems determined to crack that stereotype and produce a weather book that is actually interesting to read. He accomplishes this mostly with small anecdotes from his own flying career interspersed on almost every page as "sidebars" with their own little "smiling airliner" logo. In these he attempts to relate the book knowledge with occasions when when the lessons were brought home for him, poignant thoughts and minor asides on how the information is relevant and useful. Overall these make the subject much more lively and personal and will probably increase retention for readers as well. There are enough biographical and aviation stories interspersed in the text that by the time you are done you have a feeling that you know the author quite well.

Morris' pure passion for meteorology shines through the text, too. You can tell he has a great deal of enthusiasm for the subject and that can be pleasantly infectious for the reader, making a complex subject more readable and fun. In several places in the book he gets into technical details that are out of the depth required by pilots, which is just his meteorologist side taking over the writing. In many cases he stops himself, indicating that he acknowledges that he is off on a tangent and ends the subject there. I found these places in the book really detract a bit. I don't mind more depth than is needed in aviation meteorology, but it would be better to either pursue that line of inquiry or not put it in at all, rather than start and then quit, but this is a minor quibble on my part.

Like a number of books I have reviewed recently, this book is self-published by the author and printed by Lulu.com. This probably says more about the sad state of book publishing in Canada these days, than anything about the quality of this work. Here we have a well-recognized and highly qualified subject expert, who has written a much-needed textbook, did a good job at it, assembled a good team of expert reviewers, copy editors and even a graphic artist to do the more than 150 diagrams and illustrations, and he has to publish it himself, without further assistance. Canadian publishers and the administrators of the various government publishing support programs in place really need to back up and have a better look at what is being published in Canada these days and why they are not both doing more. That said, the good news is that the book is available from some well-known aviation booksellers in Canada, including VIP.

My criticisms of the book are few. Despite the team of expert and copy editors, a few grammatical errors slipped through. Hopefully these will be cleared up in the second edition. The book lacks the one thing that would be quite useful in a paper book, an index. Again, hopefully a future edition will add this feature.

So who will want to read this book? It is clearly aimed at PPL, CPL and ATPL student pilots, plus those pursuing an instrument rating. It is skewed towards jet airline flying, more than general aviation ops, so the ideal reader would be someone with those aspirations, although student pilots with any flying goals at all will find the book useful and very readable. I have to admit, as an old time pilot with three decades of flying behind me and with more than a dozen civil, military and academic meteorology courses, too, that I learned quite a lot from reading the book. This makes me think that just about every pilot, new and old, should read it, unless you really think you already know everything about meteorology. I would also say that this book would make a good gift for any budding young "met nut", who will learn not only meteorology, but probably catch some of the author's infectious affinity for the subject. This book would also benefit people in other areas of endeavour where understanding the weather is critical, such as sailors, and even all those people we see in many parts of Canada wearing shorts and sandals in January.

External links

• The book's website
• The book on Lulu
• The book on VIP

Bancroft Flying Club Fly-In Pancake Breakfast 2016

News

by Gary Gaudreau, Director/Secretary, Bancroft Flying Club (COPA Flight 119)

COPA President Bernard Gervais and Vice President Patrick Gilligan will be attending our Fly In Pancake Breakfast.

Come and meet COPA's new President.

Canada Day Breakfast Fly-in at Rockcliffe

by The Rockcliffe Flying Club

The Rockcliffe Flying Club invites you to our fly-in / drive-in / splash-in Canada Day Breakfast. Breakfast served 07:30 – 11:00. $7 for bacon / sausage / eggs / pancakes / beans / OJ / coffee. No landing fees, no day-parking charges. Overnight parking fees waived with fuel purchase.

Splash-in? Yes! RFC has float-plane docks in the Ottawa River, immediately north of the airfield and a three-minute walk (if that) to the field.

Come for the day. Or, fly-in on Friday morning for breakfast, visit CASM for the afternoon, go downtown (apprx 10km) for concerts, events and fireworks – then come back to the field to camp under your wing (no camping fees, and 24hr washroom with hot/cold/flush and shower).

CYRO, Ottawa/Rockcliffe in the CFS. 123.5, circuit height 1200'. All circuits over the Ottawa River, north of the field (left-hand circuits for 09, right-hand circuits for 27).

The Canadian Aviation and Space Museum is also on-field - no-charge vans shuttle across the airfield for those who wish to visit the Museum (CASM has NO admission fees on Canada Day!).

Schedule:

• 0730-11:00 RFC Breakfast, $7
• 0900-17:00 Free shuttle RFC-Museum
• 1100-11:30 Performance by CF Parachute Team, Skyhawks
• 1200 Flyover by CF Snowbirds
• 1430 CASM - Autograph session with Snowbirds Pilots

For further information: info@rfc.ca, 613-746-4425

External link

• Official event page

Iroquois (CNP7) 50th Annual Fly-In Breakfast

Nav Canada Consultations Regarding New Approach Proceedures at Ottawa International

By Jane DiRaimo, Community Assistant to Ottawa City Councillor George Darouze, Ward 20, Ottawa

Councillor Darouze has asked me to pass on this important information from NAV CANADA concerning Airspace Improvements at Ottawa International Airport. It is very important to residents living in and around the airport and in our Ward further out with regards to flights taking off and landing at the airport. They are seeking your input and would like to have that by 30 June 2016 or earlier. Please visit their website listed below along with their brief message.

Nav Canada is seeking public input regarding proposed changes to flight paths for aircraft arriving to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.

The proposed flight paths are estimated to save up to two minutes flying time for arrivals while greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions reductions are estimated at 750 metric tonnes each year.

Nav Canada has made information – including maps – on proposed flight path changes available online. Residents are invited to learn about changes and provide feedback using the comment tool available on the website by 30 June 2016.

CYOW's Noisy News

Report from Noise Management Meeting Macdonald-Cartier International Airport 15 June 2016 by attendee Michael Shaw

Firstly, CYOW does not have a serious noise problem, at least not with airliners.

The Noisy News is that we, General Aviation types, are part of the problem. What! GA is noisy? Well, we are when we don’t follow the Noise Abatement procedures. It seems visiting pilots fail to check the Canada Flight Supplement when arriving and departing CYOW and fail to follow the Noise Abatement Procedures. The local flying schools are doing the job better than in the past.

Of course, that’s not the whole story. It seems the folks living on the departure from runway 04, (apparently several folks on one street) are the main complainers. I know, I know, they knew the airport was there when they moved there, or should have, but that does not stop them from complaining. And it doesn’t mean we or the airport can ignore them. I don’t know what we as pilots can do to safely mitigate their noise perceptions. We are following legal and appropriate departure paths. The airport is concerned too about what looks like a coordinated campaign.

The bottom line is we must at least follow the noise abatement procedures, it’s the law and we want to be part of the solution, not the problem, eh!

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to drop me a line.

Mike

US Presidential Visit NOTAM Coming Soon

By Cpl. Christianne (Chrissie) Lapointe, Operational Coordinator - Protective Policing, RCMP

Here's the 'Coles notes' version of the NOTAM that will be published next week for 29 June 2016:

• 12 nm radius of Parliament Hill - No operation of aircraft/UAV fro SFC to 18,000 ft
• 10 nm radius of YOW - No operation of aircraft/UAV fro SFC to 18,000 ft
• 30nm radius of YOW - No operation of aircraft/UAV fro SFC to 18,000 ft. A phone number will be on the NOTAM for any aircraft wanting to obtain authorization.
• If you were around when President Obama came in 2009, the parameters are the same. The altitude is higher this time.
• We do not yet have the times for the NOTAM but are saying 'daylight hours' for now. Once we get the exact times, the NOTAM will be issued.

I would advise your members that authorizations for the day are unlikely.

Carleton University General Aviation Study: More Participants Needed

From Kathleen Van Benthem PhD, Post doctoral Fellow, ACE​ Lab

Carleton University is looking for at least 15 more participants for its General Aviation Study!

Who can participate?

Participants should meet the following criteria:

• a pilot or a pilot in training (solo and some cross-country experience)​
• medically licensed to fly
• at least 40 years of age, and
• interested in flying a full-scale Cessna 172 simulator

How long?

Each participant would be asked to come in for two different sessions, each at a maximum of two hours.

When and where?

All sessions will be held at the Carleton University ACE lab, and scheduling is open to the participants​ via ​an easy to use online scheduler​.​

​We are pleased to cover all parking costs while at the university.​

More information

All responses, as well as any further questions can be sent to Carolina.

​ ​

Fredericton Flying Club 50th Celebration

From the Fredericton Flying Club

The Fredericton Flying Club is having our 50th anniversary celebration and BBQ fly in. It is our intention to hold this event on 18 June 2016 at our new club hangar in the Fredericton Airport General Aviation Area. The times are to be from 1000-1500 hrs.

The event will be "weather permitting", with no rain date.

For more info contact Club President, Manfred Knapp, at 506- 447-2913 or by email.

External links

• Fredericton Flying Club website

General Aviation has finally found its place in Mirabel International Airport

From Mirajet

General Aviation will finally land at Mirabel Airport once and for all.

Marc-André Théorêt, an aircraft owner/pilot, president of Mirajet inc. successfully negotiated with Aéroports de Montreal the right to develop a piece of land directly at the base of the control tower, only steps away from the huge runways of this airport.

The Mirajet Airpark will allow in its first phase, two hangars sizes, with bi-fold doors of 42 and 58 feet wide, all planned to accommodate a wide range of planes from single engine aircraft to corporate twins and small jets.

Contacts

• Mirajet 514-299-5376
• Mirajet website

The new COPA Flight — Coming up next!

By Bernard Gervais, COPA President & CEO

The last COPA Flight in newsprint format. The July issue of COPA Flight will be a full colour magazine format, our first in collaboration with our partner Canadian Aviator Publishing (CAP). Why change? To save a whole lot of money and allocate the membership dues on aviation services, not printing. We are not in the newspaper business and believe it or not, printing on newspaper costs almost double than printing a magazine. When we switched from magazine to newsprint many years ago, it was to save on printing costs of those days. How ironic.

As we move along, this outsourcing deal will leverage CAP's experience of just-in-time aviation news delivery, improving your online experience on the website and complemented by a regular newsletter. Rest assured COPA Flight will be a different publication than the well-respected Canadian Aviator. It will still be the association's magazine and COPA will maintain editorial control and content management. COPA Flight will still be COPA Flight. But in a better, revamped, more pertinent format with perhaps a few surprises once in a while. You will like it as much as we are excited to see these changes. But don't just take my word for it. See you next month in a glossy colour magazine.

Westport Rideau Lakes Fly-in 2016

By Mike Miles, COPA Flight 56, Westport

This is just a quick reminder that the Westport - Rideau Lakes fly-in is this upcoming weekend, 21 May 2016. The event happens on Saturday from 0800-1300 hrs. Come on down on this upcoming great long weekend flying, have a great breakfast and join the 30 or so planes who plan to be there.

Join us for a great introduction to the summer near the fabulous town of Westport, Ontario. View the planes in the morning and enjoy the Westport in the afternoon. Fun for the whole family.

Details

• What: Annual Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast
• Hosted by: The Rideau Lakes Flying Club, COPA Flight 56
• When: 0800-1300 hrs 21 May 2016
• Where: Westport ON (CRL2), (N) 43 39 93 (W) 76 23 92
• Meal: Breakfast served from 0800-1100 hrs for a donation to the club.
• Runway: 07/25, 3118', grass
• Comunication: 123.2 MHz
• More information:
  • Mike Miles 613-276-6276
  • Russ Walker 613-273-7349

Ottawa Flying Club Fly Day 2016

The Ottawa Flying Club has announced that they will hold their charity fundraiser Fly Day on Saturday 1 October 2016 and planning is already underway.

This annual event offers light airplane rides to the public in exchange for a donation and uses local pilots who are club members to carry out the flying on a volunteer basis.

To volunteer as a pilot or as ground support staff contact the club.

External links

• Ottawa Flying Club website
• Flyday official website

Ottawa Flying Club's 88th Annual Wings Dinner

From The Ottawa Flying Club

The 2016 Wings Dinner, the Ottawa Flying Club's annual celebration to mark the achievements of our student pilots in achieving their Private, Commercial, Multi, IFR and other ratings, will be held on Friday, 27 May 2016.

The dinner will be held at RCAF Officers' Mess, 158 Gloucester Street, Ottawa.

As well as the awarding of the Wings for those who have achieved their private license since 05 June 2015 to the time of this year's dinner, various licenses and ratings, and other awards, the evening will include a guest speaker Emma Telford, who graduated from the Aviation Management class in the fall of 2011, worked hard as line staff at the Ottawa Flying Club and now flies as Captain with Jazz Airlines.

Cash Bar opens at 18:00 and Supper will be served at 18:30.

Tickets available at Dispatch at the Ottawa Flying Club or reserving by email to Dispatch@ofc.ca or calling 613-523-2142.

Price:

• Students and Instructors $45
• Members and Guests $50

External links

• Ottawa Flying Club website

Buttonville to stay open another year

Creative Commons licensed photo by Blake Crosby

From COPA

Buttonville Airport in Toronto will stay open until at least October 31, 2017. Directors of the facility met Wednesday, April 27, and agreed to extend the life of one of the GTA's busiest GA facilities. The airport was slated to close by Oct. 31, 2016, to make way for a massive residential and commercial development.

There's no word on the rationale for the extension but many of the tenants of the airport have moved or announced plans to do so. Transport Canada announced it was closing its offices at Buttonville by the end of June of this year. But meanwhile the facility will remain available.

"All, it is now official," said Buttonville Flying Club President Dave Sprague in an email to members. "Buttonville Airport will stay open until at least Oct. 31, 2017."

Invitation to a ForeFlight webinar for COPA members

by Angela Anderson, Director of Marketing, Personal Aviation, ForeFlight, LLC

This live webinar (web seminar) event is an advanced, scenario-based course on flying with ForeFlight Mobile. Dominik will focus on VFR features of the app from a Canadian perspective. You will learn how to use the app to its fullest from planning to inflight navigation. Pilots at any level are welcomed, however this course is beyond beginner level and is geared towards pilots who have at least some working knowledge of the app.

Your presenter is Dominik Ochmanek. Dominik is a Transport Canada certified Multi IFR flight instructor, and a graduate of Western University’s Commercial Aviation Management program. He has worked for two of Canada’s major airlines and is now actively instructing in the Greater Toronto Area. Dominik is a member of ForeFlight’s Pilot Support Team specializing in Canadian content.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Details

• What: Flying with ForeFlight Mobile Web Seminar
• When: 1500 hrs CDT, 05 May 2016
• Where: On the internet!
• Register here

External links

• The ForeFlight webinar archived as a video on You Tube

Vintage Wings Launches Newsletter

Vintage Wings, the private flying museum located at Gatineau Executive Airport, has launched a new newsletter to improve communications with everyone interested in the goings-on at the museum.

Vintage Wings explained the need for a new newsletter, saying:

This inaugural edition of the Vintage Wings of Canada newsletter, ‘The Roundel’, marks the beginning of a larger effort by Vintage Wings to provide everyone with regular and up to date information. Our intent with this first issue is alert you to important activities around the hangar, including updates on the aircraft, a heads up on upcoming activities, and some information on how you can enhance your experience with us.

The PDF-format newsletter is supplied free and anyone can sign up for notification of the availability of future issues.

External links

• Vintage Wings homepage
• The Roundel homepage
• Roundel first issue, April 2016