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IAOPA e-News May 2013
COPA Does it, Do you? Pass on This Newsletter to Your Members
COPA has recently updated their website and included a section that includes International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) monthly eNews for all members to see. Nothing can keep existing members, and attract new members like reminding them of the great work that AOPA Affiliates, and IAOPA, are doing on national, regional, and international levels to keep them flying. Great work is being done in all parts of the globe to advance the interests of general aviation and the best way to share the message is to make sure that this newsletter gets to as many members and non-members alike. So I encourage you to publish this on your website, send on via email to your members, do what you can to help spread the word.
Manitoba’s St. Andrews Airport wins female friendly titleFrom March 4 to March 10 2013, over 2,100 volunteers across four continents - Africa, Asia, America, and Europe - introduced more than 17,000 girls and women to the opportunities available in the air and space industry as part of the Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week celebration, held annually during the week of March 8, anniversary date of the first female pilot license worldwide. The most coveted title, 'Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide', is awarded annually to the airport community that offers and documents the most female first flight experiences in approved aircraft throughout the week. Lead by event organizer, Jill Oakes, the St Andrews Airport Community in the greater Winnipeg area, of Manitoba wins the '2013 Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide' title with a whopping 680 documented flight introductions in approved aircraft. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories is the first runner up with 634 flights and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario is the second runner up with 517 flights. |
Quick Links
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The impact of sequestration on travel to the U.S.
By COPA President and CEO Kevin Psutka
I never heard of the word sequestration until the U.S. fiscal condition resulted in measures to curtail spending. While to a certain extent sequestration does not affect Canada, some U.S. government services that we need, such as Customs, are being curtailed.
Noting that members continue to fly across the border and given that the annual migration to Oshkosh will again create pressure on the system as hundreds of aircraft cross in a short period of time, I wondered what, if anything, will be the impact on travel by private aircraft.
COPA Fly-in and AGM
It’s not too late to register!
(Register online and pay by credit card, or mail in your cheque.)
Notice of COPA Annual General Meeting
COPA AGM 2013 is just around the corner: June 21-23
Hello, Down-Easters! Have you registered for COPA Fly-In and AGM? Did you know that Aerotec Engines (www.aerotecengines.ca) is offering a cash prize for the aviator traveling the farthest distance to our event as evidenced by his/her pilot’s logbook? You may get some competition from some Alaskan pilots but wouldn’t it be great to get partially reimbursed for having the experience of a lifetime? Read more
THRILL SEEKERS ONLY!*
Don’t miss your chance for a flight in L39 fighter jet and support the COPA Freedom to Fly Fund Find out more
COPA membership survey results - summary
Ninety six per cent feel they are getting good value
By Patrick Gilligan
The results of the 2012 COPA Membership Survey are in and they include some interesting data!
The survey asked members about their flying, aircraft ownership, use of computers, COPA policies and programs, COPA Flight newspaper, aviation issues, age, income and other member demographics.
Here are some highlights from the survey:
The complete report, including lots of graphs to illustrate the data click on this link Survey Report 2012
COPA and Aircraft Spruce Canada Have a Deal for You!
With the cooperation of Aircraft Spruce Canada (www.aircraftspruce.ca), COPA is pleased to make the following offer to anyone who buys a 406 MHz ELT from Aircraft Spruce Canada. Our goal in putting this deal together is to provide one-stop-shopping for the purchase and programming of your ELT as well as renewing your COPA membership or taking out a new membership (both at no cost to you).
Contact Aircraft Spruce Canada at 877-795-2278 or visit www.aircraftspruce.ca to order a 406 MHz ELT from their large selection of available units. When your ELT arrives, it will include a buck slip from COPA. When you complete the buck slip with your contact information and send it to COPA (fax, scan and email or mail), we will verify your purchase and then do one of the following, depending on your membership type. If you have an individual membership, we will extend it by one year, a value of $55 (at no cost to you).
If you have a family or corporate membership, we will apply this value ($55) to your membership account to extend your membership by one year and send you an invoice for the difference (family $24, corporate $218). For non-members, we will provide a complementary one year individual membership, complete with all of the benefits of being a member.
SPOT 2 Personal Tracker?
an improvement on a great idea
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By Kevin Psutka, February 19, 2010
I was asked by the folks at SPOT to evaluate an upgraded unit that they call SPOT 2. I am a fan of SPOT.Yes, it is not the perfect solution but it is a cost effective way to let people know where you are and, in an emergency, alert people to your exact location.
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Review of DeLorme InReach Satellite Messaging System G. Alan Hepburn October 2012 Background A relatively new player in the field of affordable non-mobile phone communications is the Delorme inReach. While it has apparently been available since November 2011, the author first became aware of it at AirVenture 2012. Basically, it’s a rugged pocket sized 7 oz box which, when paired with an Android smartphone or iOS device, provides you with outgoing text messaging to SMS or email addresses, incoming text messages sent in reply to your outgoing messages, or from a special Delorme website, and tracking capability anywhere in the world. It also has useful capabilities as a stand-alone unit. |
Spidertracks – Product Evaluation By Kevin Psutka and Bob Kirkby Updated 8 November 2012 (This is a two-part report. Kevin was provided Spidertracks 2 for testing in the flatlands of eastern Canada while Bob tested Spidertracks 3 in the Alberta mountains) Part One – by Kevin Psutka I have used SPOT www.findmespot.com since the beta testing days and most recently upgraded to a SPOT 2 (see my report http://www.copanational.org/files/kp10022.pdf ). I carry a tracking device because my many years of experience with the ELT issue and my knowledge of the limitations of ELTs, including their high failure rate, leads me to conclude that regardless of what the government may require, I want to carry something else to improve the prospects for my passengers and I in the event that we go down. |
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ELT Update: December 2012 By Kevin Psutka It has been one year since my last update, in which I reported that there was no change in the status of the regulation amendment and that current regulation remains in place. This remains the status. All aircraft operating in Canadian airspace must carry a serviceable Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) that broadcasts on either 121.5 MHz (TSO 91 or 91a) or 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz (TSO 126). I pointed out that if you elect to equip with a 406 MHZ ELT and/or carry a 406 PLB, you must ensure that it is registered with the beacon registry https://www.cbr-rcb.ca/cbr/ . |
AOPA Pilot subscription deal for COPA members COPA and AOPA have once again teamed together to provide a great member benefit for COPA members. For many years COPA and AOPA offered subscriptions to AOPA Pilot magazine, access to the AOPA members only section of the AOPA website and pilot assistance services for $65 (U.S.) per year. Now the same package is available for $50 (U.S.) This improved program also includes faster service – subscriptions are now only arranged by contacting AOPA directly at 1-800-872-2672 and quoting your COPA membership number. |
Will you have a place to land tomorrow?
These sponsoring companies are supporting your freedom to fly, show your appreciation by patronizing them.
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Platinum Sponsor
Former Nighthawk Flying Club
Gold
Pontiac Airpark
www.pontiacairpark.com 1-819-LOV-2FLY A new fly-in community northwest of Gatineau-Ottawa
Sliver Sponsors
Chestermere/Kirkby Field Alberta
Sea Jay Engineering Services Limited.
Bronze Sponsor
Northern Lake Amphibian Pilots
Donate to the Freedom to Fly Fund today
Given the considerable challenges we continue to face against our freedom to fly, we urge everyone to consider donating to the Freedom to Fly Fund. We have all benefited significantly from those who donated before us. Now it is time to ensure that we continue to be able to protect your freedom as well as the freedom of those who will follow us.
Click here for examples of how the Freedom to Fly Fund has been applied to date.
Downloadable COPA Freedom to Fly Fund Donation Form MS Word format / PDF Format
Automatically donate to the Freedom to Fly Fund each month. MS Word format / PDF Format
Freedom to Fly Fund Corporate Sponsor form
