COPA Annual Fly-In 2007
A great Maritime experience for convention attendees

by Bob Kirkby

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During a COPA Board of Directors reception on Wednesday night the Premier of New Brunswick made a surprise stop in a King Air just to say hello. (left to right) COPA President Kevin Psutka, Convention Committee Chair Jim Lockyer, Premier Shawn Graham and COPA Director for Newfoundland and Labrador Ray Hawco.

Member’s aircraft lined up on the Moncton ramp.

The Convention Committee led by Jim Lockyer take to the stage for a well-done round of applause.

During a presentation on the glass instrument panel by Donald Bates, Anna Pangrazzi demonstrates how to use the Garmin 1000

Convention Committee Chair Jim Lockyer shows and tells the best way to eat pizza during lunch.

Getting ready for the Friday night pig roast.

Dinner arrives for the Saturday night Maritime Lobster Kitchen party.

One is never enough. Please sir, can I have some more?

A hangar turned kitchen packed with lobster lovers.

After a lobster feast comedian Jimmy the Janitor has a little fun with COPA President/CEO Kevin Psutka.

Bruce Edsten started off the seminar program with an informative yet humorous presentation on, the top 10 reasons why engines really quit

AIRSHOW

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City of Moncton put on its first air show in 30 years featuring Military, and civilian aircraft. The two hour show was held on Saturday and Sunday along the Petitcodiac River in downtown Moncton. Spectators were able to watch for free from a boardwalk area along the riverfront. This air show had been specifically planned by the organizers to dovetail into the COPA convention.

I’ve just returned from our 2007 COPA Convention. What a show! If you missed it you missed a great one. Convention committee Chair Jim Lockyer promised us a good time in Moncton and he delivered.

The weather on Thursday, July 5th was raining with low ceilings which hampered aircraft arrivals. Some arrived early on Wednesday, which was a good weather day and others arrived on Friday which was mostly good. But most convention attendees arrived by the airlines or cars.

As I write this I haven’t heard the official count yet but I believe attendance was about 250.

The Moncton Flight College made their spacious hangar facilities available for most of our activities as well as some of the training rooms in their wonderful new building. Early Friday morning I attended the ever popular "meeting of the flights" where representatives of COPA Flights in attendance get together to share ideas and experiences. A total of 17 Flights from coast to coast were represented.

The rest of the day was filled with non-stop seminars and presentations. The seminar program was varied to provide some great technical information sessions intermixed with lighter entertaining sessions, all provided by excellent presenters.

Throughout the day two pigs were roasting on spits outside the hangar over charcoal and wood. By 1830 our tummies were rumbling from the delicious smell and we were treated to a great down-home pig roast dinner. This along with musical entertainment by an 11-member family band and kicking tires on the ramp as the sun set made for a super evening of aviation camaraderie.

Convention activities continued Saturday morning with presentations from our friends at Transport Canada and Nav Canada. This was followed by our AGM and then the presentation of our COPA Awards over lunch.

At 1300 sharp everyone scurried out of the hangar and onto busses that would take us to an air show sponsored by the City of Moncton. It was unique in that the show line was over the Petitcodiac River. Spectators were able to watch from a boardwalk area along the riverfront. This air show had been specifically planned by the organizers to dovetail into the COPA convention.

Following the air show the organizers put on a fabulous lobster feast back at the hangar. Everyone got at least two lobsters and then we were entertained by a hilarious comedian from Cape Britain by the name of Jimmy the Janitor.

I would like thank Jim Lockyer and his well organized convention committee for pulling together a great maritime experience for convention attendees; the Moncton Flying College for providing their great facilities for our use; the City of Moncton for the free air show; the Moncton amateur radio club for driving free shuttle vans between the airport and the hotels; the COPA staff for looking after registrations, ticket sales and COPA apparel sales; and of course the many seminar presenters and the exhibitors.

COPA would also like to thank the Convention’s Platinum sponsors: Bristol Group Communications, Diamond Aircraft Industries, Discount- Rent–a-Car, Greater Moncton International Airport, Marsh Insurance, Prince Edward Air, Nav Canada and the Moncton Flight College, for their generous support of COPA, the 2007 Convention and general aviation in Canada.

See you at next year’s convention in St Thomas, Ontario!

Until next time, keep your prop spinning.