W.T.(Tim) Cole

Hello my name is Tim Cole and I am writing to solicit your support and vote during the March election for a COPA Director for British Columbia and the Yukon. I would like to tell you a little about myself and why I would like to represent you as a COPA director.

I learned to fly while attending high school in Ottawa in 1964 and I joined COPA in 1965. I own a Cessna 172 and a hangar at Langley, B.C. I hold an Airline Transport Pilot licence with 11,700 hours flying time and am a designated IFR Pilot Examiner. I also hold a Commercial Helicopter Pilot licence.  

I retired in 2008 and although I do some aviation consulting, I am free to devote my time to promoting personal aviation in Canada as a COPA director.

My early flying experience was in Quebec and Labrador as a pilot and chief pilot for Laurentian Air Services. www.laurentianstory.com/Home.

This famous old company was owned and operated by John Bogie one of the founders of COPA. 

From late 1973 until early 1976 I flew for Air Transit, the Canadian demonstration STOL service between Ottawa and Montreal. We flew modified Twin Otters that were equipped with leading edge technology for the time. Following the closure of that service I moved to Vancouver and flew a season on the B.C. coast as a Twin Otter float captain for AirWest. 

Then a short stint with Pacific Western Airlines as a simulator instructor before joining Transport Canada as a Civil Aviation Inspector. For the last five years in Transport Canada, I was the manager and director of flight operations for the aircraft inspection fleet in Vancouver and the two Canadian Coast Guard helicopter bases in Victoria and Prince Rupert.

For the last 33 years I have flown extensively in all parts of British Columbia and to a limited extent in the southern Yukon. Approximately half of my experience is on floats and skis.

For 41 of my 45 years in aviation, I have been paid to fulfil my love of flying as a professional pilot. I spent 10 years in commercial aviation as a pilot/chief pilot and 31 years with Transport Canada as a Civil Aviation Inspector, Manager, and Director in various Civil Aviation divisions in the Pacific Region. 

My strengths are: my knowledge of general aviation; my training; and experience as a pilot, manager and director. I have a thorough knowledge of the Canadian regulatory processes and the workings of Transport Canada. I have participated in the development of aviation standards, procedures and the CARAC process.

Since retiring I have been thoroughly enjoying personal aviation in Canada, including two trans Canada trips. Now I believe it is time to pay back the aviation community by donating my time to COPA for the advancement of personal aviation.

My three children are now grown up and my wife Eileen and I are free to travel. As a COPA director I will plan to attend as many B.C. and Yukon COPA Flight meetings and events as our Cessna can carry us to. The purpose of the visits is to meet you, learn your concerns and issues, and carry them to the national level.  

I also believe it is time to hold the annual COPA Fly-In and AGM in British Columbia. I will work hard to have the 2011 event held here in B.C.

Thank you for your consideration and if you would like to contact me for further information or to discuss your concerns or issues please do so at colewt@smartt.com or 604 299 0806.