Jorma Kivilahti
 |
I was born in Finland and came to Canada when I was a child. I have been flying since 1963 and hold a Commercial rated license. I have flown extensively throughout B.C. and the Yukon as well as the N.W.T. and Ontario.
I bring good qualifications to this position and here is a short recap:
Flown commercially in B.C. and Ontario, on both wheels and floats. Regular contributor to COPA Flight and currently writing a book on aviation. Corporate experience as president Minolta Business Equipment (NW), vice-president Minolta Office Systems (BC), vice-president Nashua Corp (Canada), president Photofax Products and licensed realtor in B.C.
As well as being a COPA member, I also hold memberships with EAA Chapter 1477, Fraser Valley Sport Aviation Society and Aero Club of B.C. I was a Charter student at Simon Fraser University with an accounting major.
I have owned many aircraft, with the latest two being a Found (FBA-2C) and currently own an RV-7A. I fly about 100 hours per year today. In addition, I also do float ratings and mountain checks. If it is to do with flying, count me in.
Because of my extensive background with aviation, I have a deep insight into the problems faced by General Aviation Pilots today. I also have a long history with big business in Canada, U.S., and Japan and thus have the ability to understand what goes on with large corporations and the processes in our governmental system.
I look forward to help keep our airstrips open, protecting our local airspace, looking after any advocacy issues brought forward by our members, and providing a local connection to important issues that can affect our right to fly.
In addition, I look forward to attending speaking engagements, local fly-ins, air shows and COPA Flights in my region. If you have read some of my COPA articles, then you will know that I am there fighting for us, the general aviation pilot in Canada.
You know that I will not be afraid to speak out on issues that affect our freedom to fly and would fight as hard as I know how to protect those freedoms.