Our president’s 10^th anniversary

Kevin Psutka celebrated 10 years as President and CEO of COPA on Sept. 3, and your Board of Directors couldn’t let this slip by without recognition.

Following a strategic planning meeting in Halifax on Sept. 1, the Directors spent the next day at the 36^th annual Stanley fly-in. This is a great grass-roots aviation event with pilots flying in from all over the Maritimes, so we seized the opportunity to honour our President with a 10^th anniversary gift.

In early August the Directors were enthusiastically exchanging emails trying to select something appropriate when a combination of ideas from Brian Chappell, Maritime Director, and Darin Graham, Southern Ontario Director, culminated in the “perfect gift” to mark the occasion.

Kevin was on the Stanley agenda to give a COPA update presentation to the crowd after which the Board jumped in to make the surprise presentation. The “perfect gift” is an oil painting of a Fleet Canuck once owned by Kevin, which was near and dear to his heart. It may also be the reason Kevin is so passionate about personal aviation.

The painting was done by well known Nova Scotia aviation artist Paul Tuttle, from a photograph surreptitiously supplied by Kevin’s wife Maureen. True to his reputation Paul was able to precisely replicate the details of Kevin’s Canuck. Kevin was thrilled with the painting.

I’m sure members will agree with me when I say we are lucky to have Kevin running our organization. I don’t know of anyone who works harder to preserver our freedom to fly in Canada.

COPA can’t hope to tackle every aviation issue brought to us by our 18,000 members so we have to deploy our limited resource in the most expedient way. Kevin and his staff deal effectively with those issues expected to have the most impact on our members, and do an excellent job of it.

Congratulations on your 10^th anniversary Kevin, and thank you.

I can’t close without telling you how great the Stanley experience was. The Stanley Sport Aviation Association operates this old BCATP airport located 22nm northeast of Halifax International. It is maintained in great condition and is home to a large variety of certified, amateur-built and ultralight aircraft. Many of the club members have trailers permanently parked there to be used as a weekend retreat.

If you get a chance I strongly recommend attending the famous Stanley Fly-in, held every Labour-Day weekend. Check out their website: www.stanleysportaviation.ns.ca.

Photo caption:

1 Kevin Psutka with painting of a Fleet Canuck he once owned. Artist Paul Tuttle is on right with COPA directors in the background.