The following is a letter sent to Transport Canada’s Merlin
Preuss, director general for aviation, from COPA President and CEO Kevin Psutka.
Dear Sir:
I received the AIP Supplement today. Your staff already know my concerns about
the extent of the prohibition and I realize that this is being driven by much
higher authorities, but I still have a considerable problem with the AIP.
The AIP is being sent to licence/permit holders. However, there are many
aeronautical activities that are prohibited and yet there are no document
holders to whom to send the AIP.
These include but are not limited to parasailing, paragliding, hang gliding,
kites and remote controlled aircraft. Reasonable people will not expect that
flying a kite 80 nm away from Kananaskis will be subject to armed intervention.
So, I hope you have a plan to notify every citizen within and in proximity to
the zone as well as those who may travel there on vacation from some distance
away and intend to engage in these activities.
I strongly recommend that Transport Canada use every means possible (Television,
national newspapers, radio announcements, etc.) to warn people of these
measures. As a concerned citizen, I am afraid that an innocent person will get
hurt or killed simply because they were not informed that their activity, so far
from the Summit, is considered a threat.
Kevin Psutka, president and CEO
Canadian Owners and Pilots Association