Pacific Perspective - November 2004

	GVRD’s Ed Andrusiak (far left) watches Delta Councilor Scott Hamilton present the prestigious Bill Templeton Trophy to GVRD Chair Marvin Hunt during the BC Aviation Council’s Silver Wings Award Banquet in Victoria. Tony Swain watches from far right. Photo courtesy Jorgphoto.com
	GVRD Chair Marvin Hunt insists that Airpark Reps Mary and Tony Swain share the award. Photo courtesy Jorgphoto.com
	Tony Swain presents Al & Barb Fielder with their COPA Appreciation Award at the Boundary Bay Flying Club Dinner. Photo courtesy Al Scott
	Al Fielder looks on as Tony presents Harry Pride with his COPA Appreciation Award. Photo courtesy Gordon Hindle
	Tony sings along with Bea and the gang at Vancouver’s Billy Bishop Legion in 1985. Photo courtesy Western Warbird News
	The Mary calmly accepts a Western Warbird Citation for her special fish ‘Brain food’ diet for Tony in 1986. He needed it! Photo courtesy Western Warbird News
	Russ Popel of Victoria Air Maintenance arrives at the Oliver fly-in with his T-28.
	The Nancheng CJ-6’s of Joe Howse of Duncan, and Mike Sudul of Victoria, on the ramp at Oliver.
	Frikkie Von Rooyen brought his rare Russian Yak 52 across 'The Rocks' from Didsbury, a small community north of Calgary, Alberta.
	Peter Herzig’s beautiful T-28 Trojan from Boundary Bay. Photos 7 thru 10 courtesy Paul Dumoret

AT THE EMPRESS

In September, the Delta Heritage Airpark Committee, DAPCOM, asked Mary and I to represent the Delta Volunteers and all at the B.C. Aviation Council Silver Awards Banquet held at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria.

Somewhat humbled by this, we felt it more fitting that our hardworking Chair Terry Wilshire and Secretary Treasurer Bruce Prior, or Honorary Caretaker Don Watson and their ladies should be there.

But the event being mid-week, and mid vacations, etc, they already had other commitments.

Having attended previous BCAC events as your COPA rep, we were well aware of the ‘Black Tie’ ambiance of the Silver Wings Awards, but were really blown away by the sparkling nostalgic grandeur of the venerable and beloved Empress Hotel. A truly magnificent setting.

On the left, the incredible Palace of the B.C. Legislature, to the right, the gorgeous buildings of grand old downtown, and to the fore, a wonderful yacht basin, with the floatplane terminal beyond.

Within such evocative names as the Crystal Ballroom, Bengal Lounge, and The Tea Room, summon the image of splendors past and wonders to come. Amazing.

As expected, The Chairman’s Reception before dinner was a bustling affair, with the opportunity to chat with numerous icons of B.C. Aviation, Don Watson and his friend Bill Marr, Dr. John Hall, Jerry Lloyd and others. Quite a whirl.

Volunteers Ron and Lynn Zeleschuk, Ray and Donna Roussy, and Steven Rogers, a former B.C. Cabinet Minister, who keeps his J-3 cub at Delta, joined us at the Delta table.

At the head table, representing the Greater Vancouver Regional District, was GVRD Chair Marvin Hunt, of Surrey, and GVRD Manager of Parks Department, Ed Andrusiak. Representing Mayor Lois Jackson of Delta was Councilor Scott Hamilton.

B.C. AVIATION COUNCIL AWARDS

After dinner, the awards ceremonies began, accompanied by double screen videos depicting the activities of each recipient.

The Delta Heritage Air Park video was most impressive and showed clearly the magic of grass roots aviation, the rural and recreational nature of the airpark, and the community efforts of the tenants. It was awesome.

BCAC Chair George Miller said the William Templeton Trophy as one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in aviation, and described it as being awarded annually for outstanding initiative and achievement in the successful development of a community airport or floatplane landing facility by an individual, association, municipal government or company.

In our case, being a regional facility, the recipient was the GVRD, represented by Chair Marvin Hunt and Manager of Parks Department Ed Andrusiak, who insisted Mary and I join them on the stage for the presentation.

Representing Mayor Jackson of Delta, Councilor Scott Hamilton extolled the community magic of Delta Heritage Air Park, before presenting the handsome trophy to Marvin and Ed.

The award is a large and lovely silver loving cup on a double pedestal base, resplendent in commemorative plaques of previous winners.

Marvin gave a brief thank you speech, then asked me to respond for DAPCOM.

It’s all a bit of a blur, but I did my best to thank everybody, BCAC, GVRD Board, Parks, and their staff, and importantly, those pilots, family and friends not present, who both volunteer and use the Airpark.

After, there were congratulations, pictures, and lots of talk, talk. Numerous other awards and honours were presented, but I must admit it was all rather hard to take in.

President Kevin Psutka and Maureen were there on COPA business, and said we did good. We were told Kevin gave a fine speech earlier on our worries for Canada’s Air Transportation system.

Marvin Hunt told me he was choppering home first thing in the morning for a GVRD Board meeting and would open the meet by displaying the Award as the first item on the Agenda.

So that’s it! It’s nice to have a feel good political event to report once in a while. This award is proof that Delta does the best possible job for aviation and the community we serve.

COPA AWARDS

The day before, Wednesday, we had the pleasure to attend the fall meeting of the Boundary Bay Flying Club, and took the opportunity to present COPA Appreciation Awards to three energetic local enthusiasts.

After an excellent meal at the popular Sundance Inn, President Don Brown conducted some club business before calling me up to present the awards.

Harry Pride, a long time promoter of simply flying for the pleasure of it, and energetic Young Eagle volunteer, at Delta and Boundary Bay Airports, was honoured for his ‘Enthusiastic Encouragement of New Pilots’.

Al and Barb Fielder of Coquitlam were honored for their tremendous effort in reforming COPA Flight 5, and their ‘Tireless Work for the Young Eagles Program’ organizing a number of successful flights out of Delta and Langley airports, that flew over 300 kids this last year and a half.

All were called to the podium together, to receive their well-earned plaques amid tumultuous applause.

Harry made a heart-felt response for the happy group, thanking COPA for such a great honour and for the immense good work COPA carries out on behalf of those who fly their own planes, for business, or personal reasons. Such response makes the work we do all the more worthwhile. Thank you.

THE BILLY

The Organization of Military Museums in Canada has just recognized my local Royal Canadian Legion, The Billy Bishop, as a Military Museum!

I’ve always been proud to take friends there to show off the Aviation historia that abounds there.

The walls are covered with WW 1 and WW 2 photos and paintings of military airplane stuff. Squadron badges mounted on plaques festoon the walls along with oodles of Army and Navy memorabilia too.

Apparently, The Billy is the largest repository of military badges anywhere!

And even more amazing, is that my dear Aunt Molly painted most of the older ones! She was chief artist at the plaque factory in East Yorkshire!

There are memorial walls, dedicated to Billy Bishop himself, to the five Victoria Cross winners from B.C., to the Polish Airmen of WW 2, a multi feature ‘Buzz’ Beurling display, WW 1 model planes hanging from the ceiling, and much more - all dedicated to the Royal Canadian pledge,
“We Will Remember Them.”

RCL Branch 176 is a block off Kitsilano Beach, in Vancouver, and before Transport guys moved to YVR South, it was the popular place near downtown, where they took out-of-towners for a pleasant inexpensive lunch.

Friday nights are roast beef with all the trimmings, well worth it at ten dollars, followed by an old time pub sing-along with the fabulous Bea on the piano.

Décor and ambiance is WW 2 English country pub, and well worth the visit just to sit around. The Western Warbirds used to gather there from time to time for a rousing evening.

The next Really Big Bash at the Billy is the open house after all the Remembrance Day parades and fly-byes! Get there early and hear the Vancouver Police Pipe Band up close!

Maybe we Vancouver COPA Guys could set up a regular evening of hangar talk there? What you think?

OLIVER FLY ABOUT

A great mix of Nanchengs, T-28’s and a real Yak gathered at Oliver Airport for the Annual FAST clinic to upgrade their formation skills.

This type of flying is very satisfying, and needs to be done right.

Mike and Julie Filucci came all the way from Frederick, MD to sanction the event, which allowed everyone to get well on to the way FAST qualification.

The weather was excellent for flying, so Mark Williston was able to get Lead qualified, whilst Peter Herzig and Russ Popel got up to speed on initial FAST training.

Mike Sudul and John Aimie will be Lead qualified soon and everybody had fun. It’s always a pleasure to have Mike and Julie, and it’s a huge bonus for all of us.

Dave and Leslie McVie made Paul Dumoret eyes water when they arrived in their nice, yet to be painted, CJ-6, as it reminded him of his old one.

Shirley Hupp and Vern’s sister Lorna joined their friends for the Friday night event. The Sat night Barbeque provided a proper place for a toast of honour for our lost friend Vern.

Everyone looks forward to next year (The forgoing evolved from a report by Paul Dumoret)

DEADLINES

It appears that for those of us who fly for personal reasons, it’s always deadline time for responding to some government initiative or other. It gets really exhausting, and it’s just not fair that we need to be so turned on all the time. Sigh.

Just now is COPA’s call to members to write, fax or email Parks Canada to calling for continued operations of the Banff and Jasper airstrips for all to use. Please write before 29th of November per info in your COPA Flight News and website www.copanational.org

In B.C., I’ve just received notice from Bill Adair, RPF, planning officer for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Peace Region, Ft. St. John, that the recommended draft of the Muskwa-Kechika Recreation Management Plan is now available on the following web site.

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/rmd/lrmp/mk/recreation.html

This draft is a synthesis of the original Recreation management plan and information collected through public review to include the Mackenzie addition. This plan is available for public and stakeholder comment until October 31.

Upon completing revisions from this review the plan will be presented to the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Advisor board Recreation committee for comment.

With agreement of the M-KMA Recreation, the final plan will be submitted to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management for signing.

Contact Bill Adair, RPF Planning Officer, 250-787-3413 or cell 250-261-2161

SO THAT’S IT

Fly safe, and keep a good look-out for other folks on the look-out for you!

Tony Swain has been a COPA member for over 20 years and has been an active participant in many aviation groups. He flies many types of aircraft and is concerned about the rights of sport pilots.