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THE P ATRICIAN January 2017 The Victoria Flying Club ~ Aviaon Excellence Since 1946 VFC's Fleet 80 Canuck CF-DQE Where is it now?

THE January 2017 PATRICIAN€¦ · the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour during the Battle of Britain. After the war he joined AVRO Canada and test few the CF-100, CF-102, and

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Page 1: THE January 2017 PATRICIAN€¦ · the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour during the Battle of Britain. After the war he joined AVRO Canada and test few the CF-100, CF-102, and

THE PATRICIANJanuary 2017

The Victoria Flying Club ~ Aviation Excellence Since 1946

VFC's Fleet 80 Canuck CF-DQE Where is it now?

Page 2: THE January 2017 PATRICIAN€¦ · the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour during the Battle of Britain. After the war he joined AVRO Canada and test few the CF-100, CF-102, and

“To promote flying and aviation in general, and to teach and train persons in the art and science of flying

and navigating and operating all manner of heavier-than-air aircraft.”

(Victoria Flying Club Incorporation Bylaws, 1946)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT Ramona [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT Howard PengSECRETARY Colin WilliamsonTREASURER Vernon FischerDIRECTORS Steve Demy

Rob ShemiltRolf HopkinsonJohn Litherland

GENERAL MANAGER Gerry MantsCHIEF FLYING INSTRUCTOR

Graham Palmer

1852 Canso RoadSidney, BC V8L 5V5

[email protected]

Phone: 250-656-2833

In This Issue

2 News Around the Club

5 Social Media Picks 6 The Little Pilot Shop

7 Fondness for a Fleet Contributed by Robert Stitt

11 Income Tax Forms

13 First Solos and Member Achievements

15 PrepAIR Tower Talk Contributed by Simon Dennis

17 Fly-Out Bug

18 Ground School Schedule

THE PATRICIANMonthly Newsletter of The Victoria Flying Club - Aviation Excellence Since 1946

January 2017

Editor: Katy [email protected]

The Patrician accepts unsolicited submissions.

This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, with prior permission of the publisher or author. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors.

Front cover photo credits: Instagram: matthewhughson. Autumn / winter flying over Salt Spring Island.

Connect with us and share your aviation stories!

Page 3: THE January 2017 PATRICIAN€¦ · the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour during the Battle of Britain. After the war he joined AVRO Canada and test few the CF-100, CF-102, and

Aviation Excellence Since 1946 2 January 2017

NEW ARRIVALS

The Club has purchased a new Cessna 172S. Expect to see it in the rental offerings very soon! The call sign will be GTEX. WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS

We are experiencing freezing temperatures this winter, and we'd like to remind you to plan to arrive early for your flight instruction appointments or plane rental to allow de-icing time, if needed.

WINGS BANQUET, JANUARY 27

Mark your calendars for Friday January 27, 2017 and plan to attend the Wings Banquet, in celebration of 2016 accomplishments by VFC students and pilots. Join us at the Ward Room (1586 Esquimalt Rd) at 6:00 for cocktails

before a delicious dinner and the awards ceremony. Dress is semi-formal.Tickets are $40 and are available to members and guests from the VFC office. PPL and CPL graduates receive one complimentary ticket. Please RSVP by January 20th.

We do hope you will join us for a night of celebration, great food, and a chance to get to know other Club members.

Along with recognizing our graduates, a number of flight training bursaries are awarded (due date, January 23rd - see the application on page 4).

The Wings Banquet is a long-standing tradition at the Victoria Flying Club. Because our members are busy people who all operate on different schedules, it is not often that we gather togetheras a group to celebrate what we have accomplished as individuals and as a

club. That’s what makes the Wings Banquet special!

Everyone is welcome to attend and graduates are encouraged to invite friends, family, and guests. VFC members are certainly encouragedto attend, even if they are not among this year’s graduates. It is an inspiring and encouraging evening for everyone!

MEETING ROOM RESERVATIONS

Are you looking for meeting space for your own Meetup, business meeting, or party? Contact Customer Service at the Club to book your spot or connect you with the Dakota Cafe.

Have news or a story to tell? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to have your news or story published in The Patrician.

News Around the Club

VFC News

Image: Register early for the first of Nav Canada's OpenAIR Series, to be held on February 11th from 0900 - 1200 at the Victoria Flying Club. Registrations are online at www.prepair.ca/openair. Image above: Instagram: cadestewart.

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January 2017 3 www.flyvfc.com

AIRCRAFT RENTAL DISCOUNT HOURS

Special holidays, e.g. BC Family Day

Monday to Friday, 1700–0930 $10/hr rental discount, or0.2 simulator time credit per hour of flight (approximate value $20)

Saturday and Sunday, 1700–0930 $15/hr rental discount, or0.3 simulator time credit per hour of flight approximate value $30)

NEWS AND EVENTS

JAN 1 Victoria Flying Club is CLOSED

JAN 2 New round of PPL classes starts

JAN 10 COPA Flight 6 meeting and social

JAN 27 Wings Banquet

JAN 28 IFR Round Table

FEB 7 COPA Flight 6 meeting and social

FEB 11 OpenAIR YYJ - register at www.prepair.ca/openair

FEB 13 BC Family Day - aircraft discount pricing

Is your aviation-related event not listed? Let us know at [email protected].

NEED ADVERTISING?Advertising in The Patrician is affordable!

Contact us for more [email protected]

VFC News

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4 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

Women in AviationVFC News

Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Home Phone: ____________________________ Cell Phone: ___________________________

Email: _______________________________________________________________________

Please provide a brief statement describing how you plan to make use of the Flight Training Award, and also outlining your future aviation ambitions:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Butler Flying Award

Claude Butler served as president of the Victoria Flying Club several times over the years. He was a successful businessman, inventor, and a man with many visions. His compassion and generosity knew no bounds. Claude always referred affectionately to his loving wife Jean, who was the Mayor of Central Saanich for several years, as “Her Warship.” He asked “Her Warship,” in his last moments, to do something memorable and worthwhile on his behalf for the Victoria Flying Club and this is how the Butler Flying Award was born.

Betty Wadsworth Scholarship

Betty Wadsworth joined the Victoria Flying Club in 1958 and was active in the support of general aviation all her life. As a director of COPA and a member of such organizations as BC Aviation Council and the Western Canada Aviation Museum of Flight and Transportation, her contributions have been recognized by numerous awards and citations. Betty Wadsworth maintained her connection with the Victoria Flying Club where she learned to fly, and when she died in April 1986 she left a portion of her estate to the Club. Since 1991, the interest from this grant has been awarded each year to further a member’s training, qualifications, or skills at the Victoria Flying Club.

Michael Cooper-Slipper Award

Michael Cooper-Slipper was born in England January 11th 1921 and he joined the AF Squadron 605 equipped with Hurricanes, at the tender age of 17. At 19 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour during the Battle of Britain. After the war he joined AVRO Canada and test few the CF-100, CF-102, and Orenda powered F-86. He also flew a modified B-47 as a test bed for the AVRO Arrow Iroquois engine. After his career as a test pilot he embarked on a career in aviation sales, first with de Havilland and then with Field Aviation. Mike is survived by his wife Rita who resides in Victoria.

Brian Smedley Award

Brian began his aviation career as an Aviation Mechanic for the Flying Fireman. This led him to become a pilot for the Flying Fireman followed by the BC Government Air Services. After 24 years with the BC Government, Brian flew for Ainsworth Lumber in 100 Mile House, BC. After retirement from flying, Brian was able to follow his lifelong dream to become a cowboy. He worked for many ranches in the Cariboo his last one being the 112 Mile Ranch.

Please Join Us At This Year’s Wings Banquet! Victoria Flying ClubFlight Training Awards Application Form

All current VFC students/members are eligible to apply for these awards. Applications must be submitted to Gerry Mants in the VFC office by January 23, 2017.

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January 2017 5 www.flyvfc.com

VFC News

SocialMedia Picks

Instagram: matthewhughson.

Instagram: kilomike_19.

Instagram: c_fisx. Midday, Dec. 16 2016.Instagram: flyboy_21cxu. Winter flying in the Piper.

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6 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

VFC News

The Little Pilot Shop

While you are at the Victoria Flying Club, don't forget to take a look at our 'Little Pilot Shop.' We have warm jackets (great conversation starters!), IPad mounts, mag lights and more!

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January 2017 7 www.flyvfc.com

Feature Article

I had always hoped I could return to flying the aircraft on which I learned to fly, Canada’s very own Fleet 80 Canuck. But I never imaged it would be in one of the Fleets on which I gained my licence, or that I would need to completely rebuild it.

Fleet CF-DQE came back into my life while I was seeking a paint job quote for our group’s 172. She was sitting at Pitt Meadows, tethered out in the elements and beginning to show signs of aging. She was 69 years-old after all. The aircraft restoration fraternity around Duncan airport pledged support, an offer was made, and with, I’m sure, a heavy heart, Canuck devotee Bob Gilmour passed over the logbooks to his last Fleet.

DQE was one of 225 Fleet Model 80 Canucks, derived from the Noury N75 designed and built by ‘Bob’ Noury, a former aircraft engineer with the Ottawa Flying Club. She would become one of six Canucks operated by the Victoria Flying Club.

The Canuck is a high-wing, two-seat side-by-side tail-dragger with a fuselage of welded 4130 steel tubing, wood formers and fabric covering. The wings are of more

modern aluminum construction but also fabric-covered. It’s a very rugged aircraft with tubing that dwarfs that found on designs like the more powerful Piper Super Cub and wings made to British 7g standards. She’s aesthetically pleasing with perfect proportions and a graceful inverse curve on the lower fuselage.

There is no washout on the wings, yet in-flight directional control is very good with only a small amount of initial yaw using the ailerons with 'feet off.' Similarly, directional control using rudder alone with ‘hands off’ produces only a small amount of initial sideslip. There are no flaps, but full rudder with full opposite aileron produces a sideslip that allows perfect alignment with the runway in a strong crosswind combined with a stone-like sink rate when needed. The Canuck is a wonderful trainer, and one never forgets the feeling of slipping off excess height and three-pointing the aircraft onto the runway.

The business of disassembling DQE began as soon as she had been trucked to our home in Cowichan Bay and it was soon clear she needed a complete rebuild. The tubular frame proved to be in good condition, but just about everything within the fuselage – woodwork,

Fondness for a FleetContributed by Robert M Stitt, Aviation Historian

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8 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

f

Feature Article

controls, electrical, pullies – was looking and feeling tired. Within a few weeks every part – down to each nut, bolt, and washer – had been photographed, removed, bagged or tagged, and stored. The task felt overwhelming at first but looking back, the Canuck is a simple aircraft and knowing the condition of every part is very reassuring.

The most formidable task promised to be stripping the two-part epoxy finish from the frame. I began with hand tools, abrasive pads and elbow grease. But it became an increasingly miserable task and after six weeks of marginally productive effort in the damp winter climate I needed a Plan B. Five days later, following good advice and delivery to a local sandblast and painting facility, the frame was back in my shop, protected by a flawless layer of two-part epoxy primer. Lesson learned.

Since then, I’ve painted the frame with a gorgeous two-part ‘gunmetal’ Endura top coat. All woodwork – floors, longerons, and frames – has been replaced, pullies, control cables and control tubes installed, the all-important brakes serviced, the firewall reworked, fuel

tank and straps overhauled, antenna mounting plates added, and the fuselage tubing oiled to inhibit corrosion.

The next phase will be removing the wing fabric for a thorough inspection, to be followed by adding new fabric on all surfaces when the warmer weather arrives. The overhauled 85-hp Continental C85-12J engine should be received from Vike Aeromotive of Kamloops by the summer.

I’m imagining drawing up to the Victoria Flying Club and reuniting DQE with those that knew her.

Photos of project on the next page.

Thank you, Robert, for sharing with us your progress with a very important part of VFC's early history! We look forward to hearing more about and seeing this beloved aircraft in the future! If you would like to learn more about the project, please contact The Patrician's editor at [email protected] for contacts and info.

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Feature Article

January 2017 9 www.flyvfc.com

Fondness for a Fleet, continuedContributed by Robert M Stitt, Aviation Historian

Images, left to right: DQE as rediscovered at Pitt Meadows. Cowichan Bay-bound via BC Ferries. Result of moisture in the carpeting.

Images, left to right: Peeling the onion. Sandblasting the frame saved many hours. Painted frame in rotisserie with new lower woodwork.

Images, left to right: Rudder and aileron tubes installed. Fuselage takes shape with new longerons. Replacement floor - there will be no carpet!

Page 11: THE January 2017 PATRICIAN€¦ · the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour during the Battle of Britain. After the war he joined AVRO Canada and test few the CF-100, CF-102, and

Feature Article

10 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

Fleet 80 Canucks Operated by the Victoria Flying Club, Early History

All are still registered with the exception of CF-DZE.

CF-DQA

1947.01.23 Sold to the Victoria to Flying Club1956.02.07 Nose over on run-up prior to first solo take off1956.07.20 Engine ran rough on the approach to a practice forced landing. Unable to clear the ridge at the

end of the field the pilot tried to turn back to the fields behind but the aircraft mushed into the ground and cartwheeled. Repaired.

1962.04.01 Sold to Ed Zalesky

CF-DQE1956.08.28 Sold to the Victoria Flying Club1967.08.08 Sold to the Aero Club of BC

CF-DQJ1955.02.26 Sold to the Victoria Flying Club1962.04.10 Sold to Ed Zalesky

CF-DQR1954.06.10 Registered to the Victoria Flying Club1967.08.08 Sold to the Aero Club of BC

CF-DZE1948.12.31 Sold to the Victoria Flying Club for $1,3501951.02.22 Entered a steep turn to the left, stalled, the left wing hit the water and the aircraft sank while

flying at 200 feet near HMCS Ontario near Victoria, BC. Pilot and passenger killed. Cancelled

CF-EAU1951.05.05 Sold to the Victoria Flying Club1954.04.21 The pilot was cleared by ATC to taxi south to the SE end of the taxi strip. About a minute later

RCN Avenger 343, having refuelled and while moving away from the pumps, was given clearance to taxi. After taxiing 460 feet, the Fleet was overtaken by the Avenger, struck from behind and dragged 76 feet before coming to a stop. The pilot of the Avenger was assigned blame.

1962.09.25 Pilot became lost but with radio/radar help was able to position over Port Angeles Coast Guard Airport, Washington State. The pilot overshot on his first attempt to land and on turning to go back he ran out of fuel. He landed straight ahead but made a heavy landing. Repaired.

1967.08.08 Sold to the Aero Club of BC

Page 12: THE January 2017 PATRICIAN€¦ · the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour during the Battle of Britain. After the war he joined AVRO Canada and test few the CF-100, CF-102, and

2016 Tax Forms

January 2017 11 www.flyvfc.com

Victoria Flying Club

2016 Income Tax Procedure

Please Note: Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) has recently been requiring proof of enrollment in the Commercial Pilot Program before allowing a deduction for the hours under the Private Pilot Licence. A letter from the Club confirming enrollment in the CPL is available to students actively pursuing a CPL (i.e., a Category 1 Medical, enrollment in Commercial Ground School, working towards a Night Rating or actively completing the dual requirements of the CPL). Members are reminded that all deductions taken are the responsibility of the person claiming the deduction on their tax return.

Instructions: Complete all areas of this form. There is no need to complete the form if you reached the maximum deductible hours per course in 2016. Mail/fax/or drop off this form to Dispatch.

Allowable deductions: As outlined by Revenue Canada Taxation875 Heron Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L8

Licence or Endorsement: Private Pilot LicenceCommercial Pilot LicenceInstructor RatingNight Rating

Allowable Tuition Fees (Please read carefully):

Private Pilot Course

Any number of dual flying hours. Solo hours to the extent that dual and solo hours do not exceed a total of forty-five hours. Revenue Canada has been requiring proof of enrollment in the Commercial Pilot Licence program prior to allowing a deduction for the PPL. (See above)

Commercial Pilot Course

Any number of dual flying hours and solo hours to the extent that dual and solo hours do not exceed a total of sixty-five hours (Commercial Licence).

NO CREDIT MAY BE TAKEN FOR TIME BUILDING OR HOURS IN EXCESS OF THE

TRANSPORT CANADA MINIMUMS.

Private Pilot Course Only

Ground school Jan 1 to December 31, 2016 $300.00 $___________

________hours dual Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2016

________hours solo Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2016

________hours dual and solo claimed in 2016 and earlier re private license

________TOTAL CLAIM in hours (CANNOT EXCEED 45 HOURS)

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2016 Tax Forms

12 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

Commercial Pilot Course

Ground school Jan 1 to December 31, 2016 $495.00 $___________

Ground school Retread $ 50.00 $___________

________hours dual Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2016

________hours solo Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2016

________hours dual and solo claimed in 2016 and earlier re commercial license

________TOTAL CLAIM in hours (CANNOT EXCEED 65 HOURS)

Other Ratings

Rating: _______________________________ Hours: Dual____________ Solo___________

To Be Completed By The Student

I, _________________________ certify that:

I intend to work in the occupation of _________________________________and that I was enrolled

in the course entitled _________________________in order to furnish me with skills in that occupation

OR

I am qualified as a ___________________________ and that I was enrolled in the course entitled

___________________________ ________in order to improve my skills in that occupation.

My hours claimed for 2016, when combined with hours claimed in 2016 and earlier does not exceed the

maximums outlined of 45 hours for private and 65 hours for commercial course.

__________________________ ____________________________Signature of Student Date

Do you wish your tax form mailed or picked up?______________________________Tax Forms received by Victoria Flying Club prior to February 1, 2017 will be completed by February 28, 2017.

For Office Use Only

Date received ____________________ Course _____________________________

Hours: ________________ Dual $______________

________________ Solo $______________

Ground Briefing: ________________ Dual $______________

Ground school: $______________

Total Hours Claimed: ____________Private _____________

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January 2017 13 www.flyvfc.com

First Solos and Member

Achievements

Sam GodsellInstructor: Sean Tyrrell

New MembersAlec MillerArpita MonahanJason BerndtJason ChildKenneth PothierMegan Carpenter-VillaRegina Campbell

First SoloMatthew CameronMatthew MitchnerSam Godsell

PPL WrittenRon Steeper

CPL WrittenDai HosoiEric LeocadioPragadesh Devi

CPL LicenceRichard Rebneris

Matthew CameronInstructor: Silvia Zilker

Matthew MitchnerInstructor: Jessica Rabideau

Member Achievements

Image: Instagram: nathaniel.213. Winter flying around the peninsula.

“Without disruption of air traffic, these fearless, forthright, indomitable and courageous individuals

did venture into the wild blue yonder in flying machines. Furthermore, these skillful individuals

did safely land said flying machines at Victoria International Airport, incurring no significant

damage to self or machine, thus completing first solo flights.”

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Member Achievements

14 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

Diploma in Business Administration —Aviation Option

continuingstudies.uvic.ca/aviation

Combine flight training with a prestigious university business diploma tailored to the aviation industry.

If you’re graduating or have recently graduated from high school and want to become a commercial airline pilot, this program is for you!

Employers recognize that good pilots do more than fly aircraft; they are active problem solvers, strategic decision makers, and superior communicators. The most successful are skilled in business management, leadership, team building, and crew resource management.

Classes are held at the Victoria International Airport or at the University of Victoria campus over a nine-month period.

The unique program schedule means you can complete both your private and commercial pilot’s license and the Diploma in Business Administration.

The only entrance requirements are successful completion of Grade 12, the desire for a career in aviation, and the motivation to complete an intensive business program.

To learn more or to apply, please contact: Business and Management ProgramsT 250-721-8073/8072 [email protected] information about flight training, contact the Victoria Flying Club:T [email protected]

Offered in collaboration with the Victoria Flying Club

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January 2017 15 www.flyvfc.com

Tower Talk

The days are growing longer, cherry blossoms and patio season are just around the corner, right? Well, maybe not quite. Welcome to a new year. With December bringing our first significant snowfalls in three years to YYJ, rest assured we here at the tower have been re-certified in snow clearing operations by Transport Canada’s little known West Coast Snow Awareness Department (also known as SAD West Coast) and are well equipped to handle our next severe skiff. All kidding aside, everyone from pilots to the airport authority to tower staff dealt with the frozen stuff well, and it was a good test of the new de-icing pads and processes over at the terminal apron. I just have a feeling that we will see a bit more precipitation of the frozen variety this winter before we can officially gloat to the rest of the country.

PREPAIR SEMINARSIf you are reading this anywhere in BC (or plan on flying here this year from beyond its borders), and are looking to brush up on your knowledge and procedures this spring, this will be the year for you. The year 2017 brings a host of exciting announcements and will see PrepAIR rapidly grow. Building upon the success of our first two YYJ one-day seminars of 2015 and 2016, we are very pleased to announce that this year, not only will YYJ host its third seminar, but Nanaimo, Boundary Bay and Kelowna will all host inaugural one-day PrepAIR pilot refresher seminars as well.

Tower Talk Highlights

Victoria Tower Customer Service Surveywww.prepair.ca/survey

OpenAIR Forum Victoria Flying Club February 11, 2017, 0900-1200Register here: www.prepair.ca/openair

PrepAIR YYJApril 29, 2017

When we set about creating PrepAIR, our full intent was to launch a brand that would be able to expand beyond YYJ, a template that could be used across the province, and potentially even beyond. We are pleased to see it doing just that and have in place strong support from Nav Canada employees at these respective new sites to plan and present at the inaugural seminars. It is our hope that the new sites, along with Victoria, are effectively geographically positioned to offer a high number of BC pilots a location that is feasibly within reach. Darlene and I will be fulfilling an oversight role for the non-YYJ seminars, ensuring that every one offers the same format, content, value, and accessibility to local users as has come to be expected, all of course completely free of charge. It is of the utmost importance to us that every event, wherever it may be, bears the PrepAIR name consistently and represents that name to the high standards we have set out for ourselves.

These three new seminars, along with YYJ, will all take place in the spring of 2017. Specific dates are still being finalized due to logistics and not wanting to interfere specifically with the Easter holiday weekend, but you can expect that most or all will take place between late March and early May. The best advice is to stay tuned to the PrepAIR website as specific dates and details are confirmed. All dates and times should be confirmed by mid to late January, and as soon as they are, online registration will open, also through our website.

Due to the fact that PrepAIR is no longer just our YYJ seminar, by the time you read this, PrepAIR’s web address will now be prepair.ca, NOT prepairyyj.com. Please update your bookmarks as required to reflect this new address. We felt this was a needed change to accurately reflect PrepAIR as a stand alone and Canadian brand, no longer YYJ specific. To access information on all of our seminars, please now fly over to prepair.ca/seminars. For those of you that have or will subscribe to updates via the form at the bottom of each page on our website, you can expect these via a regular newsletter starting in January as well.

CUSTOMER SURVEYSAs you may have heard, last month we launched a Nav Canada YYJ Tower Customer Survey through PrepAIR. To those of you that have responded, thank you very much. The feedback has been valuable already, and the majority of respondents are taking the time to add comments as well.

from

by Simon Dennis, YYJ Tower ATC, ATPL

TOWER TALKJanuary 2017

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16 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

Tower Talk

VFC smile cards

Pick up your smile card today at the VFC office, and 5% of your grocery purchase will go towards creating scholarships and awards for VFC mem-bers. To date, the Victoria Flying Club has received over $17,738 from the Thrifty Foods Smile Card program. These funds have been appreciated by all members of the club. Thank you Thrifty Foods!

Remember, positive, negative, indifferent, or anything in between, we want to hear from you. It is a rare opportunity to truly know what you our users are feeling (a prime factor for the creation of PrepAIR in the first place), and I have no doubt that most or all of you have an opinion to share.

ROUND TABLE SESSIONS - OPENAIRThis ties in nicely to my next announcement regarding PrepAIR. We are creating a series of round table question and answer sessions, more frequent, of a shorter duration, and much less structured than our day-long PrepAIR seminars. The intent is to bridge the gap between an avenue such as our survey, and at the other end of the spectrum, our full day seminars. While we provide a question session at the end of every PrepAIR seminar, we are often time constrained and inevitably end up with more questions than time allows.

This new event will devote the majority of its time to open questions, preceded by a short presentation containing an airspace overview and any relevant procedural topics that we deem worth discussing at the time. The session will also include a summary of the current YYJ Tower Survey results and a discussion as to what our response to them may be. We are calling this series OpenAIR, the first of which is to be held at the Victoria Flying Club on Saturday, February 11th, from 0900-1200.

OpenAIR is open to any and all students and permit or licence holders, free of charge, and presented by myself. It will be held at regular two month intervals throughout the

year and will provide a chance for users, in between annual PrepAIR seminars, to have their questions answered and ideas shared with us here at YYJ Tower and PrepAIR. If you are looking for a face-to-face, procedural discussion in an informal, open-floor atmosphere, this is a great opportunity. Besides, last time I checked, pilots don’t mind a casual chat every now and then!

As you read this, registration for our first OpenAIR event is available at prepair.ca/openair. Please note that unlike our PrepAIR seminars, this event will not be Transport Canada accredited for pilot re-currency due to it being structured as much more of a discussion versus a course.

Finally, should you have any questions regarding any of our events at PrepAIR, please do so now through our new contact email at [email protected], and I or Darlene will respond as soon as we can. Feel free to continue to use my personal email below for any non-PrepAIR related comments or inquiries.

Here’s to 2017 bringing you smooth skies and safe flying, and we hope to see you at a PrepAIR event soon.

Simon Dennis is a YYJ tower air traffic controller, ATPL holder, co-creator of PrepAIR Pilot Accredited Inter-user Refresher seminars, and a former VFC instructor. For PrepAIR inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected]. For any other reason, he is always listening at [email protected] as well.

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January 2017 17 www.flyvfc.com

The COPA Flight 6 Board consists of:

Flight Captain (President): Rob Shemilt Co-Captain (Vice President): Allan Rempel Navigator (Treasurer): Art Reitsma

The December COPA Flight 6 meeting was attended by nine dedicated pilots. As no formal presentation was planned, the evening was a general round table discussion about planes and flying. What else do plane crazy people do when they get together?

The evening started off discussing the future of general aviation and electric aircraft. We then segued into formation flying as a couple of COPA Flight 6 members are currently doing formation flying and are looking for other aircraft owners who would like to join in. From the future of aviation to formation flying, we then heard about Gordon Hindle's pursuit of the German Cavalon or Auto-Gyro. If you've never heard of this unusual flying machine, follow this link and learn about the Cavalon: https://www.auto-gyro.com/en/

The evening ended discussing aviation owner maintenance and places to fly in 2017. We always welcome past members and especially first timers to COPA Flight 6.

The next COPA Flight 6 meeting will be Tuesday January 10th from 7:00-9:00 PM at Victoria Flying Club. Normally we meet the first Tuesday of each month but with the first Tuesday just following the Holiday Season it was decided to move it a week later. This month's meeting will feature guest speaker Ryan Evans from Skye Avionics. Skye Avionics has offices in both Campbell River and now in Victoria, with an office located at YYJ inside the Victoria Flying Club. Skye Avionics focuses on avionics upgrades, installation, airframe rewiring, new equipment installation and service. Ryan will focus on the future of ADS-B and its impact on general aviation. Looking to upgrade to full glass panel? Come on out and meet Ryan and learn more about Skye Avionics.

Again, please join us at VFC, and you neither need to be a member of COPA National nor a Victoria Flying Club member to attend.

Email: [email protected]: copaflight6.blogspot.ca

FLY-OUT BUG COPA Flight 6

COPA Quadrant

Images: Glass panel examples discussed at the meeting.

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Ground School Schedule

18 January 2017Aviation Excellence Since 1946

Ground School ScheduleWinter 2016

Private Pilot Classes run Mon. and Wed. from 19:00 to 22:00.

DATE TOPIC INSTRUCTOR

Jan 2 Canadian Aviation Regulations & Licencing I Brett

Jan 4 Canadian Aviation Regulations & Licencing II Brett

Jan 9 Aerodynamics & Theory of Flight Iain

Jan 11 Airframes & Engines Dave

Jan 16 Systems & Flight Instruments Dave

Jan 23 Meteorology I Sean

Jan 25 Meteorology II Sean

Jan 30 Meteorology III Sean

Feb 1 Meteorology IV Sean

Feb 6 Meteorology V Sean

Pricing: Ground School Course: $350Ground School Kit: $275Learn to Fly package: $675

www.islandblue.com

Victoria: 905 Fort St., Victoria BC V8V 3K3 Tel: 250-385-9786Sidney: 2411 Beacon Ave., Sidney BC V8L 2X2 Tel: 250-656-1233

print & imaging

book printing

art & framing

The Victoria Flying Club operates a charter service to a variety of destinations the lower BC area. VFC Charter offers inexpensive, timely, and direct transportation to places not serviced by other commercial carriers.

The charter service is an on-demand operation (no set schedules) and is operational in day VFR conditions. Please contact us for more information on destinations and costs.

For more information or to book a flightEmail: [email protected]

Call: 1-778-350-3213

VFC CHARTER SERVICE - BE THERE IN MINUTES!

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19 www.flyvfc.comFebruary 2016 19 www.flyvfc.comFebruary 2016

Dream. Discover. Experience. Explore.Take the first step at VFC!Call us today to get started! 250-656-2833

www.flyvfc.com