 |
| Kitfoxes at Montebello, 23 January 2010 Photo by Nathalie Huard |
This page was last updated on Monday, 8 February 2010
Flight 8 News
So says Mike Nelson, a retired fighter pilot who now teaches aviation at the University of North Dakota. What does this mean for the future of military aviation and more to the point, what does this mean for the future of civil aviation?
Flight 8 blogger Adam Hunt offers some ideas and analysis on the subject. Add your own thoughts on the Flight 8 blog.
COPA Flight 8 members Michael Dixon and Nathalie Huard were at the first fly-in of the year. This event was at the Chateau Montebello on 23 January and the day turned out perfectly, with temperatures just below freezing, clear skies and light winds.
Click to enlarge
As a follow-on to the successful raising of Canadian awareness of the importance of aviation during 2009, several of the organizations involved in the centennial celebrations, including COPA, have decided to maintain that momentum by celebrating National Aviation Day, as proclaimed by the Minister of Transport, on February 23. At the conclusion of his message, Mr. Baird stated:
This yearly celebration will allow us to remember our past achievements and help chart the course of Canada's aviation and aerospace futures.
In line with this statement, we jointly decided that the February 23, 2010 event should be youth and career-oriented. To that end, the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa, in collaboration with the Department of Transport and others involved in the newly-named Canadian Air and Space Network, will be putting on a Career Day and Job Fair on the 23rd. We are in the process of lining up participants both from the side of school boards, colleges and other educational institutions, on the one hand, and the various employers in the widely-defined aviation and space community in Canada. Initial response from all sides has been very positive. COPA will have a booth there to promote personal aviation and answer questions about flight training, licensing etc.
The Canada Aviation Museum has already been in touch with a number of leading aerospace companies in the broadly-defined aviation and space field, post-secondary educational institutions and government agencies. The Museum has a growing number of commitments in hand for the provision of a manned booth, information materials and, in some cases, speakers. Members located in other regions of the country should be aware that aviation and space museums across Canada are being encouraged by their national association, the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association, to put on similar events. Members should contact their local museum to see how they can help celebrate this day.
The Canada Aviation Museum is planning a series of events and presentations throughout the day on February 23. It is expected that the Minister of Transport will speak in the morning and the Director General of Civil Aviation will speak later in the day along with other representatives of both the aviation and space sectors. The program should garner significant media interest.
COPA Flight 8 will be represented at this event, as Flight 8 captain Mike Shaw will be manned an information exhibit there. Drop by and say hi!
The Ottawa Flying Club's general manager Mark Champagne announced on 17 December 2009 that the club is in the process of constructing a new hangar at the Ottawa International Airport.
Champagne explains:
It is going to be a storage hangar 70 x 120 feet and made of canvas type material. Once the hangar is completed in late January we will be able to store a good portion of our fleet in there to keep the snow and frost off.
The photo was taken on 23 December 2009 and shows progress to date, positioning of an outline series of portable concrete blocks. We'll have more coverage of the new OFC hangar when it is completed.
Mark Champagne indicated today that the hangar kit will be arriving on Monday 18 January 2010 and that erection of the hangar superstructure will start at that point.
Mark Champagne announced today that the frame has been finished and the fabric covering will be next, as long as the wind stays calm enough.
Nav Canada, the country’s provider of civil air navigation services, has evaluated the provision of Flight Information Service En Route (FISE) using Remote Communication Outlets (RCO). As a result of this evaluation NAV CANADA has embarked upon a multi-year RCO redesign program aimed at improving FISE service coverage and reducing frequency congestion on 126.7MHz.
To achieve these objectives and better serve aviation communication requirements in the Ottawa/Gatineau area, the following FISE RCO change will be made:
This change will take effect February 11, 2010 at 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The appropriate aeronautical publications will be amended.
Note: for more information on this subject see:
 |
| Piper 6X |
The Canadian private civil aircraft fleet was still growing in 2009, but not at anywhere near the rate in recent years. In 2008 the fleet grew at 3.2%, but in 2009 that dropped to 2.3%, a rate of growth that is the lowest since 2004.
Given the economic realities of 2009, which was the worst recession year since the 1930s, it is hardly surprising that far fewer aircraft were purchased or built. In many ways it is surprising that the fleet did not shrink in size, but that was probably prevented by high asking prices for used aircraft in Canada.
In total the civil fleet increased in size by exactly 600 aircraft in 2009, compared to 803 in 2008. Of the 2009 number, the private fleet increased by 577, while commercial aircraft increased by just 31 aircraft. The state fleet, owned by the various levels of government in Canada, actually shrunk by eight aircraft as government priorities shifted to economic stimulus and automotive manufacturer bailouts.
For the past few years certified aircraft have been leading the growth in private aircraft numbers, fuelled by a low US dollar, making imports from that country cheaper than buying domestically. That same trend held in 2009 with 196 private certified aircraft added, made up of 141 airplanes, 54 helicopters and 10 gliders. Of note, the number of privately-owned certified balloons dropped by nine, which represents 2% of the private certified balloons.
Private certified aircraft accounted for 33% of the overall fleet growth in 2009. The total number of private certified aircraft was 15,532 at the end of 2009 out 26,436 private aircraft in all.
The second quickest growing area of private aviation has been BULAs for several years and this trend continued in 2009, with 157 new aircraft for 26% of the overall growth seen. These included 156 single-engined ultralights and one twin-engined one. There were 5102 BULAS at the end of the year.
Amateur-built aircraft were in the number three slot again this past year, increasing by 125 aircraft, including 121 airplanes, seven helicopters and one balloon. Three gliders and one gyroplane were removed from the register. Amateur-builts made up 21% of the aircraft added to the overall fleet in 2009.
Amateur builts now number 3635 in Canada and include fixed wing airplanes, helicopters, gliders, gyroplanes, balloons, airships and even one ornithopter.
As in 2008, AULAs remained in fourth place for growth, increasing their numbers by 42 airplanes over the year. By category definition all AULAs are powered fixed wing aircraft. Their growth in numbers in 2009 made up 7% of the fleet increase and brought the total number of AULAs on the register to 1082.
The AULA category was introduced in 1991 and has increased at an average of of 60 AULAs per year, so this was a below-average year for the category.
As in 2008 the O-M category had very little growth this past year, adding only 27 aircraft. This means there were 483 O-M aircraft in total at year end. The category is made up of 471 airplanes and 12 gliders.
This category continues to suffer from a lack of interest amongst Canadian aircraft owners as a result of the FAA stating that these aircraft will never be allowed to be flown in US airspace or sold in the USA.
Reacting to the poor economic conditions, the commercial aircraft fleet had a weak year, increasing by only 31 aircraft to bring it to 6832. The increase included 24 airplanes, 5 helicopters, one glider and one balloon. Of note the number of commercial single-engined aircraft fell by 35, while the twin-engined fleet increased by 73.
The state fleet dropped in numbers in 2009 by eight aircraft, the losses made up of seven airplanes and one helicopter.
The private fleet still makes up 79% of the aircraft in Canada, the same as it did in 2007 and 2008, with the commercial fleet at 20% and the state fleet at 0.8%.
Many of the trends in 2009 were continuations of what was seen in the fall of 2008, when the economy first showed signs of contraction. The number of new and used private aircraft being purchased dropped as people lost their jobs or became uncertain about their financial future. Even avgas prices, which had dropped with world oil prices in late 2008, have rebounded, which has undoubtedly dissuaded some people from buying aircraft.
There is lots of evidence that even though the fleet continued to grow in 2009 that the number of hours being flown by Canadian pilots was down. Fuel and insurance sales, along with Nav Canada traffic numbers all support the notion that more Canadian aircraft spent more of 2009 parked than in past years. A large number of Canadian aircraft were offered for sale this past year, but as in 2008, at prices that were generally higher than for the equivalent aircraft in the USA. In the US ample stock of used aircraft for sale forced prices down and, along with a weak US dollar, kept Canadian aircraft more expensive. This meant that many aircraft advertised for sale in Canada did not sell and probably weren't flown often either.
Aircraft imports into Canada were down in 2009, as can be expected and fewer of the imports were light aircraft, illustrating that despite lower asking prices in the US few pilots were shopping there. In 2008 there were 968 aircraft imported, whereas in 2009 this number was 673, a drop of 30%. On the plus side with Canadian asking prices mostly far too high for the North American used aircraft market, very few used Canadian aircraft were exported, keeping the fleet numbers in positive growth territory.
It is interesting to note that between December 2008 and September 2009 the number of licensed pilots in Canada with valid medicals actually fell by 529, an annualised rate of -0.1%.
2010 may well prove to be an interesting year for the Canadian private fleet. Even though the banks are proclaiming the recession a mere memory, economic uncertainty is still a daily reality for most Canadians and Americans, too. Many economists are not convinced that economic growth has returned to stay and the risk of a "double-dip" recession is real and may be driven by high oil prices.
Whether the recovery is maintained or we slip back into recession, the economy and the associated demand for aircraft are both likely to remain weak through 2010. This point is illustrated by the experiences of US light aircraft manufacturer Cirrus Design. The company had laid off workers in late 2008 and again in early 2009. Cirrus started rehiring in June 2009, only to have to carry out more lay-offs in September and again in November 2009.
One thing is certain, as long as asking prices for used aircraft in Canada remain above those in the US, the Canadian fleet will continue to grow as pilots import and build their own aircraft, rather than buying used aircraft in Canada. This in turn, means that the Canadian fleet is likely to continue to increase in 2010, albeit modestly, regardless of other economic factors. If Canadians who are selling aircraft lower their asking prices to match those of the USA, then it is possible that the civil fleet may shrink in the near future, as high prices are keeping aircraft in the country.
Note: Data for this report was taken from the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register and reflects the difference between the number of aircraft registered in Canada on 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2009. These statistics reflect the net number of aircraft built and imported, minus the number destroyed, scrapped and exported. Just because an aircraft is registered in Canada does not mean it is being flown and therefore the number of registered aircraft should not be confused with the amount of flying activity.
The Rockcliffe Flying Club is also carrying out some construction this winter.
A storm hit Rockcliffe Airport on Saturday 25 April 2009, knocking down their landmark tree and damaging the clubhouse, as well as many aircraft. The club has decided to build a new hangar and also put in a new temporary clubhouse, which is not open yet.
Mike Shaw contributed the photo above, taken from the taxiway west of the fuel pumps, facing north. It shows the old clubhouse and hangar, centre, with the temporary clubhouse, right, and the new hangar, left, under construction.
All Canadian flight crew licences, permits and medical certificates in the current individual paper format will expire at the end of June 2010.
Airline Transport Pilot and Commercial Pilot licences have already been replaced with the new licence booklet format licence. Current Private Pilots licences were to expire on 31 December 2009, but this has now been extended to 30 June 2010. So if you haven’t applied for the new format licences, do so today or you won't be flying in July 2010!
For complete information read the COPA Microsoft Word format article on the subject (72 KB download)
Flight 8 Captain Mike Shaw has long taken umbrage with the wording of the Transport Canada AIM, particularly on what it has to say about circuit joining procedures, which he has described as "sloppy work ... that really bugs me". He previously outlined his objections in a Flight 8 blog post.
Mike Shaw has now taken his disagreement with what the AIM says on this issue one step higher and has a letter on the subject printed in ASL 4/2009.
It looks like he has Transport Canada's attention on the subject, as ASL editor Paul Marquis replied: "Thank you for writing to us. Your comments are appreciated and will be considered in an upcoming revision of the TC AIM. —Ed."
 |
| The Ottawa Flying Club's new Beechcraft 76 Duchess C-FDMO |
The Ottawa Flying Club's general manager Mark Champagne announced on 2 November 2009 that the club has purchased a second Beechcraft 76 Duchess to be used for twin-engine training.
The new Duchess, C-FDMO, is a 1976 model. Champagne indicates that the aircraft has a beautiful paint scheme and is well equipped, including an avionics stack with a Garmin 430 GPS.
C-FDMO was recently imported into Canada and has been registered to the club since 2 October 2009 where it has undergone its import inspection and other work. With its paperwork now complete it should be on the flying club's flightline ready for its first revenue flight on Monday 9 November 2009.
Champagne added:
With the addition of this twin we should have fewer booking delays so if you are thinking about your Multi or Multi IFR now is a great time to start the rating.
Touch 'n Go Aviation Warehouse celebrated its grand opening at Carp Airport on 26 September 2009.
On a quiet Tuesday afternoon in October I made to trip out to Carp to have a look at the new facility and see what they have to offer.
It is impossible to miss the new store as it is extraordinarily well sign posted. From the moment you get to the airport a string of signs takes you to the Touch 'n Go hangar. The hangar itself has a huge sign announcing that you have arrived.
This hangar has a long history, having been an aircraft storage facility and more recently a maintenance operation. Touch 'n Go owner Chad Wilton purchased the hangar and turned the ground side into the new store. This involved removing the old office cubicle that was there and building a whole new interior for Touch 'n Go. The new space is large and bright. The new north face windows add some much-needed light and a customer door from the ground side parking lot completes the shop. Even the access road has been carefully graded and is no longer the sea of potholes joined by a bit of gravel it once was.
Inside Touch 'n Go I was greeted by Chris Sikma who mans the front counter. The store's space is filled with a huge selection of clothing, including the predictable Remove Before Flight shirts, plus Touch 'n Go's own logo wearables. The store also carries an assortment of maps, ground school manuals, fuel testers, aircraft cleaning supplies and aviation oil. They carry a selection of Garmin GPS sets, ICOM radios, ASA flight computers, Sporty's radios and David Clark headsets. Touch 'n Go is also the Canadian distributor for the innovative Clarity Aloft lightweight headset. Sikma explained that as the product line expands they will carry an increasing selection of pilot elementary maintenance items, such as spark plugs.
A lounge area at the back of the store encourages visitors to linger a while and perhaps swap some flying stories. Touch 'n Go also offers aircraft storage in that portion of the hangar that isn't used for the shop. Above the Touch 'n Go shop work continues creating a second floor that may become the home for a flight school in the future.
Sikma indicates that since the grand opening, business has been steadily increasing and he is confident that Touch 'n Go Aviation Warehouse is here to stay at Carp Airport.
Touch 'n Go's hours are:
Click to enlarge
COPA Flight 8 Captain Mike Shaw went to Orillia/Lake St John Aerodrome to take in the landplane and seaplane fly-in held over the weekend of 22 and 23 of August. The gathering included a meeting of the Seaway Chapter of the Short Wing Piper Club, too.
Here is Mike's report:
Here are some photos I took at Orillia. It was a really good show, lots of aircraft, lots of low ceilings and rain. Mike Cogo and his wife run the airport now and they were fantastic. On Thursday thunder storms blew through and took the roof off the original hanger. They are constructing a new hanger and all the siding blew off it, fortunately the steel structure was not damaged. No aircraft were damaged either.
The Seaway Chapter of the Short Wing Piper Club met in Orillia. We had several aircraft show up, including Tri-Pacer number one (normally based in BC) flown by Paul Irwin. His dad, Peter Irwin owns the plane. First officer was Paul's son and student pilot. Peter Lubig, our new president, was there with his red and white Pacer. We had a business meeting and a bunch of fun.
Click to enlarge
COPA Flight 8 Captain Mike Shaw and his wife, Gail, travelled to Calgary to take in the 2009 COPA Convention held between 17-19 July at Springbank Airport. They were joined by several other Flight 8 members, too, including Dennis Pharoah, Jon Buchanan and Chuck O'Dale.
Mike sent the following report and photos:
The banquet was at the Red & White Club at McMahon Stadium. We were piped from the Quality Inn to the banquet. The food was great and the entertainment was fun, if a bit corny at times. The actors visited us, in character, at our tables before the show started as can be seen in some of the photos.
The crowd was quite large at most events including the hangar events. They had live bands playing in the hangar for our meet and greet Hangar Hoe-Down Friday and Sunday breakfast. The music and food were great at these events. Gail and I sat with COPA director Harold Fry at the Hangar Hoe-Down. It was great getting reacquainted with Harold. We had met in Gore Bay in 2003 while trapped by weather on our return from Oshkosh. The Calgary Flying Club were great hosts with many volunteers. They shut down flying operations for three days and opened their club house to all of us, they were extremely gracious and welcoming. A big thank you the Calgary Flying Club.
The weather was excellent with sunny skies and low winds for the Mountain flying seminar group to fly through the mountains on Sunday Morning. We were told that many flyers took hundreds of photos on their mountain flights.
Gail and I did our mountain flying on Monday with Alpine Helicopters in Canmore. We took the 30 minute trip. Wow, they sure get up close and friendly with the mountains. There was almost zero winds so it was very smooth for our 11:30 flight. We were light, four people in a Bell Jet Long Ranger, and able to hover near Gloria Glacier at over 8000 feet. The route took us over the Goat and Sundance ranges, Assiniboine and Gloria glaciers, and the Spray Lakes Valley.
Click to enlarge
Canada Day is well-known for its annual Rockcliffe Flying Club fly-in breakfast. Usually this event is well-attended but in 2009 a persistent cold low over eastern Ontario brought some rain showers to the early morning and this was apparently enough to keep the fly-in down to six aircraft, all from the group of hardy pilots from Embrun.
The two museum aircraft were doing rides from the other side of the airport, the Waco UPF and Robinson R44 providing some traffic at the otherwise quiet event. The weather was otherwise pretty good throughout the day with only another rain shower or two in the later afternoon.
The RFC does have some new staff who were on hand to greet the people who drove or flew in. The club has two new kittens, named 'Piper' and 'Cessna' who are now full time on rodent patrol, when they aren't busy being petted.
Click to enlarge
COPA Flight 8 members Michael Dixon and Nathalie Huard were at the Pendleton Gliderport Fly-in on 14 March 2009, hosted by Martin Lacasse and his team.
Michael and Natalie report: "Again, a beautiful day, and friendly folks made this a wonderful outing and a perfect reason to fly..."
Click to enlarge
COPA Flight 8 members Michael Dixon and Nathalie Huard made it onto the Ottawa River for Moe's Ski Fly-in on 28 February 2009.
They reported that it was a "wonderful sunny cold winter day. Maurice did it again..."
Click to enlarge
→ Home
COPA Flight 8 Members & Planes
Date & Time:
Wednesday 24 February 2010, 1930 hrs (7:30 pm for non-pilots)
Location:
Ottawa Flying Club Lounge
(map)
Topic:
Current Issues in General Aviation with Kevin Psutka
See Upcoming events for more details
