As many as 20,000 people enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of a major airshow last weekend and kept their social distance. AirShow London has been deemed an unqualified success by patrons, performers and organizers in social media posts and the SkyDrive format was well received.

Both weekend shows sold out about 2,000 spots where attendees could park their cars on the flight line and sit in lawn chairs around them. The spots were spaced to ensure social distancing and patrons brought their own snacks and supplies.

The lineup rivalled that of the biggest airshows held during normal seasons, with a heavy presence from the U.S. Air Force. The Thunderbirds air demonstration team was there as were most of the bombers, fighters and attack aircraft in the USAF inventory. Canada’s air demonstration teams have not been flying since the spring but the RCAF pitched in with a Polaris tanker in an air-to-air refuelling demonstration with two CF-18s.

Most of the U.S. personnel did not stay in London. The aircraft staged from nearby Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan and only skeleton maintenance crews stayed in London because of COVID-19 border restrictions.

Photo credit: Gustavo Corujo

Many members will remember 2016 as the year COPA achieved a significant victory in preserving our freedom to fly, preventing the construction of eight wind turbines in the vicinity of Collingwood (CNY3) and Clearview (CLV2) airfields in Ontario. The 5oo-foot turbines were to be constructed adjacent to the circuit for CNY3 and even within the downwind stretch for runway 16 at CLV2. COPA’s team rapidly mobilized to advocate against the project, knowing that this case would have national implications for our freedom to fly.

COPA’s resistance to the project first began when Kevin and Gail Elwood, COPA members and owners of CLV2, brought the issue to head office. Kevin Elwood, now a COPA director representing Southern Ontario, had the project on his radar for years and was alarmed when approval was granted in February 2016, despite concerns for human and wildlife safety. The decision was also appealed by a number of concerned parties including the towns of Collingwood and Stayner and the owners of Collingwood Airport. COPA participated in the proceedings through COPA’s legal counsel Glenn Grenier and COPA director Conrad Hatcher.

COPA put the Freedom to Fly Fund to work and concentrated efforts on two fronts: rallying members to petition Transport Minister Marc Garneau to stop the project, and compiling undeniable evidence of the dangers of the project to present to the Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) overseeing the appeal. On the first front, COPA members answered the call, emailing and calling their local MPs to ask Minister Garneau to stop the construction of the turbines that would inevitably endanger pilots. On the latter front, Grenier and Hatcher presented a vigorous legal opposition during the two-week hearing before the ERT, submitting numerous arguments bringing light to the concerns for pilot safety.

The ERT’s final decision came on October 7, 2016, ruling that the proposed construction did indeed represent a “serious threat to human health”, thus revoking approval for the project. The efforts of COPA’s members and defence team had paid off. In their report, the ERT quoted many of the points presented by COPA as well as concerns about potential impacts on wildlife, specifically the little brown bat.

This precedent-setting victory is an excellent example of COPA’s ability to successfully defend our freedom to fly through the work of the Freedom to Fly Fund. This will not be the last time this freedom is challenged, so we encourage all members to contact us if they find themselves in a situation where the fund may be of assistance. More information on how to request support and contribute to the Freedom to Fly Fund can be found on our website.

A time capsule of the early days of northern aviation has been discovered in the Yukon and there’s a movement on to make the former Northern Airways office in Carcross a small museum.

Veteran aviation historian Bob Cameron told the CBC that the office is pretty much the way it was when owner George Simmons closed the business in 1950 and started a trucking business instead. “As far as preserving our aviation history in the Yukon, this is just a treasure trove because it gives you so much detail,” Cameron said. “You know, you see how the pilots were paid, how much they were paid, his interactions with all of his customers.”

Simmons started the enterprise in 1933 serving Carcross, Atlin, Dawson City and Whitehorse and also flew charters. Cameron described the business as the first reliable air service in the region and said it played a huge role in the early development of the area. As roads were built to connect the towns, the demand for air service dwindled and Simmons sold his fleet of ski, wheel and float equipped aircraft in favour of a fleet of trucks. Cameron said the paperwork from the airline was kept in meticulous order and provides a vivid history of that important period of exploration and development.

The group promoting the museum recently went through the contents of the vault and the old roll top desk is next. He said there is an enthusiastic group of volunteers behind the effort and they’re looking for funding.

Photo credit: Submitted by Bob Cameron

Nunavut’s COVID-19 restrictions have shut down the National Aerial Surveillance Program in the North. The program, which monitors ship traffic off Canada’s coastlines for ship-sourced pollution, has had to abandon its northern operations because of strict travel restrictions in Nunavut.

The program, which is jointly run by Transport Canada and Climate Change Canada, has been trying to get in the air since June but has been unable to convince Nunavut officials that it’s an essential service. Nunavut has banned travel to the territory for non-residents since the spring.

Last year, the bright red Dash 8 used by the program flew 49 missions and monitored more than 2,000 ships. It spotted one small oil spill of about 15.4 litres and participated in two search and rescue operations.

Should there be a major oil spill, the organization says it will ask Nunavut authorities to let it fly. Transport Canada said in a press statement it “will remain in a state of readiness and seek an exemption in the event of an urgent tasking relating to an oil pollution incident.”

Photo credit: John Davies

A Moose Jaw woman who’s reached the pinnacle of her airline career says there’s plenty of room in Canada’s flight decks for women. Captain Denise Walters commands Boeing 777s for Air Canada and is happy to be a role model for future female aviators. “That’s part of the reason why we’re here…to inspire any young women or girls who feel like they might have an aptitude for aviation,” she told CTV News.

Walters grew up in Moose Jaw and said she caught the flying bug early. “I would rake up leaves and jump off the garage roof and try and make flying contraptions when I was small,” Walters said on Monday. “I have no idea where it came from. I’ve just always wanted to fly.”

She now flies Air Canada’s biggest aircraft all over the world and even though she’s reached the top, she’s always learning. “It’s a huge responsibility and I take it very seriously,” she said. “I study a lot on my own time at home just to stay current on everything because there’s so much you have to know all the time.

Walters’ success has already inspired other women, including Regina Flying Club General Manager Audrey Kahovec. “I remember when I got the fly bug, my friend telling me, ‘Well my aunty, she’s a pilot and she works at Air Canada,’ and I remember thinking to myself, wow, I’m not going to be the first woman doing this,” she said. “There are other women that are in this industry, and for me, that was inspirational.”

Photos credit: CTV News Regina