Canada’s voice for General Aviation

 

COPA Logo

About our association

The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes. COPA represents 11,000 members which ranks us as the largest aviation association of its kind in Canada.

The association is made-up of 200 COPA Flight chapters that organize events and that meet regularly across Canada.

Our mission: To preserve, promote, and inspire General Aviation in Canada.
Our vision: We are the stewards of a thriving General Aviation community in Canada - Aviation starts here.

 

IAOPA Logo

National scope, international reach
COPA is a member of the IAOPA (the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association). This nonprofit federation is made up of 100 nongovernmental, national general aviation organizations and has existed since 1962.

 


Why members join

  • COPA is the only association in Canada that advocates for General Aviation needs across the country. Without COPA, there would be no voice representing personal aviation issues at a national level.
  • COPA is the only association for General Aviation pilots and enthusiasts alike. Whether you have a licence or not, whether you own an aircraft or not – what unites our community is a mutual passion for General Aviation.

Our history

COPA’s heritage is an important part of our identity as a community and the same mission that led to our organizations founding in 1952 guides us to this day as we continue to advance, promote, and preserve the Canadian freedom to fly.


 

  • COPA launches a new member hub which includes a private discussion forum as well as the In-Flight Podcast.
  • Following the success of its safety seminars since 2021, COPA is evaluates best practices in e-learning, and announced the launch of the COPA Aviation Academy, the first e-learning platform dedicated entirely to Canada's aviation community. This learning management system is supported by Public Safety's SAR NIF fund.
  • As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of keeping pilots up to date while grounded, COPA began organizing monthly safety seminars. These online events covered a variety of topics, from aircraft ownership to search and rescue to seasonal flying. Between 400 and 1200 members regularly attended on a regular basis.
  • In 1997, COPA counted over 40 local flying clubs as part of its COPA Flight network promoting General Aviation in their communities across Canada.
  • COPA's journal, "Canadian Flight" becomes the largest aviation publication in Canada.
  • COPA agrees to produce a journal for the Canadian Ultralight Pilots Association. At the same time, COPA assumed administration of the Canadian Seaplane Association in 1996. The support for the Canadian Seaplane Association continued until 2022.
  • The COPA Flight Safety Foundation, funded by member donations, is created to promote pilot safety by organizing seminars and publishing a safety newsletter in the Canadian Flight journal.
  • A network of local chapters of COPA, called COPA Flights, was started in 1964. The first flight was formed in Guelph and today the program boasts flights in every province and two territories.
  • A network of local chapters of COPA, called COPA Flights, was started in 1964. The first flight was formed in Guelph and today the program boasts flights in every province and two territories.
  • In 1957, COPA formed the first volunteer civilian search and rescue organization, the Emergency Air Corps. In the early 1960s, COPA was instrumental in the creation and first administration of the Canadian Business Aviation Association.
  • One of COPA's main functions is to disseminate aviation news and information to its members. In 1954, COPA began publishing a monthly newspaper entitled “Canadian Flight."
  • The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association was founded in 1952 to speak as the unified voice for general aviation in Canada. Since then, COPA has grown to meet the ever-changing needs of the Canadian aviation community.