COPA has developed aviation guides, exclusively available to our members.

The Guides are full of useful information on a variety of topics relating to general aviation and are updated on a continuous basis. See below for a full list and click on the member access button to start your research today!

JOIN COPA

MEMBERS ACCESS


Safety

Guide to Dealing with Aircraft Accidents
This guide has been written by Garth Wallace to give information to pilots about the practical and psychological aspects of aircraft accidents. It is a wonderful guide for COPA Flights, local clubs and communities to use for accident planning – read it before you have an accident!

Guide to Cross-Border Operations
Written jointly by AOPA and COPA, this extensive guide is for pilots planning to fly across the Canadian/American border for the first time. It includes information for pilots of either country on cross-border flight procedures, regulations, customs and much more. AOPA members can also contact COPA staff for assistance with flying in Canada, including having access to our Guide to Cross-border Operations.

Guide to Enforcement
To assist you when you find yourself the subject of a Transport Canada enforcement action: including what to expect, how the system works and how to deal with the investigation process and TATC (formerly CAT) appeal, if necessary. The guide deals with the loss of medical appeals too.

Guide to Getting Back into Flying
This guide is for people who used to fly and would like to get back into flying. It explains the requirements and gives an easy checklist to get you through the medical, recency and re-currency requirements along with much more useful information.

 

Maintenance/Ownership

Guide to the Owner-Maintenance Category
This guide explains the background and regulations governing the Owner-Maintenance Aircraft Category. It includes everything you need to know to put an aircraft in the O-M category.

Guide To Estimating Aircraft Operating Costs
This is an aircraft operating cost estimating program. Just plug in the numbers and the program works out your aircraft costs per year and per hour. Requires Microsoft Excel to operate.

Guide to Building a Hangar
Written by two COPA members who built a private hangar on leased land at a registered aerodrome. Helpful tips on what to do, what not to do, and what to do differently.

Guide to Buying an Aircraft
The package includes step-by-step procedures, good-to-know tips, articles by well-known authors and forms for Offer to Purchase, Bill of Sale and two different sample Partnership Agreements.

Guide to Certified Aircraft
This guide will take you through some of the key things to know about certified aircraft including aircraft certification, STCs, LSTCs, ADs, annual inspections, “out-of-phase” maintenance items and more!

Insurance and for COPA Flight Chapters

Guide to Air Meets
This guide provides information for organizers of aviation events. Although directed at COPA Flights (local chapters of COPA) and COPA members, it is also applicable to anyone who organizes aviation events in order to ensure that they are safe and have appropriate insurance protection.  This Guide also helps COPA members and COPA Flights understand what is covered by COPA Air Meet insurance when events are organized in the name of COPA.

Guide to COPA Flight Chapters
This guide will walk you through how to apply to become a COPA Flight, maintain your status, apply for COPA Air Meet Insurance and more.

Guide to Online Meetings
Many Flights have been turning to online video conferences to hold their meetings and safety seminars. The intent of this COPA Guide to Online Meetings is to introduce and compare the platforms available for virtual meetings.

 

Specialty Flying Guides

Guide to Gliding
Welcome to the wonderful world of flying without engines, This guide – externally written for COPA by the Soaring Association of Canada, covers all aspects of gliding and soaring in Canada.

Guide to Ultralights
An introduction to ultralight aircraft for both new pilots and experienced non-ultralight pilots! The guide includes sections on what ultralight airplanes are, which licences are required, regulations and operating cost reports on some typical ultralights to give a flavour for owning and flying these aircraft. There is also data on ultralight safety and answers to many questions about ultralights.

Guide to the Limited Class
Welcome to the fascinating world of ex-military Warbirds, Soviet Bloc transports, jet trainers, military liaison aircraft, non-certified sailplanes from exotic parts of the world and many more unusual types of aircraft – the uniquely Canadian “limited class”. This Guide will walk the pilot or prospective owner of one of these aircraft through the new Canadian rules, covering the advantages and the pitfalls found in this diverse group or aircraft.

Guide to Amateur-Builts
This guide is designed as an introduction to amateur-built aircraft of all types. It takes the pilot new to amateur-builts through the whole spectrum of aircraft in this category, including airplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes, balloons, airships, gyrogliders and lots more. This Guide is designed to give you the background information that you will need to get involved in amateur-built aircraft, whether you are planning to design your own plane, build from plans, build a kit or buy a used amateur-built aircraft.

Airports and Aerodromes

Guide to Private Aerodromes
Revised with more information on Federal Jurisdiction! This guide will assist COPA members in developing their own private aerodrome including dealing with municipal and provincial governments.

Guide to Public Airports
This guide was written as a result of numerous requests by airport managers and municipal officials for guidance material on how the most successful public airports are run. The guide includes information gathered from those that run the country’s most successful airports about landing fees, airport governance structure, tax applications and much more.

TRAVEL GUIDES (COMING SOON)

COPA will be producing COPA Travel Guides to help our members make the best out of their trips to across Canada and abroad.