Sponsors
- BC Ambulance Training Services
- Dog’s Ear T-Shirt and Embroidery
- Ellison Volunteer Fire Fighters
- RCMP - Kelowna Traffic Detachment
- RCMP – Aviation Wing
- YLW Fire & Rescue Department
- Paradise Hawaiian Shaved Ice
- Wentworth Music Kelowna
- WESTJETTERS Volunteer pilot
- YLW Duty Manager Team
- YLW – Commissionaires
- Central Okanagan Photographic Society
- COPA National – Ottawa.
- 4 Less Disposal – Kelowna
- Ogopogo Radio Controllers Model Aircraft Club
- Faith Hope and Charity Barnstormers
- Tow and Stow Dry Marina – West Kelowna
- State of Mind Films – Kelowna
- Skyeye UAS
- JDS Mining
- Freshii YLW
- PC-Canada
- Nav Can – YLW
- CASARA YLW
- Shell Aero Center – YLW
About the COPA for Kids Aviation Program
The mission of the COPA for Kids Aviation Program is to provide a motivational aviation experience, focusing on an introductory flight in an aircraft. These flights are provided free of charge by the local chapters (‘Flights’) of Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) to any youth aged 8 to 17 inclusive wishing to become a Junior Aviator.
How to Participate as a Junior Aviator:
- tell all your friends (this is a first-registered-first-reserved event!)
- read the instructions and FAQ information in your confirmation email
- show up on event day - BE ON TIME! There is plenty of stuff to do, so come EARLY
- sign in when you arrive at the airfield and have your parents SIGN THE WAIVER
- follow all instructions given to you; you will be assigned to a Pilot and plane
- attend the Ground School
- be ready in the ‘on deck’ area before your flight
- accompany the assigned ground-crew to board your aircraft
ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT!
What about the under-8 and over-17 crowd?
There is plenty for you to do, too! Make this a family and/or group event! There will be activities, static displays, exhibitors, food vendors and CYLW Community members on hand to answer questions and share how you can be more active and involved with your local airport!
Rupert, a South African by birth, learned to fly in the South African Air Force. He is a professional educator who specialized in Technology Education - and taught secondary school in Kelowna for the past 35 years. [ret] He met his Canadian wife Cheryle - in Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] in 1974. After living the first 5 years of their marriage in Port Elizabeth, Cheryle and Rupert and their two sons, immigrated in 1981 to Kelowna BC. Rupert joined the Kelowna Flying Club back in the early 90’s, and has been an avid club member and supporter of Young Eagles and COPA for Kids Junior Aviator programs ever since. Rupert constructed and flew his own amateur built aircraft while a member of the local RAA chapter – an Ultravia Pelican 914 turbo.
His first ever light plane flight occurred over Johannesburg - in a Piper Tri-Pacer at age 7. He has since, been unable to donate blood to the Red Cross – as his blood type test came up as A positive – “A” - as in Avgas contaminated! But the most cherished aspect of his flying “career”- are the wonderful friendships he has made over the past 4 plus decades within the aviation community.
Rupert continues to enjoy these “fly-by-night/fly by day” friends he hangs out with in and around Kelowna’s YLW. When he is not too busy - he swims, works out, mountain bikes, plays guitar, sings in the Kelowna Community Gospel Choir, fishes, and serves at Trinity Baptist Church. But mostly, he thrives on enjoying – [along with Cheryle – his soul mate] – their two precious Kelowna based grandkids – Sweden and Beckham. Truly blessed.