A local airplane owners and pilots association is offering free flights to local kids again this year with a focus on making sure new youngsters get to enjoy the experience.
A local airplane owners and pilots association is offering free flights to local kids again this year with a focus on making sure new youngsters get to enjoy the experience.
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There are still spots available for the annual Discover Aviation event being held Sept. 14 at the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport (YCK), said Gordon Haslam, president of COPA 203 (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association).
Haslam said the annual event hosted by COPA YCK has become very popular.
“It’s crazy we have people lined up waiting for us to open registration,” he said.
However, in order to be fair and give everyone a chance to go on a flight, Haslam said, “We’ve prohibited people from registering if they’ve flown before.
“We want to get as many kids in the air as possible,” he said.
Discover Aviation is open to youth aged eight to 17 with an interest in general aviation.
Haslam said through the generosity of local aircraft owners, pilots, volunteers and the management of the airport, the event is able to provide discovery flights for about 150 kids each year.
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Further information, including details on how to register, can be found online at www.copa203.org.
“Our pilots not only donate their time, but also their aircraft, fuel costs and knowledge to make the event special and cost free to the guests,” Haslam said.
With dozens of additional volunteers and members of the Air Cadets Squadron 294, “we’re making every effort to make the day memorable for everyone,” he said.
The goal is to make Discover Aviation an event, Haslam said.
After participants register, they are put in a “ground school” with one of the pilots who explains the basics of flight along with safety information.
“Then we walk them to the aircraft and take them for a ride,” he said.
The kids go on a flight around Chatham.
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Haslam said September is a good time to fly because the air tends to be calm as the temperature gets cooler.
“When you’ve got cool air, it’s stable and not much turbulence,” he said.
Haslam said the 10 pilots participating will be taking kids for a flight in everything from simple two-seat planes to six-seat aircraft, such as the Piper Aztec he is bringing to the event.
“The reward of seeing the smiles on all these kids and adults alike is well worth the time and investment required to host this great event,” Haslam said. “We cannot thank the aircraft owners, pilots, and Chatham-Kent airport enough for helping us to host this event each year.”
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