The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes. COPA has about 18,500 members which ranks it as the largest aviation association of any kind in Canada.

History

COPA was formed in 1952 by Ottawa aviators Margaret Carson and John Bogie. They saw the need for an organization to represent the interest of private pilots to the government of Canada. Their model was the US-based Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) which had been formed 13 years earlier in 1939. After meeting with AOPA principals and receiving encouragement from them, COPA was set up with its headquarters in Carson’s garage. As the association grew they hired their first paid employees and moved into more permanent offices. Bogie became the association’s first president and today continues to serve as an honourary director. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is a not-for-profit organization whose membership consists mainly of general aviation pilots in the United States. ...

COPA’s Cessna 182

Organization

COPA is run by a 15 member board of directors who are elected by the members of the association on a regional basis. They serve four year terms, with elections held in even-numbered years. Board meetings are held three times a year.

COPA has a fulltime staff of nine who work from the association’s offices in Ottawa. Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant Established: unknown Area: 2,778. ...

Today

COPA is noted for its highly-respected monthly tabloid newspaper, COPA Flight, as well as its unique aircraft group insurance program. The insurance program, administered by Marsh Canada Limited provides coverage for more than half the non-commercial aircraft insured in Canada and does much to make flying affordable.

The association also has a very extensive website which has thousands of pages of aviation information, much of it available to members only. The website includes its COPA Guides. These fifteen books provide exhaustive information to members on such subjects as buying an aircraft, creating your own aerodrome and dealing with government regulatory enforcement action. There are also guides on each category of aircraft in Canada from ultralights to certified aircraft. COPA provides technical assistance to its members on aviation questions and problems.

Kevin Psutka, President and CEO of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

Much of the association’s time is taken up in advocacy work with Transport Canada, NAV CANADA and other governmental agencies. The association is a member of each of the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Committee (CARAC)’s nine Technical Committees. COPA has a large Special Action Fund collected from its members over the years, which is often used to fund court cases to protect the freedom to fly in Canada. Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. ... Created by an act of Parliament in 1996, NAV CANADA is Canadas provider of air navigations services. ...

The association has a network of 117 local chapters across the country. These COPA Flights annually run many local aviation events, including many of Canada’s summertime fly-ins.

COPA holds an annual convention which changes location each year. In 2006 it will be in Oshawa, Ontario, held in conjunction with the Canadian Aviation Expo. Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English (French has some legal status, and is an official language of Canada, but is not fully co-official at the provincial level) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton...

Association Aircraft

COPA owns a 1967 model Cessna 182 which is used to transport staff to meetings and events. The aircraft is easily identified as it is painted in the association colours of dark blue, gold and white. The Cessna 182, marketed by Cessna under the name Skylane, is a 4 seater single engine light aircraft. ...

Personnel

The President and CEO of COPA since 1996 has been Kevin Psutka. Chairman of the Board since 2005 has been Sherry Cooper.

External links

• COPA website
• History of COPA