Sat in the co-pilot's seat, Austin Weber was ready to take to the skies at the COPA Kids Aviation Day July 13.
Hub Staff
The skies over Saugeen Shores were filled with young flight enthusiasts July 13 as 119 children had the chance to experience the area from a different perspective at the annual COPA Kids Aviation Day at the Port Elgin Airport.
Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) is a national organization who hosts the free program to expose children between the ages of 8 and 17 to aviation, said event organizer and pilot Steve McDougall.
“When you run a day like this you come across a lot of kids that have never been in an aircraft so part of it is just to awaken their imagination a little bit and create the opportunity for maybe a career in aviation,” explained McDougall, adding that there is not only a shortage of pilots in North America and in the Air Force but also ground support roles such as aircraft maintenance and airport management.
McDougall explained the event was run by volunteers with pilots from Port Elgin, Kincardine, Hanover and as far as Guelph donating their time, fuel and airplane costs.
“The other thing we like to do is showcase Port Elgin Airfield,” said McDougall. “This is one of the best little grass airfields in Ontario. It's very nice and we really appreciate it being here," he said.
Children started their day in ground school with a short tour of a plane, learning the different parts of the aircraft and how the pilot operated them. After a safety brief they were taken onto the airfield with their pilot and a safety guide to get ready to take to the air.
Port Elgin Flying Club President Tony Alberts said that they had been closely monitoring the weather and wind conditions. “Ideally we'd like no wind, you don't want the kids to have a bad experience," he said. "The whole idea here is for them to have fun.”
Alberts said the flight allowed the children to view Saugeen Shores and surrounding area from the air as they flew from Port Elgin to Arran Lake, to Chesley Lake, back to Denny's Dam, then out to Chantry Island before they start their decent back into Port Elgin.
Some of the children who had travelled to the Port Elgin Airport for the day were local but some had come from further afield with a total of 10 aircraft making 47 flights.
Pearl Shaver is from Toronto but spends the summer in Southampton with her family and said she was nervous at the thought of taking to the air but after her flight said she would like to try it again. “It was really fun. I saw the tennis courts where I teach and also take lessons in Southampton,” she said. “It was interesting to see because they were so tiny.”
Sydney Dekker from Barrie said she thought she had spotted her family's cottage in Southampton. “I really liked going over the lake as it was really cool to see all of the cottages and islands and stuff from so high up,” she said.
Southampton summer residents Pearl Shaver (left) and Sydney Dekker were ready to experience a flight over Saugeen Shores and the surrounding area.
Standing with his pilot, Jack Zeinstra from Hanover, 11 year old Aditya More, who said he was wanting to join the air cadets, had travelled up with his family for the day from Mississauga to take advantage of the free aviation day at the Port Elgin Airport.
Over 100 children were given the opportunity to have a free flight over Saugeen Shores and surrounding area at the annual COPA Kids Aviation Day July 13.
Children were given a quick tour of an airplane as part of their ground school.
This Cessna 172, a four-seat, single-engine, high wing airplane, touched down at the Port Elgin Airport after giving children a tour of the area from high above.
Ten planes flown by volunteer pilots made 47 flights from Port Elgin Airport July 13.
It was a busy day in the skies above Saugeen Shores as 10 airplanes took 47 flights with children ages 8 to 17, giving each of them an experience not to be forgotten at the COPA Kids Aviation Day July 13.
Holding their COPA for Kids flight certificates were, from left, Austin Weber, Sydney Dekker, Pearl Shaver and their pilot, Jim Mimnagh from Kincardine.
