Canadian Owners and Pilots Association

The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/WhyJoinCOPA.htm|title = Why Join COPA?|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated] 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 honorary director. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/History/COPAHistory1.htm|title = COPA History 1952-1957|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

COPA was a founding member of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) and remains an active participant in this international body. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/History/COPAHistory2.htm|title = COPA History 1957-1962|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

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. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/Directors.htm|title = The COPA Board of Directors|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

COPA has a fulltime staff of seven who work from the association’s offices in Ottawa. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/ContactInformation.htm|title = COPA Staff|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

Today

COPA publishes a monthly tabloid-format newspaper, "COPA Flight". It also runs a 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. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/insur.htm|title = COPA Insurance|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

The association also has a large website, much of it available to members only. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/MembersOnly.htm|title = COPA Members|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated] The website includes its "COPA Guides". These fifteen books provide 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. The association has an on-line user-editable public airport directory called "Places to Fly". cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/members/COPAGuides2.htm|title = COPA Guides|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated] COPA also provides technical assistance to its members on aviation questions and problems.

COPA conducts advocacy work on behalf of aircraft owners with Transport Canada, NAV CANADA and other governmental agencies. The association is a member of each of the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council (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. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/accomplishments.htm|title = COPA Accomplishments|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

The association has a network of 119 local chapters across the country. These "COPA Flights" annually run many local aviation events, including many of Canada’s summertime fly-ins. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/flights.htm|title = COPA Flights|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

COPA holds an annual convention which changes location each year. The association is also a major supporter of the Canadian Aviation Expo held at the Oshawa Airport every year in late June. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/convention%20Information.htm|title = COPA Convention|accessdate = 2007-12-24|last = COPA|authorlink = |year = undated]

Young Eagles Program

COPA was the Canadian partner in the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program between 1992 and 2008. Young Eagles was started in 1992 with the goal of flying more than 1,000,000 young people between ages 8 and 17 by the December 2003 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight. The goal was met with COPA's members flying about 10% of the total Young Eagles flown in the world. COPA's participation in the program was terminated on 31 May 2008, due to insurance issues. COPA intends to introduce an equivalent program that will not be affiliated with the EAA, under the name "COPA For Kids Aviation Program" at some point in the future. cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/YoungEagles/JQ08030%20COPA%20special%20eNewsFlash.pdf|title = COPA e-NewsFlash|accessdate = 2008-07-20|last = Canadian Owners & Pilots Association|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = May] cite web|url = http://www.copanational.org/non-members/body_files/COPA%20Lauch%20Kid%20program%20Aug08.htm|title = COPA to launch kids aviation program|accessdate = 2008-07-30|last = Canadian Owners & Pilots Association|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = July]

Personnel

*President and CEO - Kevin Psutka since 1996.
*Chairman of the Board - Bob Kirkby since June 2006.

References

External links

* [http://www.copanational.org COPA website]
* [http://www.marsh.ca/copa Marsh Canada - COPA Aviation Insurance website]
* [http://www.copanational.org/non-members/History/COPAHistory.htm History of COPA]
* [http://www.copanational.org/PlacesToFly/ Places to Fly user-editable airport directory]
* [http://www.iaopa.org International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA)]