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174:(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 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 there is an award in his name to both honour his legacy and to celebrate other outstanding pilots who advance, promote, and preserve the Canadian freedom to fly.
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that provide information to members on 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 also provides technical assistance to its members
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The COPA For Kids
Aviation Program has been inspired by Young Eagles but is not associated in any way with Young Eagles or the EAA. I am pleased that the EAA will continue the Young Eagles program through its Canadian Chapters. With our two programs in place, we can maximize the opportunity for kids
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In April 2023, the
Canadian federal government announced funding of C$ 558,903 from the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund to COPA over three years to establish the COPA Aviation Academy. The academy will be an on-line teaching tool in English and French, to provide recreational pilots with
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COPA has 13,000 members from every province and territory in Canada. The organization's mission is to "Advance, Promote and
Preserve the Canadian Freedom to Fly". Its members represent about 50% of all private and commercial pilots in the country.
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COPA is governed 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.
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COPA was formed in 1952 by Ottawa aviators
Margaret Carson and John Bogie. They saw the need for an organization to represent the interests of private pilots to the government of Canada. Their model was based on the US-based
233:(ret. Canadian Astronaut) as the new voice and spokesperson for COPA. COPA offers their members numerous benefits, including offering a unique aircraft group insurance program. The program was previously administered by
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to be more inclusive of adults interested in discovering aviation. Each year, COPA's chapters (known as COPA Flights) organize
Discover Aviation events all across Canada. On average, 30 events are held each year.
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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.
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This scholarship is sponsored by
Diamond Doors and is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 21 and older. One individual is awarded $ 5,000 to pursue their private pilot licence (PPL).
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COPA offers nearly $ 33,000 in flight training scholarships for those pursuing their private pilot licence, and those interested in advanced flight training ratings. These scholarships include:
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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
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This is open to
Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 16 to 21 at the time of the application. One individual is awarded up to $ 14,000 to pursue their private pilot licence (PPL).
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This scholarship is open to COPA members 18 years of age and older interested in pursuing their advanced RPAS (remotely piloted aircraft systems) certificate.
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COPA holds an annual general meeting in June of each year and staff and board of directors attend regional events across the country.
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Until May 2016, COPA published a monthly tabloid-format newspaper. Since June 2016, it is full colour magazine still named
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renamed the
Freedom to Fly Fund collected from its members over the years, which is often used to fund court cases.
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The association also has a large website, with some sections available to members only. The website includes its
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This scholarships is open to COPA members 18 years of age and older pursuing advanced flight training ratings.
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COPA is a registered lobbying organization and conducts advocacy work on behalf of aircraft owners with
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safety and search and rescue training, with the aim of reducing both incidents and accidents.
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annually run many local aviation events, including many of Canada's summertime fly-ins.
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The association has a network of more than 200 local chapters across the country. These
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until August 2011. Currently, the COPA VIP Aviation
Insurance program is run by the
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and other governmental agencies. The association is a member of each of the
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181:(IAOPA) and remains an active participant in this international body.
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COPA has a staff of eight who work from the association's offices in
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services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes.
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Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, "John Bogie: A Lifetime in Aviation,"
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on 11 February 2009. Then COPA President Kevin Psutka stated:
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International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations
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Association canadienne des pilotes et propriétaires d'aéronefs
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Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (February 2009).
264:'s (CARAC) nine technical committees. COPA has a large
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Canadian Owners & Pilots Association (July 2008).
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COPA introduced a replacement program, under the name
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Canadian Owners & Pilots Association (May 2008).
761:"COPA For Kids Aviation Program cleared for takeoff"
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Journal of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society,
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333:The COPA Neil J. Armstrong Ab-Initio Scholarship:
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345:The COPA Advanced Flight Training Scholarship:
262:Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council
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197:The original association logo used 1952-2017
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153:association that provides information and
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829:Aviation organizations based in Canada
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736:"COPA to launch kids aviation program"
172:Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
135:Canadian Owners and Pilots Association
22:Canadian Owners and Pilots Association
286:COPA was the Canadian partner in the
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249:on aviation questions and problems.
111:Mark van Berkel (May 2023 - Present)
491:"Ottawa Announces Funding for COPA"
311:to experience the thrill of flight.
205:The association logo used 2017-2020
501:from the original on 22 April 2023
177:COPA was a founding member of the
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351:The COPA Drone Pilot Scholarship:
315:In 2021, the program was renamed
288:Experimental Aircraft Association
839:Lobbying organizations in Canada
16:Canadian non-profit organization
399:"Mission Statement and History"
339:The COPA New Wings Scholarship:
304:COPA For Kids Aviation Program
1:
844:1952 establishments in Canada
834:Organizations based in Ottawa
522:"The COPA Board of Directors"
229:. The first edition featured
149:) is a federally registered
101:Doug Ronan (2022 - Present)
97:Board of Directors Chairman
41:; 72 years ago
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787:"Discover Aviation – COPA"
78:General Aviation, Advocacy
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465:"COPA History 1957–1962"
425:"COPA History 1952–1957"
657:"COPA Accomplishments"
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206:
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282:Youth flying programs
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246:COPA Resource Guides
235:Marsh Canada Limited
555:on 13 February 2017
431:on 16 February 2017
266:Special Action Fund
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711:"COPA e-NewsFlash"
609:on 2 February 2017
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690:on 4 October 2010
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317:Discover Aviation
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107:President and CEO
70:, Ontario, Canada
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812:Official website
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403:copanational.org
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372:"Why Join COPA?"
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663:on 22 May 2010
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682:COPA (n.d.).
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630:"COPA Guides"
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790:. Retrieved
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688:the original
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634:the original
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553:the original
549:"COPA Staff"
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324:Scholarships
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292:Young Eagles
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273:COPA Flights
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239:Magnes Group
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189:Organization
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64:Headquarters
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771:12 February
667:24 December
613:24 December
559:24 December
532:24 December
475:24 December
435:24 December
382:24 December
227:COPA Flight
84:Membership
36:Established
823:Categories
792:6 November
408:20 January
358:References
258:Nav Canada
694:4 October
586:31 August
505:15 April
499:Archived
155:advocacy
741:30 July
719:20 July
640:26 July
165:History
116:Website
44: (
628:COPA.
601:COPA.
574:COPA.
547:COPA.
520:COPA.
463:COPA.
423:COPA.
370:COPA.
215:Ottawa
143:French
91:12,000
86:(2024)
68:Ottawa
714:(PDF)
221:Today
75:Field
794:2023
773:2009
743:2008
721:2008
696:2010
669:2007
642:2009
615:2007
588:2011
561:2007
534:2007
507:2023
477:2007
437:2007
410:2018
384:2007
139:COPA
133:The
125:.org
54:Type
46:1952
39:1952
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121:www
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
