Canadian Owners and Pilots Association - Flight 176
Edmonton City Centre Airport [CYXD]
Edmonton, Alberta
Copyright 2017. Canadian Owners and Pilots Association Flight 176. All Rights Reserved.
COPA Flight 176 formed in 2011
COPA Edmonton was formed in the spring of 2011 and
is based at the former Edmonton City Centre Airport
[ CYXD ].
COPA Flight 176 Edmonton meets monthly. Guests
are always welcome at the meetings. Meetings feature
a guest speaker to discuss various aviation subjects.
The group plans three events per year which is a Rust
Remover, a Fly In Breakfast and a COPA for Kids at
the end of summer.
For more information on our meetings and our
peakers, go to the [ About > Meetings ] page.
For more information on becoming a member, go to
the
[ About > Membership ] page.
For more information about Edmonton City Centre
Airport (CYXD), go to the [ About > CYXD ] page.
WHERE TO FIND US ...
Alberta Aviation Museum
Edmonton City Centre Airport
11410 Kingsway Ave
Edmonton, Alberta
About COPA Flight 176
Terry Allen
Phil Stuffco
Janis Wallace
Eugene Strilchuk
Our Current Board of Directors
2017 / 2018
Bruce Sinclair
Janis Maxfield
Bob Whitley
Ray Pritlove
Mike Bellamy
Eldon Gjesdal
Wenn Fraser
Keith Kruger
Gene Strilchuk Memorial Scholarship
In early 2014 we lost one of our own,
COPA Flight 176 founder, Gene
Strilchuk. Gene was instrumental in
getting COPA Flight 176 up and running
and was a tireless contributor to our
regular events and he was passionate
about saving the City Centre Airport.
In Gene’s honour, we have created the Gene Strilchuk Memorial
Scholarship to be handed out to a worthy student from one of
the local flying schools. For more information, contact one of the
directors.
Officers and Coordinators
Captain:
Bruce Sinclair
Co-Captain:
Bob Whitley
Secretary/Treasurer/Navigator:
Janis Maxfield
COPA for Kids Coordinator:
TBD
Rust Remover Coordinator:
TBD
Social Presence.
Check out our social presence:
•
on Google Groups [search for COPA Edmonton].
Subscribe to the group to get notifications.
•
on FaceBook and request to be added to our group
[COPA Flight 176 - Edmonton]
Bram Tilroe - Alberta COPA Director.
Our very own Bram Tilroe has been
elected for Alberta Director of COPA
National. Bram received the most
votes. Please congratulate Bram the
next time you see him. Full details of
the election are on the COPA
National website.
ABOUT ME - Keith Krueger
What got you into flying?
I grew up into it.
Why do you fly now (pleasure, business, as a profession)?
I fly for pleasure and profession.
When/Where did you get your PPL?
I received my PPL in Thompson, Manitoba.
What ratings do you hold now?
ATPL, SMELS.
What kind of airplanes do you fly?
I fly just about any kind of airplane.
What is the most interesting place that you have flown to?
Antarctica.
What is your most memorable flying experience (good or bad)?
Four crashes (”hard landings”) including two that I did not walk away from.
Is there anything else to add to your flying story?
More than there is room here.
ABOUT ME - Eldon Gjesdal
What got you into flying?
Our farm in Northern Saskatchewan was in the right location and periodically I would observe military
aircraft practicing aerobatics. That was during the time that the Canadian air force were flying CF-
100’s. I can still remember the shape with the 2 large engine pods on wings. These maneuvers
fascinated me. I could not keep my eyes off of these aircraft. Then my brother bought a 1946
Taylorcraft and we had many hours of flying together and doing what I call stubble flying.
Why do you fly now (pleasure, business, as a profession)?
Business and Pleasure.
When/Where did you get your PPL?
Vernon BC 1967. Back then the Government was offering a $300 grant. I believe the cost of my
license back in 1967 cost me $400.00.
What ratings do you hold now?
Single Engine Land and Sea with night endorsement.
What kind of airplanes do you fly?
Mooney 201, Cherokee 180, various tail draggers.
What is the most interesting place that you have flown to?
Cross Canada flight in 1970. Toronto to Vancouver up to Hay River then back to Toronto. Many
yearly trips to Oshkosh WI Air Venture past 10 years.
What is your most memorable flying experience (good or bad)?
I had just sold my Piper J-3, and needed one last flight. Winds were gusting to 40 mph. On that day I
actually flew backwards and got the attention of a few people on the ground.
Is there anything else to add to your flying story?
I love flying and consider it a privilege.
ABOUT ME - Mike Bellamy
What got you into flying?
It was a childhood dream.
Why do you fly now (pleasure, business, as a profession)?
I fly strictly for pleasure as I am retired now from the profession.
When/Where did you get your PPL?
I received my PPL in 1966 while training at the Toronto Flying Club at the King City AIrport.
What ratings do you hold now?
SMELS VFR/IFR fixed wing. SME VFR/IFR rotary. And endorsed on the A26 Douglas Invader and
multiple rotary wing types.
What kind of airplanes do you fly?
I now fly a Shinn 2150/A which I own.
What is the most interesting place that you have flown to?
Flying for the Geological Survey of Canada n the Kluane National Park.
What is your most memorable flying experience (good or bad)?
Flying for the United Nations in Somalia in 1996.
Is there anything else to add to your flying story?
After fifty years of flying I am now an instructor at Air Cadets. I hope to stir an interest, encouraging a
whole new generation of aviation minded men and women.
ABOUT ME - Bob Whitley
What got you into flying?
My first flight was at age 5 and Air Cadets at age 14.
Why do you fly now (pleasure, business, as a profession)?
For profession and pleasure.
When/Where did you get your PPL?
At Edmonton Flying Club in 1976 on an Air Cadets scholarship.
What ratings do you hold now?
Commercial, Night, VFR-OTT, Instructor Class 3. I am presently doing a MER, Group 1 IFR and Class
2 Instructor Rating.
What kind of airplanes do you fly?
Most common singles, as well as taildraggers and homebuilts.
What is the most interesting place that you have flown to?
Issigua, Washington (gliding).
What is your most memorable flying experience (good or bad)?
The next flight.
Is there anything else to add to your flying story?
There are too few hours in a day to fly everything that I want to.
ABOUT ME - Janis Maxfield
What got you into flying?
Dad and I signed up for the cross Canada Century Flight trip in 2009. I thought it would be a good
idea to learn some emergency procedures, but quickly realized that I loved flying and got my license.
Why do you fly now (pleasure, business, as a profession)?
I fly for pleasure.
When/Where did you get your PPL?
I got my PPL in May 2010 at Centennial at CYXD.
What ratings do you hold now?
PPL.
What kind of airplanes do you fly?
C172 and lots of right seat time in a C205.
What is the most interesting place that you have flown to?
I’ve been to Tofino, BC in the West to Sydney, NS in the east, Tuktoyuktuk in the North. I’ve flown to a
lot of interesting places over the past few years and enjoyed seeing Canada from the air.
What is your most memorable flying experience (good or bad)?
My most memorable flying experience was flying aross Canada in 2009 with my Dad in his C172.
Is there anything else to add to your flying story?
Pictures from my northern trips to come.
ABOUT ME - Bruce Sinclair
What got you into flying?
I’ve always been interested in flying, but joining Air Cadets is what really did it for me..
Why do you fly now (pleasure, business, as a profession)?
I still will fly at any opportunity because it is an abiding passion of mine. I got laid off from my Lear 45
job in February 2016.
When/Where did you get your PPL?
I got my PPL at the Oshawa Flying Club in 1966 on an Air Cadet Scholarship.
What ratings do you hold now?
ATPL (Canada and USA). Type rated on the Boeing 737- 100, 200, 300, 400, 500. Boeing 727, Airbus
A-300 B4, DC-3, Dash 8, Lear 35 and 45, Cessna Citation 550, King Air 200.
What kind of airplanes do you fly?
Anything I can get my hands on!
What is the most interesting place that you have flown to?
Working in Argentina in the Andes mountains was amazing.
What is your most memorable flying experience (good or bad)?
It’s really hard to choose one. But hand-bombing the Airbus A300 B4 to an ILS minimums approach
on raw data has to be right up there.
Is there anything else to add to your flying story?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have spent most of my life getting paid to do the best job in the world
– flying airplanes!
