The annual Freeze-Up Party and Chili Cook-Off will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017 commencing at 6:30 pm at the Adlair Pilot Lounge. All NWTFA/COPA108 members, families and friends are welcome. Bring a potluck dish to share or cook up some chili to enter in our annual cook-off. Some members are already perfecting their secret recipes so competition is expected to be intense again this year. NWTFA will provide cutlery, dinner rolls and non-alcoholic beverages. |
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The site cleanup scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Fishing Lake is cancelled due to tomorrow's weather/wind forecast and an insufficient number of interested/available members. We're hoping to revisit this initiative next summer.
NWTFA/COPA 108 hosted its annual COPA for Kids event on July 29, 2017 at the Wardair Dock in Yellowknife. Seventeen kids were introduced to general aviation and treated to flights in floatplanes piloted by local volunteer pilots. Appreciation is extended to Max Ward for use of the Wardair property, to Ahmic Air for sharing its docking space and participating with its Beaver and pilots, to Bassett Petroleum for its contribution of avgas, to Fran Hurcomb for her superb photography, and to all of our dedicated pilots and volunteers.
NWTFA/COPA 108 members share a common interest in supporting improvements of the Yellowknife airport facilities to promote the Northwest Territories as an aviation-friendly destination and to encourage general aviation. When comparing the YZF airport to airports in other cities of similar size, it seems that other cities often offer better facilities and support for general aviation. At many other airports, general aviation maintenance, flight training and land for private hangars is readily available at a reasonable price. Such facilities and supports are desirable but are not currently available in Yellowknife. For example, our parking area is unpaved without proper tie-downs and there are no electrical services for winter operations.
The Government of the Northwest Territories will soon begin collecting substantial revenue generated through the new airport tax. NWTFA/COPA 108 believes that a portion of this revenue should support improvements which will encourage the growth of general aviation, including private aircraft used for pleasure and business. We have positive signals that our ideas will be considered by the GNWT in its development of new airport infrastructure and policy. We need to articulate our concerns and formulate recommendations so that we can make our ideas known. NWTFA is therefore is forming a working group to discuss issues and suggest recommendations for our directors to consider and forward to the GNWT. Interested members should contact Steven St. Amand at 446-7689 or pilotssa@gmail.com. Please get involved! NWTFA has a fresh supply of T-shirts and ball caps. Both will be available at the annual freeze-up party in early November, but if you just can’t wait to show off this fashionable attire, contact Hal Logsdon at 867-873-5569. Caps are embroidered and sell for $25. T-shirts are silkscreened and also sell for $25. Mail-order can be arranged for out-of-town members for the cost of postage.
NWTFA wishes to advise members and visiting pilots of wharf development currently underway on Back Bay near McMeekin Causeway. Piles are being placed in the water adjacent to the property opposite Plummers floatbase. This work will narrow the entrance toward the causeway. Caution should be exercised when manoeuvering in this area.
The Northwest Territories Floatplane Association will be hosting a fly-out picnic for the Midnight Sun Fly In on Saturday, July 8, 2017. The destination will be Desperation Lake, which is 56 nautical miles east of Yellowknife. NWTFA members are invited to join Fly In registrants at the lake any time after 11:00 am for smokies and great conversation. Sign up at the Fly In registration desk on the Wardair dock to obtain coordinates for the site and to let us know that you plan to attend.
The Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour 2017 plans to present an aerobatic airshow over Back Bay in Yellowknife on Sunday, July 9, 2017. This event is not associated with the Northwest Territories Floatplane Association/COPA Flight 108. YZF airpsace will be restricted from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm local time during this airshow, as detailed in the NOTAM reproduced below.
The 2017 Midnight Sun Fly In is almost here! The Northwest Territories Floatplane Association will be sponsoring and hosting a fly-out picnic on Saturday afternoon, but don't forget to participate in the rest of the event. Check out the Fly In website for details.
Tickets to the Saturday and Sunday evening events at the 2017 Midnight Sun Fly In are now available for purchase! Everyone is welcome, but get your tickets early as space is limited and these events are hotsellers. Just click on the graphics below to be redirected to EventBrite for online purchase of tickets.
The annual NWTFA/COPA Flight 108 Rust Remover will be held on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at the Baker Centre in Yellowknife. Pre-registration is required and can be quickly accomplished online. The agenda promises engaging and educational presentations of particular relevance to local bush flying. Lunch is being generously catered by Luluz Market.
The NWTFA directors have embarked on an exercise to identify priorities to coincide with the stated objectives of our organization. Ideas to date, some of which are already ongoing or easily achievable and others of which are more ambitious, include the following:
The directors will continue the planning exercise at a meeting on March 8, 2017 at 7:30 pm at Ahmic Air. Members are invited to attend the meeting or submit emails to provide suggestions and input regarding activities and goals for NWTFA to pursue over the next few years. Membership dues for 2017 are now due. If you have already renewed your membership... thank you! If not, please continue to support NWTFA, as our membership base is essential to our activities and advocacy. Membership dues are $35 per year and can be paid by cheque or online.
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