• NPA 2023-005 AND ITS EFFECTS ON PILOTS AND VFR FLYING – Transport Canada has circulated NPA 2023-005 (Minimum Visual Meteorological Conditions for VFR flight in Controlled and Uncontrolled Airspace) as part of the CARAC process. COPA feels that this NPA as currently drafted poses a risk that it will impose unacceptable changes to future regulations that will impact our ability to fly VFR in Canada and place additional training and currency requirements on pilots. The COPA Technical Committee has reviewed the proposed NPA and will circulate further details and next steps to members by the end of the week.

• COPA VOLUNTEER AWARDS NOMINATIONS OPEN – Know an outstanding pilot or aviation enthusiast who goes above and beyond in supporting your local flying community? Consider nominating them for a COPA Volunteer Award, a national and prominent awards program within Canadian aviation of both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft. Nominations can be submitted here until tomorrow May 19, 2023.

• COPA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) – Taking place on June 11, 2023 at 9:30am EDT, the COPA AGM will be held in Ottawa, Ontario at the Mauril Bélanger theatre at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Registration is now open. More information regarding flying into the event will be made available shortly on the AGM webpage. Members unable to attend in person can submit a proxy form online here.

• SAVE THE DATE – 2023 COPA BBQ NIGHT AT EAA AIR VENTURE – COPA is pleased to be hosting our Canadian BBQ Night at the SOS Brothers on July 25, 2023. Stop by the COPA Booth at the International Federal Pavilion in Hangar D to pick up tickets. More details on registration will be made available closer to the event.

• TRANSPORT CANADA MEDICAL FORM – Transport Canada have made an online form accessible for medical certificate inquiries. This will allow for inquires to be processed directly by Civil Aviation Medicine Transport Canada staff and will allow for internal tracking of those inquiries. If members are experiencing further delays or have not received a response after 2 months of submitting the form to Transport Canada, they are able to complete the medical form on the COPA website and a further inquiry will be made.