WESTLOCK - COPA for Kids gave Westlock-area youth the chance to learn more about aviation through lessons and flights at the Westlock Municipal Airport.
On Sept. 11, 150 youth ages 8-17 took to the skies with Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) pilots who volunteered their time and planes to teach them about aviation, even letting some steer the planes while airborne.
Event organizer Dan Sharrys says they had to limit the bi-annual program to 150 kids due to the airport’s size and capacity for flights.
“Every year we’ve done it, we’ve reached the capacity of what we can do. Westlock is a relatively small airport in terms of what we’re able to do and we have to be careful not to get too busy with takeoffs and landings because we don’t have an air traffic control tower,” said Sharrys.
The kids began the program by learning about the aircraft they would be flying in from Westlock Flying Club members Evan Sharrois and Tyler Watson.
“We have them attend a ground school that introduces them to aircraft, teaches them about safety and what they can and can’t do around the aircraft, and helps get them oriented for the whole day,” said Sharrys. “The idea is that we try to make it more than just taking the kids for a flight like Air Canada. We want to involve them a bit more so they understand why we’re doing certain things and what exactly we’re doing.”
Twelve-year-old Audrey Chauvet says she was excited to take part in the program where she was given the opportunity to steer Virginia Babcock’s lightweight aircraft
“I really liked driving the plane but it was kind of scary,” said an excitable Chauvet after landing. “I used to want to be a pilot when I was younger and it’s something I still want to do. It was a super fun time.”
For other kids, such as 13-year-old Garret Felske, it was an opportunity to learn more about a potential future career.
“I’ve always wanted to be a pilot so this really interested me. So I decided to come and fly so I could get to know more about it,” said Felske, who hopes to one day work as a helicopter tour pilot.
“It takes a lot more than just being able to hop in a plane and go. It was really fun to go up there and be able to pilot the plane and stuff. There are a lot more parts to a plane to make it fly than just a steering wheel I learned.”
