aviation

The Pitt Meadows Airport’s new terminal building. (The News files)

Plane clips fence, tears off front wheel in hard landing at Pitt Meadows Airport

TSB to investigate near-crash

 

The Porter family are flying around the world in a single-engine aircraft and aim to raise $1 million for SOS Children’s Villages. Left to right: Michelle Porter, Christopher Porter, Sydney Porter, Samantha Porter, Ian Porter. (Courtesy of Ian Porter)

B.C. family of 5 set to fly around the world over the next year – and raise $1M for charity

The Porters plan to take 14 months to see 50-plus countries and support SOS Children’s Villages

 

The de Havilland Beaver waits at 14th Ave. and Highway 19 Monday, April 25 to be set on a pedestal as part of a 10-year Campbellton Neighbourhood Association project to create a tribute to the city's aviation history. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Vancouver Island city installs tribute to floatplane industry

Beaver floatplane was the Workhorse of the North and a common sight in Island seaplane bases

  • Apr 26, 2022

 

Brent Fedirchuk, right, receives the 2016 Wayne Demoskoff Volunteer of the Year award from sponsor Peter Mugleston of the Best Western Barclay Plus Hotel at the Funtastic Alberni/ Okee Dokee Slopitch tournament. (PHOTO COURTESY FUNTASTIC ALBERNI)

Vancouver Island helicopter pilot mourned after fatal crash

Brent Fedirchuk, from Port Alberni, died April 6 in a helicopter crash north of Sayward

Brent Fedirchuk, right, receives the 2016 Wayne Demoskoff Volunteer of the Year award from sponsor Peter Mugleston of the Best Western Barclay Plus Hotel at the Funtastic Alberni/ Okee Dokee Slopitch tournament. (PHOTO COURTESY FUNTASTIC ALBERNI)
Brent Fedirchuk, right, receives the 2016 Wayne Demoskoff Volunteer of the Year award from sponsor Peter Mugleston of the Best Western Barclay Plus Hotel at the Funtastic Alberni/ Okee Dokee Slopitch tournament. (PHOTO COURTESY FUNTASTIC ALBERNI)

Vancouver Island helicopter pilot mourned after fatal crash

Brent Fedirchuk, from Port Alberni, died April 6 in a helicopter crash north of Sayward

Brent Fedirchuk, right, receives the 2016 Wayne Demoskoff Volunteer of the Year award from sponsor Peter Mugleston of the Best Western Barclay Plus Hotel at the Funtastic Alberni/ Okee Dokee Slopitch tournament. (PHOTO COURTESY FUNTASTIC ALBERNI)
Jessica James, who grew up in Nimpo Lake, B.C., is the star aviator in History’s upcoming reality show Lost Car Rescue, filmed in the Peace River area. (Jeff Topham photo)

Chilcotin pilot flying high in new History series set in B.C.’s Peace Country

Jessica James brings small town charm to television project, Lost Car Rescue

Jessica James, who grew up in Nimpo Lake, B.C., is the star aviator in History’s upcoming reality show Lost Car Rescue, filmed in the Peace River area. (Jeff Topham photo)
Swoop Airlines is set to service the Comox Valley Airport in June 2022. (Contributed)

Second low-cost carrier set to land at Comox Valley Airport

Swoop Airlines arriving at YQQ in June 2022

Swoop Airlines is set to service the Comox Valley Airport in June 2022. (Contributed)
Kim Lysak, assistant chief flight instructor with Aurora Aviation Academy flies over Chilliwack on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. flight school expanding amid a global pilot shortage

COVID has decimated the industry but Aurora Aviation sees opportunity on the horizon

Kim Lysak, assistant chief flight instructor with Aurora Aviation Academy flies over Chilliwack on Sept. 9, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
The Victoria Flying Club hangar at Victoria International Airport. (Victoria Flying Club photo)

Victoria Flying Club 75th anniversary celebration soars this weekend

Learn, see and fly at special public event this Saturday

The Victoria Flying Club hangar at Victoria International Airport. (Victoria Flying Club photo)
A spokesperson for NAV Canada says it has redundancies and procedures in place to preserve the safety of local airspace in the event of fire impacting the radar dome in LAU, WELNEW/John Dean Provincial Park. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Fire in North Saanich park won’t affect local airspace safety: NAV Canada

Non-profit operates radar dome, other equipment in LAU, WELNEW/John Dean Provincial Park

A spokesperson for NAV Canada says it has redundancies and procedures in place to preserve the safety of local airspace in the event of fire impacting the radar dome in LAU, WELNEW/John Dean Provincial Park. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The long-awaited CP-121 Tracker aircraft arrives by barge in Patricia Bay July 5 before making its final trek to the B.C. Aviation Museum in North Saanich. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Historic Cold War warrior lands at North Saanich museum

Discovery Channel films part of historic plane’s dramatic move to B.C. Aviation Museum

The long-awaited CP-121 Tracker aircraft arrives by barge in Patricia Bay July 5 before making its final trek to the B.C. Aviation Museum in North Saanich. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Coulson Aviation’s newest Chinook helicopter, N43CU, takes to the air above the Alberni Valley Regional Airport following a complete airframe conversion into a helitanker, April 8, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY BILL MCLEOD)

Coulson Aviation’s newest helitanker takes flight

Converted Chinook helitanker off to U.S. for new paint job

Coulson Aviation’s newest Chinook helicopter, N43CU, takes to the air above the Alberni Valley Regional Airport following a complete airframe conversion into a helitanker, April 8, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY BILL MCLEOD)
A Viking Air Twin Otter takes off on Runway 12 midway through a day of test flights on Jan. 13, 2021 at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport. Viking Air is located in Victoria. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Viking Air tests Twin Otter at Port Alberni airport

Victoria-based company used rural airport for numerous flights

A Viking Air Twin Otter takes off on Runway 12 midway through a day of test flights on Jan. 13, 2021 at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport. Viking Air is located in Victoria. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Gerald Pash and Terry Milne flank the central pillar of the monument recognizing Lieut. Robert Hampton Gray now standing outside the North Saanich’s BC Aviation Museum following its installation Tuesday. The two men were among those who fundraised $100,000 for the monument. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

New monument honours B.C.’s final fallen World War II hero

Victoria Cross winner Lieut. Robert Gray shot down off Japan, now saluted outside BC Aviation Museum

Gerald Pash and Terry Milne flank the central pillar of the monument recognizing Lieut. Robert Hampton Gray now standing outside the North Saanich’s BC Aviation Museum following its installation Tuesday. The two men were among those who fundraised $100,000 for the monument. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Crews from Coulson Aviation begin stripping a 737 jet in preparation for transforming it into a new aerial firefighting Fireliner, July 23, 2020 at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport. Coulson Aviation has plans to expand at the airport. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Alberni airport gets GPS approach

Airport advisory committee will work on ‘vision’ for Alberni’s airport

Crews from Coulson Aviation begin stripping a 737 jet in preparation for transforming it into a new aerial firefighting Fireliner, July 23, 2020 at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport. Coulson Aviation has plans to expand at the airport. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A Glassair, left, and Citabria aircraft are parked beside the taxiway at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. (WARWICK PATTERSON/ Special to the News)

New ‘fly-out’ series attracts general aviation pilots to Vancouver Island airport

Port Alberni event is designed to introduce recreational pilots to B.C.-based airports

A Glassair, left, and Citabria aircraft are parked beside the taxiway at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. (WARWICK PATTERSON/ Special to the News)
A CH-149 Cormorant military search and rescue helicopter flies down the runway at 19 Wing Comox in March 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY MIKE KAEHLER, RCAF HISTORIAN)

Airforce search and rescue helicopter drops in at Cameron Lake for training

Distinctive yellow CH-149 Cormorant turns heads after using Island lake for impromptu hoist

A CH-149 Cormorant military search and rescue helicopter flies down the runway at 19 Wing Comox in March 2020. (PHOTO COURTESY MIKE KAEHLER, RCAF HISTORIAN)
Campbell River-based Cascadia Air has launched a ‘rapid emergency air delivery’ service instead of its planned commuter airline. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Vision coming into focus for Port Alberni’s regional airport

As interest builds from aviation companies, ACRD focuses on what it wants at the airport

Campbell River-based Cascadia Air has launched a ‘rapid emergency air delivery’ service instead of its planned commuter airline. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Former Snowbird leader mourns jet crash victim

Former Snowbird leader mourns jet crash victim

B.C.’s George Miller predicts this could – but he hopes it doesn’t – spell the demise of his old team

Former Snowbird leader mourns jet crash victim
Canadian Forces Snowbirds planes are seen in the background as people place hearts and signs on the fence surrounding the airport in Kamloops, B.C., Sunday, May 17, 2020. One member of the Canadian Armed Forces has died and another is injured after a Snowbird plane crashed in a residential area of Kamloops, B.C., on Sunday while on a cross-country tour meant to impart hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. pilots organize memorial flight to honour Snowbirds after fatal crash

Flight will honour Capt. Jennifer Casey who was killed in the crash

Canadian Forces Snowbirds planes are seen in the background as people place hearts and signs on the fence surrounding the airport in Kamloops, B.C., Sunday, May 17, 2020. One member of the Canadian Armed Forces has died and another is injured after a Snowbird plane crashed in a residential area of Kamloops, B.C., on Sunday while on a cross-country tour meant to impart hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward