Flying BC - Pilot Stories and Aviation Adventures

If you’re like me, anything aviation related on TV will attract my attention. When a show combines classic cars and vintage taildraggers…I’m doubly hooked! On this new episode of Flying BC I speak with Jessica James, co-star and pilot on History Channels’ Lost Car Rescue TV show. Jessica flies a bushwheel-clad Stinson on the show as they search for and recover classic cars around rural Canada.  We also talk about how her career path changed just as she was stepping into a job with Harbour Air. It’s always fun to hear about unique jobs in aviation, and having a starring role in a TV show has got to be up there on the list of cool opportunities! Be sure to catch Lost Car Rescue on History Canada, and streaming on StackTV which you can find on Amazon. You can also find Season 1 on Hulu and Apple TV. Jessica's clothing line, Over Yonder can be found at www.overyonder.ca If you’re a fan of the Flying BC podcast, one of the best ways to show your support is to leave a comment or review on Apple podcasts or Spotify or wherever you listen…it all helps spread the word and work the algorithms! Follow me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia and feel free to send me a message - podcast@flyingbc.com I'm excited to work with the podcast editors at https://podfathercreative.com/ to bring you more regular episodes of the show.

In this special edition of Flying BC from EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2022, we catch up with Jason McDowell (@cessnateur), Luke Penner (@harvsairinverted) and Steve Thorne (@flightchops) to get their take on the world's greatest aviation gathering. Follow Flying BC on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia and sign up for the mailing list at www.flyingbc.com #OSH22 #Airventure #EAA

The 5 members of the Porter family are going to fly around-the-world in a single engine aircraft and raise $1 million for the global charity SOS Children's Villages. Flying BC caught up with them right before they departed Vancouver for the first leg.  You can find out more information and donate to their charity on their website www.5inthesky.com Sign up for the Flying BC mailing list at www.flyingbc.com

"Our 206 landed in the community and they were on rations because nobody knew about them. We found out about them so we put a bunch of stuff together and flew it out to them. They were literally crying." When parts of British Columbia were cut off due to flooding in November 2021, General Aviation came to the rescue. Aviators and volunteers quickly banded together to provide highly adaptable relief, offering lifelines to isolated communities and filling gaps in the supply chain. In the aftermath came a desire to formalize the effort, to ensure that emergency planning agencies took General Aviation services into account. Spearheaded by Shaun Heaps from Langley, and bolstered by a group of experienced volunteers, a formal entity has now been created in the form of BC AERO: British Columbia Airlift Emergency Response Operation. On this episode I speak with Shaun Heaps, Sigmund Sort, and Mike Davenport about the airlift, the formation of BC AERO, and what the future has in store. And most importantly, how you can get involved. ---- COPA elections for BC & Yukon Regional Directors are open for voting on April 4th. I'd appreciate your vote so I can continue in the role for a full term and serve the BC & Yukon community! You can read the nomination bios and cast your vote on the COPA Elections webpage. ---- SIGN UP for the Flying BC mailing list and you'll be first in line to hear the latest episodes and other sneak peaks.  www.flyingbc.com/mailing-list Follow Flying BC on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia and Facebook

"I heard a big crunch and then the scenery disappeared! I couldn't figure out why everything was gone all of a sudden, and it took me a while to realize I was looking at the bottom of the lake!" Dominique Prinet was a bush pilot in the late 60’s, flying everything from Cessna 180’s to Single Otters and Beech 18’s into some very remote places in Canada's far North. Later in his career he became a Vice President at Nordair and Canadian Airlines. He’s written a great book called Flying to Extremes, full of well-written stories packed with vivid details and photos. There was no GPS or Sat phones in those days…if you got lost or in trouble it was all on you to come up with a solution, and he definitely had some close calls and miraculous adventures! ---- As mentioned in the intro, COPA elections for BC & Yukon Regional Directors are open for voting on April 4th. I'd appreciate your vote so I can continue in the role for a full term and serve the BC & Yukon community! You can read the nomination bios and cast your vote on the COPA Elections webpage. ---- SIGN UP for the Flying BC mailing list and you'll be first in line to hear the latest episodes and other sneak peaks.  www.flyingbc.com/mailing-list Follow Flying BC on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia and Facebook

"You can't expect perfection, but you can strive for precision, and I think they are two different things." If airshow flying is the flashy rockstar of aviation, competition aerobatics is the soloist in the orchestra. One is all about the show and the spectacle from the perspective of a crowd, where the other is a highly precise and practiced performance striving for perfection.  I sit down with Mark Cunningham and Christian Baxter at Boundary Bay airport to discuss all things aerobatics…and competition aerobatics in particular. As we’ll hear, competition is much different from airshow flying and if you’re someone who seeks a mission every time you go flying, or you just want to hone your stick and rudder skills, aerobatics could be the ticket for you. Follow Christian and Mark on Instagram: @cmhbaxter & @markcunningham Listen to the Fly Cool Shit podcast at www.flycoolshit.com ---- SIGN UP for the Flying BC mailing list and you'll be first in line to hear the latest episodes and other sneak peaks.  www.flyingbc.com/mailing-list Follow Flying BC on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia and Facebook

"Your decision-making skills, everything, it benefits drastically by making the step into the float plane world." Peter Grimm is the President and Chief Pilot at Van City Seaplanes in Vancouver, BC. If you've ever wondered what it takes to be a float plane pilot on the West Coast, this episode is for you. Peter dives into how to get the experience and training you need, the intricacies of coastal weather and flight planning, the differences between lake and salt-water operations, and why the Dehavilland Beaver is still the workhorse of choice.  ---- SIGN UP for the Flying BC mailing list and you'll be first in line to hear the latest episodes and other sneak peaks.  www.flyingbc.com/mailing-list Follow Flying BC on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia and Facebook  

"So we flew all the drums out, and laid them on the blue ice, and then we went back with pictures. We were all so happy because, you know, 100 drums, we did a good job and it looked really nice. And just the way he looked at the pictures when we showed him...we were, like, 'uh oh'. He's says, I'm really sorry guys but this won't do..." Linden Hoover is a First Officer with the legendary Canadian company, Kenn Borek Air. He has been flying the Twin Otter and Basler (Turboprop DC-3) in Northern Canada and Antarctica for the past few seasons. A graduate of University of Victoria’s Aviation Business program, he earned his CPL in 2017 and has some great insight into what it takes as a young commercial pilot to make connections and get your foot in the door at the jobs you want. Follow Linden on Instagram @lindenhoover Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE): @antarcticlogistics And of course, follow Flying BC  To get first crack at the Flying BC Aviation Adventure Camp, held at Tsuniah Lake Lodge on July 31-August 2, 2021, sign up for the mailing list at www.flyingbc.com

"People don't necessarily know that this doesn't have to be a career. This can be something that is an add-on to your life...a fantastic add-on to your life." In North America, we enjoy a freedom of the skies that is the envy of the rest of the world. And a lot of that is due to strength in numbers, and advocacy efforts from organizations like COPA – the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association. There’s a lot of change and new faces coming into COPA head office in the past few months, and as a member and regional director, I’m excited to see the organization revitalized. So, I asked COPA’s new President and CEO, Christine Gervais, to come on the show to talk about what COPA has up it’s sleeve for the future, and what she sees as the organization’s strengths and opportunities. Find out more about COPA at www.copanational.org Student Pilots get a free 1-year membership! ---- SIGN UP for the Flying BC mailing list and you'll be first in line for the Aviation Adventure Camp, July 31-August 2nd!  www.flyingbc.com/mailing-list Follow Flying BC on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia and Facebook  

"So I sat down in the roughest water I think I've ever landed in, and it's not that big of a plane so it was pretty big waves for those little floats. And I landed so far from the camp because I just wanted to be down on the water sooner than later." On this episode of Flying BC, I chat with my friend Katie Cowley about her first couple years as a new commercial pilot. For the past year, she’s been flying on floats and wheels out of Sioux Lookout in Northern Ontario, living the bush pilot life. I caught up with her just as she was coming up to the 1000 hour milestone, and we talked about her adventures – and misadventures – on her path through flight training, some of the lessons she’s learned along the way, and what it’s really like being a newly-minted commercial pilot trying to gain experience and find jobs. It’s not always easy!  You can find Katie on Instagram @katie.cowley --- Please send feedback, show ideas, and your questions to podcast@flyingbc.com Join me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or on Facebook. Videos on YouTube 

"One of the things we recommend for all clients if you're going to purchase in the US, is to send a Canadian Maintenance Engineer down across the border to view the aircraft and do your pre-buy for you." Michael Wilton is the President of FlightSimple Aircraft Sales, and his job is to help pilots navigate the world of buying and selling an aircraft. On this episode, Micheal walks us through the steps people should take when buying a plane, the pitfalls to avoid, and answers some of the listener questions about importing from the USA, and whether purchasing for time building or in a partnership is a good idea. --- Patreon Supporters receive a regular stream of exclusives, extended cuts, and early previews…plus a chance to get your questions in front of our guests. I just got some new Flying BC flight suit patches, and for a limited time I’ll send one out to everyone who joins at any level. http://www.patreon.com/flyingbc Please send feedback, show ideas, and your questions for the guests to podcast@flyingbc.com Join me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or on Facebook. Videos on YouTube 

"If a commercial flight test is not successful, it's typically not a question of stick and rudder skills or knowledge. More often than not it's the lack of attention to detail." Anna Serbinenko is an airshow performer, Chief Flight Instructor at Canadian Flight Centre, and a Transport Canada Pilot Examiner. But her life involves a lot more than just flying. She’s has a PHD in Financial Mathematics, is fluent in eight languages, has lived around the world, and is a competitive athlete. Upon moving to Canada, she took her first flight and she was hooked… On this episode, we talk about how to master learning, Anna’s journey into aerobatics and airshow performing, what she see’s as a flight examiner, and we wrap up with Anna sharing some of her experiences on the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour which brought a travelling airshow to over 60 northern communities in 2017. Check out Anna's website: www.annaskydancer.com Watch CFC's Flight Test Debrief video series. ---- A new Flying BC episode comes out every second Tuesday.  Patreon Supporters receive a regular stream of exclusives, extended cuts, and early previews…plus a chance to get your questions in front of our guests. I just got some new Flying BC flight suit patches, and for a limited time I’ll send one out to everyone who joins at any level. http://www.patreon.com/flyingbc Please send feedback, show ideas, and your questions for the guests to podcast@flyingbc.com Join me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or on Facebook. Videos on YouTube

"The ideal candidate is someone who's got some Tiger Moth time or Stearman. Those two airplanes are exceptional initial experience trainers because they tend to amplify your faults without killing you." Dave Hadfield is the Chief Pilot at Vintage Wings of Canada, home of the Michael Potter Collection. Dave grew up around airplanes, and after a career with Air Canada he found himself in the right spot, with the right experience, to start flying warbirds. We discuss what it's like to fly the Spitfire, Hurricane, Kittyhawk, and Mustang, and the quirky characteristics of the Westland Lysander - one of only three left flying in the World. He also had the honour of flying the Y2K Spitfire over 5000 miles across North America to a homecoming back at the Comox Air Force Museum. Dave is also an accomplished musician, and he tells us the backstory of one of his favourite aviation-related songs he's written.  Watch Dave Hadfield's YouTube channel. Listen to Dave's music at hadfield.ca Photo by Peter Handley ---- A new Flying BC episode comes out every second Tuesday.  Patreon Supporters receive a regular stream of exclusives, extended cuts, and early previews…plus a chance to get your questions in front of our guests. I just got some new Flying BC flight suit patches, and for a limited time I’ll send one out to everyone who joins at any level. http://www.patreon.com/flyingbc Please send feedback, show ideas, and your questions for the guests to podcast@flyingbc.com Join me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or on Facebook. Videos on YouTube

"Does your instructor have a mentor? Does your instructor have someone more knowledgeable, more skilled than they are, that they are unafraid to ask questions to?" Kimberly Lysak is a Class 1 instructor, holds an ATPL, and is ICAO-certified in Advanced Flight Instruction and Aviation Training Management. As the flying school she worked for pressed pause in 2020, she launched her own online community to help instructors weather the storm, and improve their craft. She’s a big believer that we need to adapt flight training to take advantage of modern learning science, and that flight instructors can make more money and have more fun by empowering themselves with knowledge beyond just the basics. You can find Kimberly Lysak and Advancing Aviation at www.advancingaviation.com A new Flying BC episode comes out every second Tuesday.  Patreon Supporters receive a regular stream of exclusives, extended cuts, and early previews…plus a chance to get your questions in front of our guests. I just got some new Flying BC flight suit patches, and for a limited time I’ll send one out to everyone who joins at any level. http://www.patreon.com/flyingbc Please send feedback, show ideas, and your questions for the guests to podcast@flyingbc.com Join me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or on Facebook. Videos on YouTube

"So if you have the love of aviation and you want to spread it among youngsters, and have people come into aviation, I don't think there's a better place to start than in schools. One person joins and then all of a sudden you have a huge class." Vignesh Rajasekar has already accomplished a lot in Aviation at the age of 23, and he’s not slowing down. He’s a Class 1 instructor, Chief Flight Instructor at McMurray Aviation, Founder of his own aviation consulting business, and just recently co-founded a new Flight School in Kamloops. At McMurray he has developed a successful high school aviation program, which now leads to a College program. We talk about inspiring young people into aviation, and what makes a good student and instructor. You can find Vignesh at https://www.bluejayaviation.ca/ A new Flying BC episode comes out every second Tuesday.  Patreon Supporters receive a regular stream of exclusives, extended cuts, and early previews…plus a chance to get your questions in front of our guests. I just got some new Flying BC flight suit patches, and for a limited time I’ll send one out to everyone who joins at any level. http://www.patreon.com/flyingbc Please send feedback, show ideas, and your questions for the guests to podcast@flyingbc.com Join me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or on Facebook. Videos on YouTube

"The men we were picking up were jubilant about finally getting out after many weeks of solitude. Not so for the men we were leaving behind..." On this bonus episode, W.T. (Tim) Cole reads one of the many bush flying stories from his book & memoir, Tight Floats and Tailwinds. Patreon supporters enjoyed an advance listen to this bonus. If you'd like more exclusives, advances, and perks, consider supporting the podcast at http://www.patreon.com/flyingbc You can buy Tim's book on the BCGA store: https://www.bcaviation.ca/store/p52/tightfloats.html You can reach me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or email me through the website at http://www.flyingbc.com  

“It’s pretty intimidating for an Ontario farm boy to be out there saying, holy mackerel I’m just about at the tip of mainland North America and everything rests on this big ol’ round engine.” W.T. (Tim) Cole takes us on a journey through his aviation career starting in the 60’s at the legendary bush operation, Laurentian Air Services, all the way through to his various roles in Transport Canada on the West Coast, and his flying adventures post-retirement in his Cessna 172. His career is a great example of the sort of interesting and fulfilling jobs you can find as a pilot. With over 13,000 hours in his logbook, half of which is on floats, skis, and in the bush, Tim has a treasure trove of stories, and he’s published a lot of them in his new memoir “Tight Floats and Tailwinds” - it's well worth the read. We touch on some of those stories, and more in this episode.  You can buy his book on the BCGA store: https://www.bcaviation.ca/store/p52/tightfloats.html I hope these full length episodes are entertaining and worthwhile for you – fire me a message or an email and let me know! Do you want shorter episodes, or do you like the in-depth long format shows? You can reach me on Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia or email me through the website at http://www.flyingbc.com  

"There's certainly an economic aspect to it, an environmental aspect to it, there's a disruptive aspect to it. There's a whole bunch of things that make it (electric aircraft) make sense for us." - Greg McDougall, CEO and Founder, Harbour Air As an aspiring float plane pilot, and a fan of technology and business, this episode's guest is someone I’ve been angling to talk to since this project started. I finally had the chance to sit down with Greg McDougall, Founder and CEO of Harbour Air, to discuss the electric Beaver project that first took to the air almost a year ago, and the challenges and opportunities ahead. But first, we look back on the journey through his rough and tumble bush flying years, and the start of Harbour Air nearly forty years ago with just two Beavers. The company now flies over 40 aircraft and transports nearly a half-million passengers a year, making them an iconic sight on the coast of British Columbia. If you’re a fan of the show, please leave a review on spotify or itunes or whereever you listen, and share it with your friends on social media. The audience is growing every episode and your shares really help. So, strap on your life jacket and let’s dive into the world of float planes with Greg McDougall. Follow Flying BC on Instagram / Facebook / YouTube You can find past episodes, videos and ways to support the show at: www.flyingbc.com  

"This is one of only a few planes that I've flown where it has such a high degree of thrust to weight that you can do a maneuver like a tail slide; decide you don't like the tail slide, apply power, and fly out of the tail slide while going backwards." Part 2 of our discussion with Geoff Latter, airline captain and airshow pilot, where he explains the origins of the aerobatic Yak-50, his quest to get one to Canada, and the process of learning to fly an obscure single seat aircraft. Geoff even taught himself Russian so he could read the operating handbook!  Geoff Latter Airshows website VIDEO: Complete Yak-50 practice flight walkthrough www.flyingbc.com Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia Facebook: Flying BC  

"I know that airplane pretty well, but it doesn't matter. We go through the same process every year as if you're coming to a new aircraft. Because the only way to train proficiency, is to be disciplined." Geoff Latter is an airline captain and an airshow pilot flying a Nanchang CJ-6 and now a Yak-50. In this first of two episodes, we take a deep dive with Geoff about aerobatics, developing a show routine, and the business of airshows. We talked for well over an hour, and as you’ll hear, speaking with Geoff is like drinking from a firehose of knowledge and stories…so I wanted to give the discussion it's full due over two episodes. Part 2 features in-depth discussion about his new Yak-50. VIDEO: Geoff's engine failure on takeoff VIDEO: Flying BC - Harvard Aerobatics: Inside an airshow evaluation Geoff Latter Airshows website www.flyingbc.com Instagram @flyingbritishcolumbia Facebook: Flying BC