Author: Blake

General aviation is entering a period of real change. The transition away from leaded avgas is gaining momentum, with the United States targeting a phase-out by 2030. For many aircraft, 100LL remains essential today, but that reality is beginning to shift. Replacement fuels are emerging, but they bring questions around certification, availability, and cost. Canadian…

Aviation is one of the rare communities where knowledge moves forward person-to-person. Through instructors, mentors, and the countless hangar conversations that shape how we fly and how we think about aviation. That tradition is powerful. But it only works if the next generation feels welcomed and sees a clear reason to participate. Many new pilots…

Over the past few weeks I’ve been reaching out to COPA Flights across Southern Ontario. My goal has been simple: listen to what local chapters are seeing on the ground. One reply I received recently stuck with me. The writer explained that many members of their Flight don’t own aircraft. For them, the chapter functions…

Aviation has always been built on community. Pilots share knowledge, help each other learn, and pass experience from one generation to the next. Organizations like COPA exist to support that community, but the way members engage with organizations is changing. Advancing modern member engagement doesn’t mean replacing what already works. Local COPA Flights, fly-ins, and…

Effective advocacy isn’t about volume. It’s about credibility, preparation, and sustained engagement. For COPA to remain influential, we must strengthen communication between national leadership and local COPA Flights. Chapters are where general aviation actually lives: on the ramp, in the hangar, at monthly meetings. Advocacy is strongest when local concerns are heard early and reflected…

Good governance isn’t sexy or flashy and it doesn’t make headlines. When it’s working well, most members never think about it. But when governance becomes unclear, when roles blur, oversight weakens, or decisions aren’t transparent, trust in the organization erodes quickly. A board’s responsibility is not to run day-to-day operations, micromanage staff, or be a…

The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) is the national voice for general aviation in Canada. For decades, it has worked to protect airport access, advocate with government, promote safety, and support a strong community of Canadian pilots. Serving on the COPA Board of Directors is both a privilege and a responsibility. Directors provide governance…