The Buttonville Flying Club COPA Flight 44

The Jan 2010 monthly transport Canada seminar at 4900 Youge street Toronto featured a specially invited guest, Buttonville Flying Club (BFC) Safety Guru, Dave Cox.  Dave is a well know member of the BFC  who every year volunteers to host a safety seminar.  Dave got his pilots license before many members of the BFC were born and,  for the last five years has been doing his best to transfer four decades of hard won flying experience to the younger club members.  This night Dave opened the door for all pilots to what has normally been a “Club members only” event by raising the veil surrounding the annual BFC safety seminar.
 
Daves message of safe flying practices, respect for weather and the need for ongoing flight training has had a huge impact on the BFC.  In the last three years alone, more than a dozen club members have gotten their instrument rating, partly in response to Daves message.
 
During the two hour session Dave called “Raising the Bar” he brought general aviation accident statistics to life with a lively presentation and, most important of all, first hand accounts. Using accident trends and factorsto make his point, Dave covered pilot decision making, weather nuances, pilot proficiency, attitudes and best practises including automation traps.
 
At the end of the presentation, to bring home the need to fight complacency in training, Dave called on several club members to confess their flying transgressions.
 But this was not a public Inquisition, or a rumor mill, or a transport inquiry with video taped testimony.  In the spirit of openness, fellow BFC pilots shared personal stories of safety related flying events, so that others could learn from their mistakes. 
 
The result was a thought-provoking evening that helped improve attendees chances of not  becoming another aviation statistic.  
Please see the attached presentation to see what you missed!