The Patrician 2021 OUTLOOK - Taking control after a head-spinning year - Victoria Flying Club
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The Patrician
JANUARY 2021
The Victoria Flying Club ~ Aviation Excellence Since 1946
2021
OUTLOOK
Taking control
after a head-
spinning year
www.flyvfc.com 1
The Patrician
“To promote flying and aviation in general, and to teach and train
HANGAR SPACE
Contact Marcel at the Club to see
if a hangar spot is a good spot Around the Club
News
persons in the art and science of flying and navigating and operating
all manner of heavier-than-air aircraft.” for your plane and to get on the
(Victoria Flying Club Incorporation Bylaws, 1946) waitlist.
NEWS and EVENTS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS TABLE OF CONTENTS WINGS BANQUET - Friday, as well. We hope that you are able to ask for assistance at the
to join us for a wonderful evening office. If we experience freezing
29 January 2021
of celebration, great food, and the temperatures, don't forget to
PRESIDENT Colin Williamson The Annual Wings Banquet is
2 News around the Club opportunity to meet other VFC plan to arrive early for your flight
VICE PRESIDENT Don Devenney scheduled for the evening of
members virtually who share a instruction appointments or plane
Friday, 29 January 2021 as our
SECRETARY Jennifer Zadorozniak 6 President's Message first ever virtual event! We will
common joy in “slipping the surly rental to allow for de-icing time.
bonds!"
TREASURER Iain Barnes celebrate the achievements of
8 Tom Brenan, Last Flight VFC members and staff over 2020. NEW YEAR GOALS -
DIRECTORS John Ainsworth
Tony Allan Please RSVP no later than January WINTER FLYING LEADERSHIP, GIVING
10 Laura Van Buskirk, Staff Profile 17, 2021. Reservations can be Winter flying on the west coast
Adam Johnston
is beautiful so don't let the BACK
Graham Palmer made through Dispatch.
chilly temperature deter you! Be We wish you a happy new year
14 New Budget, New Rates with many successes to come!
GENERAL MANAGER Greg Matte The Wings Banquet is a long- prepared, check the weather, and
enjoy year-round flying at the Are you planning on building your
CHIEF FLYING Mike Schlievert standing tradition for the VFC. In
15 First Solos and Member Achievements Victoria Flying Club! Our line crew leadership experience? Many
INSTRUCTOR addition to recognizing our alumni,
staff are available to help with opportunities are available for
a number of awards and flight
16 Thanks for the Share de-icing. If in doubt, don't hesitate those with aviation expertise.
CONTACT training bursaries will be awarded
We are proud that many of our
members have taken on
1852 Canso Road www.flyvfc.com P: 250-656-2833 volunteering, contributing to
Sidney, BC info@flyvfc.com F: 250-655-0910 such organizations as
V8L 5V5
• VASS (Victoria Air Search
Society)
PARKING AVAILABLE • PEP Air
Editor: Katy Earl • Angel Flight
flyvfcmarketing@gmail.com If you’re interested in prime • VFC's Mentor Program
paved parking spaces for your aircraft, • BC Aviation Museum
The Patrician accepts unsolicited submissions. there are spots available! • COPA Flight 6
• Numerous air shows
This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, Secure, pull-in/pull-out, easy access. around BC (Abbotsford,
with prior permission of the publisher or author. The Qualicum, Boundary Bay,
opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors. Please call Dispatch to arrange a spot, etc.)
or get on the waitlist for hangar spaces at • Hope Air
250-656-2833 • Paws'n'Pilots
SUBSCRIPTIONS • BC Aviation Council
flyvfcmarketing@gmail.com • Women in Aviation
http://flyvfc.com/subscribe-to-the-patrician
and so many more. Missed
an organization in the list?
PHOTO CREDITS Let us know about it and
Front cover: Laura Van Buskirk in a spin. share your experience!
Top right: Instagram: @lindenhoover
Christmas season at Dome C. Blue bird days digging out Another area you might
seismic sensors 10,000ft up on the plateau. consider volunteering is as
#antarctica #aviation #DC3 #flyvfc #enea
2 JANUARY 2021 VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946 www.flyvfc.com 3
a board member of the Club. And as always, our community information. Current parking culture at fan conventions across North
Nomination forms are being loves to hear your stories and rates are: America. He holds a BFA in Writing and both
accepted and a vote will be held what new adventures you have a BA and MA in History from the University of
for positions in the next AGM conquered with your passion Outdoor parking $119.70/ Victoria.
(tentatively March 11). This for flying. Give back by sharing month Welcoming
could be your opportunity to the story with us, either in The Indoor parking $472.50/ He has also been the managing editor of
really make a difference to our Patrician or in one of our social month new Editor,
Showbill Canada, an editor on the UVic
community! media groups! We love to hear Kelly Clark! Graduate History Student Review, and Director
from you! MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS of Communications for the UVic Graduate
NEWS and EVENTS
NEWS and EVENTS
You can also give back at the It is time to renew your
Club. The Club frequently Students' Society. He is the founder and host
MONTHLY PARKING membership with us. lease
of Dork Tales, a podcast, YouTube, and Twitch
hires its students and alumni in DISCOUNT check your email or mail box
line, dispatch, administration, channel devoted to telling nerdy stories
There is an opportunity to save for your membership invoice.
instructor and other positions. Membership costs are still low, through the medium of tabletop roleplaying
on annual parking fees - if you
We highly value our staff and and we look forward to another games.
pay at the start of the calendar Kelly Clark is a writer, editor, author, performer,
everything they do to keep this year, there is a 10% discount great year flying with you! Here and occasional professor of communications.
organization going (now 74 years for outdoor and indoor parking. is the current breakdown of Kelly lives in Victoria, BC with his partner
old!) and our members flying. He was raised in airports across the world as
Check in with Dispatch for more membership types and costs. Christine and their dog, Charlie. He looks
an "army brat" and consequently loves travel.
forward to getting to know you and sharing
He's an avid enthusiast of pop-culture, and has
your stories in The Pat!
lectured on storytelling, games, and internet
In order that it may grow and prosper we shall count
more than ever on your generous support for our future
editions."
From the Patrician's
Verify the latest pricing on our website at http://
Past Editor, I have very much enjoyed reading and sharing your
flyvfc.com/become-a-member-today :
and the VFC membership's stories over these past
Katy Earl: 5 years, and I wholeheartedly agree with the first
Temporary (3 month) $50
Patrician editors, our historic newsletter/magazine
Social $75
grows and prospers because of the fantastic
experiences that have been shared in it.
Regular $125 [your business card here]
Sustaining (Voting) $145
I hope all of you had a wonderful, relaxed Christmas! Life $1250
As we come out on top of the cloudy times of
2020 has been a year of great change for everyone,
and I'm sure collectively we are all looking ahead to
COVID-19, we would love to hear your own stories Do you know a business
2021 as a year of positive change.
of growth and reflection, in realms of aviation and Have you considered becoming a Sustaining owner that could benefit from
beyond! Could you help Kelly to have a flying start in Member of the Club? Sustaining and Life Members free advertising?
his new role by sending him content, stories, photos? receive a reduced price on fuel, a discount of 15%
The Patrician too is headed in new directions, and
You can reach out to him at vfcpatrician@gmail.com. on rentals and are entitled to one vote at each
I'm pleased to welcome Kelly Clark (vfcpatrician@
meeting of the Corporation. They also receive all VFC would like to support our
gmail.com) as the new Editor of The Patrician. He community by offering free advertising
Also, 2021 will be a year of regrowth and change for Club privileges.
comes to the VFC team with a strong background in
so many and also, it is the year that VFC celebrates its spots in The Patrician (business card
communications and theatre, much like one of The
75th anniversary. In recognition of this, VFC would So how do you become a Sustaining Member? If sized ads) where space allows.
Patrician's first editors in the 1940s, Jerry Gosley. you have been a Flying Member in good standing
like to support our members and our local economy
by offering free advertising spots in The Patrician for not less than 24 consecutive months, ask for
My own first Patrician was the February 2016 issue,
(business card size ads) where space allows. Do you an application form from Dispatch. Applications Please send an email to Kelly at
and February 2021 will be Kelly's first issue. The
know a business owner or someone running a side must be sponsored in writing by two Sustaining or vfcpatrician@gmail.com
October 1941 (the very first!) issue of The Patrician Life Members in good standing and are submitted for details.
gig that can make use of free advertising? Please
described the job well: to the Board for approval.
have them send an email to Kelly at vfcpatrician@
gmail.com for details.
"In presenting this first issue of the PATRICIAN it is with Have news or a story to tell? Email us at
the knowledge that it has only been made possible by vfcpatrician@gmail.com for a chance to have your
Best wishes for a strong, healthy 2021!
the excellent response to our appeal for contributions. news or story published in The Patrician.
4 JANUARY 2021 VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946 www.flyvfc.com 5
President's 4) Our future is very unpredictable
at the moment. While vaccines are
slowly being distributed, realistically
8) Next, the new Solo Monitoring
charge. One of the goals our
Board has been working towards
to increase instruction rates even
higher and "bury" the cost in that
rate. We think you are better served
Message it will be the end of September
2021 before sufficient people will
is to make actual costs of our
services more closely align with
by the increased transparency so
that you can see where your money
Colin Williamson, VFC President be vaccinated to really bring COVID what we charge VFC Members is going.
under control. for (e.g aircraft rental, instruction,
parking, etc.). The goal is that each Looking ahead to 2021 we are
5) We therefore budgeted on flying service pays its own way, and is expecting the winter months to
only 8,500 hours again in 2021. not subsidizing other services. The continue being affected by COVID.
President's Corner
President's Corner
And that is just a guess. Nobody cost of providing instruction has With better weather in the spring
Hi Folks, and be safe. VFC took on a whole caused a lot of discussion, research, knows the future. We planned for been steadily climbing with an ever and summer, and an ever increasing
new look with plastic barriers, analysis, and some guesswork the worst, and we hope for the best. increasing workload put on our population of vaccinated people,
I am writing this article on the masks, new procedures and so about what to do for rates for staff performing tasks that are not hopefully conditions will gradually
morning of January 1, 2021, the on. Everyone pulled our lemons 2021. The new rates we settled 6) In doing the calculations it is visible to the student taking lessons. improve and by the end of 2021, life
start of a New Year that hopefully together and we made the best on for 2021 are significantly higher important to understand that we These tasks cover a large range of will be returning to normal. With a
will end on a much happier note lemonade we could. than last year, and are the single have a large number of fixed costs functions including student loans, bit of luck, 2022 will be a fantastic
than 2020 did. I hope you are all in biggest rate increase in the 16 that we have to pay (rent to VAA, record keeping for PTIB (an arm of year and we will all be able to hug
good health and have had as good In late June when the COVID years I have been a VFC member, property tax, aircraft insurance, full the government) and so on, thus our family and friends, have parties,
a year as the conditions of 2020 restrictions were reduced we could so I think some explanation is in time staff, etc.) regardless of how causing our wages spent on training- travel, and fly our planes freely with
allowed. resume instruction albeit with order. It's your club, and you have many, or few, hours we fly. related work to exceed the revenue our friends where and when we
some changes. We started out every right to know why the Board from instruction. We are also want! I’m sure we are all looking
2020 has of course been a very slow as we learned new procedures makes the decisions it does. 7) After making the decision to required to provide solo monitoring forward to it! All the best to you
difficult year for all of us, and VFC and then gradually ramped up model our finances on 8,500 hours with the Instructor on the ground and your loved ones in 2021!
is no exception. The year started operations. This took a real team Increasing the rates as significantly it was "just a matter of doing the and not in the air instructing another
off okay but then COVID hit and effort of students and VFC staff to as we did was a difficult decision math". In reality this meant many student as was past practice. Cheers
everything changed. During the make this work. Many thanks to all for us. We strive to keep flying hours of slogging through Excel Since the Instructor doing the solo
early stages of the lockdown we of you! affordable for all. Several of us fly spreadsheets working out what monitoring is required to be at their Colin
were forced to reduce operations VFC planes, so those rate increases rates we would need to charge. desk and receiving wages, we are
to flying by licensed pilots only hit us too. The logic behind the Many thanks to Kathy, our “Wizard now requiring the student receiving
because we were not allowed to "We thought about our decision was fairly simple and goes of the Accounts”, who worked the solo monitoring to pay for it.
provide instruction. These were club members, did a like this: incredibly hard on this. The other option would have been
truly the darkest days for VFC. Our
Board wrestled with the difficult quick financial analysis, 1) In a normal year we fly about
question of, “Are we better off
to shut down entirely and lay
evaluated the risks of 11,500 hours/year, with some
variance year to year but almost
everyone off, or are we better the two options, and always between 11,000 and
VFC CHARTER SERVICE VFC Charter offers inexpensive, on-demand, and
to keep limping along with the 12,000 hours per year. direct transportation to places not serviced by other
only flying being our recreational opted to remain open. commercial carriers in the lower BC area.
pilots?” We thought about our In hindsight, it was the 2) While we do have other sources Be there in minutes!
club members, did a quick financial of revenue (parking, fuel, Dakota The charter service is operational in day VFR
analysis, evaluated the risks of right choice." Café, etc.) the reality is that the conditions. Please contact us for more information on
the two options, and opted to vast majority of our revenue destinations and costs.
remain open. In hindsight, it was comes from renting airplanes and
the right choice. Many thanks to While we all love to be in the air providing instruction.
our recreational pilots; you kept us pursuing our passion for flight,
those of us on the Board also have For more information or to book a flight
alive! 3) COVID has caused us to fly
to think about more mundane greatly reduced hours in 2020. I Email: tedk@flyvfc.com
As our society learned how to matters like the club’s finances. In don’t have the exact final number Call: 1-778-350-3213
manage COVID, we all listened every year we monitor the financial yet but it will be about 8,500 hours,
to Dr. Bonnie Henry and evolved performance as the year proceeds, down by about 3,000 hours. Our
our behaviours in accordance with and at the end of the year, decide revenue was down about $550K
her guidance. We all learned a what to do about rates for the as a result. We did receive about
whole new vocabulary and also new year. 2020 was, of course, a $240K in government subsidies but
remembered to be calm, be kind particularly challenging year and that still leaves us down by $300K.
6 JANUARY 2021 VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946 www.flyvfc.com 7
Tom Brenan Zaborowski SDS. There will a family
gathering to celebrate his life at a
later date.
was taken down and the plane was
restored to flying condition again.
There were many fun times with
longer because his fuel was getting
dangerously low. Tom said as he
was approaching Victoria Airport,
Last Flight From Glenn Brenan:
hangar dances and festive occasions
in the lounge. It was a fun time.
he heard the Buffalo radio that the
plane had crashed 10 miles NNE
Contributed by Glenn Brenan, Tom's son of MIssion. The aircraft "struck a
Tom started at the club as an One story of my Dad's that I steep mountain slope at speed. The
instructor around 1976 and remember is of the tragic incident aircraft was destroyed and the pilot
remained until the early 80s when where a pilot had a medical incident was killed." The plane struck a tree
he left for other ventures. He and crashed. There was one at 2,550 ft elevation. The diagram
returned again as the manager particularly bad day when a man in the report shows that the plane
Obituary
Obituary
Editor's note: We were saddened to he was entertaining, exasperating, Flight Instructor for Victoria Flying around 1983 and stayed until rented a plane, GJTL, to fly some broke apart into several large pieces
hear of the loss of Tom Brenan. Tom inventive, always right, scarred, Club. He was a Class 1 Instructor, around 2000. He was the force circuits and began flying erratically. which extended in a straight line
was a great contributor to the Club for self-assured, adventurous, and a Airline Transport Pilot and taught behind the development of the The tower called Tom at the club from the second impact site. There
some 25 years (in the 1970s, 80s and good dancer. He joined the RAF ab initio, multi-engine, IFR, and lounge area, and developed the and informed him. Tom got into was a feature story in the Sunday
90s) as instructor, manager and board pilot training program as a young enjoyed aerobatics. He was a restaurant concept for the building. the Piper twin and chased after Province newspaper from Sunday
member. man in 1948 and also learned Designated Flight Test Examiner He helped to create the charter him. He flew in front of him, beside February 2, 1986.
to sail which brought him much for Transport Canada for Private licence and developed and published him and above him trying to get
Here at the VFC, we deeply treasure happiness. He was adept and handy, Pilot, Commercial Pilot and Multi- a "Learning to fly" booklet to his attention, but the man just sat Tom was an ardent supporter and
our history and our members. Do you as able to create an oil painting as Engine Endorsement. Through it all promote the club. He implemented unresponsive at the controls. Tom promoter for VFC. He instructed
have a story or photo of Tom in his he was at building furniture and his favourite flying was chasing the the advertisement on the Pat Bay thought the person had suffered a great deal of new pilots and
flying days that we may reshare with a home from the ground up. He sun between clouds and landing highway whereby a derelict Cessna some sort of medical emergency advanced training as well. He had a
his family or in The Patrician? Please built a successful business fixing on beaches to camp under the 150 was mounted on a pole. This which had incapacitated him. Air good business mind and and worked
send it to Kelly at vfcpatrician@gmail. electronics, then expanded it into wing of an aircraft. His love of drew a lot of attention. In fact, a few Sea Rescue got involved. As the hard to make the place a success.
com a repair and appliance retail store, flying extended to his son and a times the cops had to extract some fuel in the victim's plane burned
Brenan Television, in Toronto and granddaughter who now captains drunks who challenged themselves off, the aircraft became lighter and Images below: Tom at work in the
The following is Tom's obituary bought and ran Shadow Inn with for West Jet. On a personal note: by shimmying up the pole to sit in gained altitude. Dad stayed with office in 1994 (blue shirt and tie). The
as taken from legacy.com, with a the family in northern Ontario. He There was a quiet, mutual exchange the airplane. Eventually the value the man, getting colder and colder promotional booklet that Tom took a
few words from Tom's son Glenn found his true passion in flying of "Thank you for your help, thank of the plane was worth more as as the altitude increased to 12,000 lead in preparing.
afterward. with a career that spanned forty you for your love" while we sat on a resurrected flyable aircraft so it feet until he could not long fly any
plus years and over 30,000 hours the edge of your hospital bed the
From https://www.legacy.com/ flying time as pilot-in-command. evening before you left us. Now
obituaries/timescolonist/obituary. During his professional life as a you are dancing with the angels….
aspx?n=thomas-henry-alexander- pilot he was Manager and Chief and probably seeking out the best
brenan&pid=197136174 Pilot for Athabasca Air, Captain for dancers…Save a dance for me. xo
Leeward Island Airways in the BVI, Pat Special thanks to Dr. Liezel
BRENAN, Thomas Henry Alexander flew bird dog for water bombers, Sullivan, the nurses on 3A, Fr. Jan
6 February 1930 - 27 October 2020 was Manager and Chief Pilot/Chief Grotkowski SDS, and Fr. Konrad
Tom truly "slipped the surly bonds
of earth" when he left us peacefully
on the morning of 27 October 2020
at North Island Hospital Campbell
River and District after deteriorating
health. He is survived by Pat,
his loving wife of 36 years, son
Glenn Brenan, daughters Bonnie
Guenther, Barb Liska, and Christa
Brenan, seven grandchildren,
and five great-grandchildren. An
accomplished and complex man
who, as one colleague so deftly
put it, 'did not suffer fools gladly'
8 JANUARY 2021 VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946 www.flyvfc.com 9
Laura Van Buskirk
VFC Staff Profile
@pilot_laura
Staff Profile
Staff Profile
Editor's Note: Many thanks to our fabulous instructor Laura Van The Flight Instructor Rating is an additional 30+ hours of
Buskirk for sharing with us how she got involved in flying! flying lessons, and more briefing and studying time and
exams. It could take anywhere from 2-6 months or up to 12
Q: How long have you been instructing flying students? months if you are learning part time.
A: I've been flying for 11 years, teaching for eight. This Q: What does it mean to be a Class 2 Flight Instructor?
is part time for me as I work full time as a nurse. I love
what I do at VFC and I think it shows. I am passionate and A: There are 4 Classes of Flight Instructors in Canada.
enthusiastic and I like to share that with students. I take a
true interest in each and every student, genuinely care about Class 4 is a new Flight Instructor, under direct supervision of
their success and I go to every effort to help them. One thing a Class 1 or 2 Flight Instructor. Every lesson they teach must
I love about VFC is the friendly environment of the club. be approved and signed for by the Class 1 or 2, and their
You’ll be welcomed in, and you’ll always see a smiling familiar students must do a check ride with a Class 1 or 2 Instructor
face whether you pop your head into the restaurant or the prior to their first solo flight and prior to their flight test.
lounge or just stop in the lobby for a few minutes. With the required experience, the Class 4 becomes Class 3
and no longer need to be under direct supervision, although
Q: What made you want to learn to fly? And beyond flying, what there is always a Chief Flight Instructor who supervises
motivated you to become an instructor? training overall. A Class 2 Flight Instructor must have a
minimum of 500 hours flight instructing experience (500
A: My nursing job! I am a Registered Nurse in Occupational hours in the air, and each training flight with a student
Health for the Canadian Government. My nursing job had is about 1 hour in the air). They must write an additional
me flying a lot, in small aircraft to remote locations including exam and pass a Class 2 Flight Test. A Class 2 Instructor can
a lot of helicopter flying. I loved the low level flying and supervise the Class 4 Instructors, complete the pre-solo
thought I would like to get my Private Pilot Licence. I started and pre-flight test check rides, and work as the Chief Flight
with only that in mind and as I flew more, I grew to love Instructor at a Flight Training Unit. A Class 1 Instructor must
aviation more. Now here I am, a Certified Flight Instructor have more experience still, and does the same as a Class 2,
for eight years. but also trains pilots to be Flight Instructors.
Q: How long does it typically take to learn to fly, and what kind Q: What is your favourite airport to fly to?
of additional time investment would one need to make in order
to become a flight instructor? A: If you had asked me a few years ago about my favourite
airport to fly to, it was Boeing Field. It’s only an hour away
A: As you decide your own schedule when taking flying with no line up at the border and a fun flight past the Seattle
lessons, the time to learn to fly can vary quite a lot. For Space needle at 1000’ AGL. Now however, I’ve definitely
people flying a few times a week, it may take 6-8 months to shifted from the fun shopping/sports game day trips to trips
complete their Private Pilot Licence, and two years or more exploring the natural beauty surrounding us.
to complete their Commercial Pilot Licence with Multi-
Engine and Instrument Ratings. I have seen some people My favourite airport now is more of a route. At the Victoria
complete everything in a year, which is quite remarkable. Flying Club, we offer an in-house Mountain Rating. We are
10 JANUARY 2021 VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946 www.flyvfc.com 11
surrounded by mountains in the from Victoria, to San Francisco recovered by pushing the nose to fly. I grew up in a very supportive women to become pilots and teach Club (ask Dispatch) or check out her
Pacific Northwest and it’s a must to and back along the Oregon and forward rather quickly which created environment where I was never them how to fly as they begin a long Instagram channel, @pilot_laura.
understand the weather and risks California coast. Yes, it’s quite a bit a very strong G-force. Everything in discouraged from doing anything and fulfilling career in aviation.
and other considerations of flying in more than 300NM, but I figured why the plane that wasn’t secured went because I am female, it was never Images below, left to right:
these regions. We fly from Victoria not, I still had several more hours to everywhere! My sunglasses flew off even mentioned, and when I started Q: What has been your biggest 1. VFC got masks with their own logo
to Hope to land on a grass runway. complete towards my licence. Flying my face and ended up in the back of flying lessons and worked towards challenge as a pilot? on it. 2. "Jacob started flying with me
We then fly up the Fraser Canyon down hundreds of miles of sandy the plane, papers everywhere and my flight instructor rating, I learned when he was 10 years old!" 3. "Now
surrounded by gorgeous mountains beaches, rough ocean and tall cliffs. both of us momentarily lifted out in a very encouraging environment. A: I love my job. I love both my full that Jacob just turned 17 he was
in all directions to land in a small I had fortunately planned to land at of our seats. We recovered and we Over time while completing my time nursing job and my part time completed his Private Pilot Licence
place called Lillooet where the a small airport across the bay and it were safe, but it got us laughing, a licences, I came to notice that pilot job. Sometimes it’s a challenge flight test." 4. Credit goes to
Staff Profile
Staff Profile
beauty is breathtaking. However, happened to be clear of fog. It was lot! women are underrepresented as for me to maintain work-life balance. @heathmoffattphoto.
with its location where two valleys stunning to look over downtown pilots. There have been other female I work a lot. Fortunately, because I "In my Occupational Health Nurse
come together, there can be a lot San Francisco as I flew by, covered Q: What kinds of airplanes do you fly? flight instructors come and go at enjoy instructing so much, it often position with Health Canada, part of
of wind shear and the weather can in a blanket of fog yet clear where Which is your favorite? Victoria Flying Club but there was a doesn’t feel like work. But trying to my job has been to complete medical
change in an instant. We then fly I landed. I spent three days there, period of about six months when I balance two jobs, maintain a healthy assessments on lighthouse keepers.
west again, this time past Whistler shopping and sightseeing before I A: I fly small single-engine planes was the only female flight instructor lifestyle (#runner) and family and so Periodically I go out to the lighthouses
and into a small air strip in Squamish flew back. and small multi-engine. Most of at our school of over 17 instructors. on, can be a challenge sometimes. I with Coast Guard by helicopter for
where the winds can be chaotic the training for new pilots is done It was then that the gender gap am also fortunate enough to be able up to a week at a time. Now with
and the trees can be tricky to avoid Q: Can you tell us a funny moment in on single engine planes. Our flying really stood out to me and I started to take vacation a few times a year Covid-19, most of my work has been
on approach to land. We continue your career? school has 10 Cessna 172s, and to take pride in being female in a which helps keep things in check. in contact tracing. After finding the
southwest heading back to Victoria a Piper Seminole Twin Engine. I male dominated environment. It contact, I follow up and monitor
and often get routed directly over A: A particular funny moment I recall haven’t experienced flying any larger was not for lack of trying to hire Q: Where in the world would you like people who have been exposed. I
Vancouver International Airport on was when I was teaching a PPL multi-engines planes, but I would female instructors, but rather that to fly for just a few hours? teach them about Covid-19, the rules
the way. student how to recover from the love to step into the cockpit of the there were no female instructors of self-isolating and make sure they
approach to stall. In the stall, you 787 Dreamliner one day ;-). to hire. I certainly try to encourage A: I would LOVE to fly around are following them, assess and monitor
Q: Describe the most memorable recover by lowering the nose first. any women interested in flying to Europe, low enough to do some for any potential Covid-19 symptoms
experience you have had as a pilot. In this exercise, we’re not stalled Q: What does it mean to you to be a pursue their goals and slowly we sightseeing. France, Italy, Portugal and check if they need any supports
yet, the order of recovery would be female flight instructor? will close the gender gap between and England, that’s where I would to maintain isolation (such as grocery
A: My most memorable experience to add full power, lower the nose female and male pilots. Whether like to fly. delivery, mental health help). I even
as a pilot was probably completing and level the wings. This decreases A: Females still only make up about you are a man or a woman, it is not teach how to care for their pet while in
the 300 nautical mile cross-country the stalling speed. But if you push 4-5% of pilots in the world. To be more difficult to fly an airplane. If you would like to connect with isolation!
flight that is required for the forward before adding power you honest though, I did not even think I feel fortunate now to be in a Laura, you can reach out to her at the
Commercial Pilot Licence. I flew get quite the G-force. My student about gender when I started learning position where I can encourage
12 JANUARY 2021 VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946 www.flyvfc.com 13
New Budget, New Rates First Solos and
VFC General Manager Member Achievements
BGen (Ret’d) GCP Matte, CD, PhD "Without disruption of air traffic, these
New Members First Solo fearless, forthright, indomitable and
Anna Tilson Yoshiaki Inoue courageous individuals did venture into the
Member Achievements
Buvani Sivagnanasun-
deram wild blue yonder in flying machines.
GM Corner
On behalf of the VFC Board of rates that are below most other its 75th Diamond Jubilee Year
David Diamond
Directors, it is my duty to inform general aviation clubs and FTUs in without the risk of falling into
David Nykl PPL Written Furthermore, these skillful individuals did
you that rates will increase modestly BC, Alberta and beyond, we cannot receivership. We hope that you
Dougann Pirie Matthew Byrnell
in January 2021. Of note, the risk another close call financially. In recognize the need to also budget
Isaac Lloyd safely land said flying machines at Victoria
decision to raise rates was not the near term, we are only mid- for lifecycle management for our
taken lightly. Rather, the impacts of way through COVID-19, so we will aircraft fleets, infrastructure, and
Jacques Van Donkers- International Airport,
goed
COVID-19 nearly brought the VFC enter 2021 with this ever-present critical systems, as a means to
Michael Fekete
incurring no significant damage
CPL Flight Test
to insolvency earlier this year. The financial hazard. reinvest into the club’s future. The
Peter Dosanjh Daniel Bremner to self or machine,
Management Team and the Board’s Board of Directors has adopted
Finance Committee undertook two As such, rates will increase across a longer-term perspective on the
Samuel Barlcay thus completing first solo flights."
Tami Zaranski
months of forensic financial analysis most of our services. We will be in financial wellbeing of the VFC to
Treena Mooney
of the Club’s revenue sources, fixed touch with all of you in the coming provide it some protection against
Tyronne Baier
costs, variable/discretionary costs, days to provide you a precise future economic shocks (such as
and staffing. These and other efforts breakdown of the rate increases for COVID-19 and the Great Recession
contributed to the development instruction, aircraft rentals as well of 2008), and to better situate it to
of the VFC’s 2nd ever budget in its as aircraft parking, and to remind continue to deliver its services and
74-year history. More importantly, you of your annual membership social activities for many years to
although the VFC is a non-profit renewal. There will also be a come. On behalf of the Board of
corporation, the Board has a couple new charges introduced, Directors and your Management
fiduciary responsibility to ensure the such as a solo monitor fee, as Team, allow me this opportunity
long-term financial solvency of the
club. This in turn requires life-cycle
management planning – saving
this had been provided freely at
the club’s expense over the past
years. On a more positive note,
to thank-you in advance for your
understanding! Private Pilot Licence Ground School
towards replacement, refurbishment and in recognition of the loyalty
and/or growth of the VFC’s equity, of our established membership, BGen (Ret’d) Gregory C.P. Matte,
namely the aircraft fleet, the Sustaining and Lifetime members CD, PhD
infrastructure, as well as the critical will be given a 15% discount on General Manager December 27- January 18/2021: Mondays to Fridays (Evenings: 18:00 - 21:00)
IM/IT system. rental rates with the Cessna fleet
as well as purchases in the pilot kit January 18 – February 05/2021: Mondays to Fridays; (Evenings: 18:00 - 21:00)
As you recall, there were no rate shop. This discount will not apply
increases in 2020 due in part to for instruction, aircraft parking,
troubles with last year’s budget Redbird usage, or rental of the
February 09 – March 12 / 2021: Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays; (Evenings: 18:00 - 21:00)
Sustaining and Lifetime
planning process, and the Piper Seminole for ME/IFR training. members:
changeover of our bookkeeper. The rental rates for the Beechcraft March 15 – April 08 / 2021: Mondays to Fridays (Except April: Tue, Thur & Fri): (Evenings:
However, in the interim most other rebuilds, and the modern glass
15% discount on Cessna 18:00 - 21:00)
costs incurred by the VFC have cockpit training will be determined
rental rates and purchases
gone up, whether it's insurance, at a later date by the Board of in the Little Pilot Shop.
April 09 – May 07 / 2021: Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays; (Evenings: 18:00 - 21:00)
our lease, hydro/gas, aircraft parts, Directors. We will also continue to
as well as many other services/ offer a 10% discount for everyone 10% discount for everyone
essential requirements. In addition who pays fully in advance their who pays fully in advance May 10 – May 31 / 2021: Mondays to Fridays: (Evenings: 18:00 - 21:00)
to no change to the rates, the annual aircraft parking fees for for their annual aircraft
staff have not had any increase 2021. parking fees for 2021
in their salary, nor a cost of living
adjustment, since early 2019. While As fellow VFC members, we
this has provided the VFC members all want to see the VFC enjoy
14 JANUARY 2021 VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946 www.flyvfc.com 15
Thanks for the Share! Pics from our members on Instagram who shared with us using the #flyvfc or #victoriaflyingclub tag. From top, left to right: tropicshan, August 2020. Bessi.jertucci, Sep 2019, Parksville. Alexdempsey7, May 2019. Hermanojonomono, Jul 2018, Rose Spit, Masset, Haida Gwaii. Flyboy_dane, Apr 2018, Fraser River. Flyboy_dane, Apr 2018, Willy Island.
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