There’s an interactive learning day at Squamish Airport this Saturday for kids, which includes free scenic flights.
Volunteer pilots from The Squamish Flying Club and not-for-profit Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) are hosting the annual event Discover Aviation Day, for the second year running at Squamish Airport—Don Patrick Field.
There will be a range of aircraft on display, with activities and a food truck also on site, in addition to the scenic flights, according to The Squamish Flying Club’s social media post.
“The idea behind it is just to give the community, and particularly kids in the community, a chance to experience flight,” said The Squamish Flying Club volunteer Kathy Cormack.
“Last year we had over 150 kids; that’s three kids for each plane, and they had a little scenic flight around Squamish going out over the [Stawamus] Chief and Howe Sound. And so they will get to see their home from the air, which I think is pretty fun for kids. They get to look down and say, “Hey, there's my house!” For many of them, it's their first time in a small aircraft, and for some of them it could be the first time in an airplane period.”
Cormack clarified to The Squamish Chief that the flights will last 20 to 30 minutes and will be entirely weather dependent, available on a first-come-first-served basis for local kids aged 8 to 18.
“We just want to let local Squamish families be able to have a little airplane airborne experience,” she said.
Regarding the aircraft display and activities available, which will go ahead come rain or shine, Cormack elaborated.
She explained that the kids will be able to look at aircraft up close.
Regarding the activities available, Cormack said there will be a kids’ activity table where they can build their own wooden aircraft models from Balsa kits to take home. Other activities are yet to be confirmed at this time.
She said The Squamish Flying Club hopes to host local airport users again, to give talks about what they do and how they use the airport.
“Discover Aviation Day is about sharing with the community the importance of our local airport,” she said.
“For example, our airport was the hub for the firefighting efforts with the recent Dryden Creek wildfire. It was the primary staging area for the helicopters that arrived from all over the country to battle the fire. This is how our airport helps keep our community both safe and connected.”
Cormack clarified that everyone of all ages is welcome at the event, though the scenic flights are only available for kids.
She said parents and guardians can register for their child’s flight and sign a waiver form on-site on the day. Children will also receive a flight safety briefing by COPA, and be weighed for safety purposes.
Scenic flights for kids aged 8 to18 may be registered on-site on Saturday, July 5, from 9.30 a.m., with flights taking place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) Reporter.
This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada.
