Tonight at 7 p.m., go outside and look up.
Pilots with the Squamish Flying Club will be soaring over Squamish and Whistler as part of Operation Backup Inspiration, in honour of the Canadian Forces’ Snowbirds Operation Inspiration, which ended tragically Sunday.
The pilot of the CT-114 Tutor aircraft, Capt. Richard MacDougall, survived the crash and is being treated in hospital for his injuries.
The Snowbirds were on the last leg of their cross-Canada tour to raise spirits during COVID-19, and salute front-line workers when the deadly crash occurred.
The Snowbirds have been grounded, ending the tour prematurely.
B.C. General Aviation Association has organized about 35 planes to fly over the Lower Mainland tonight as part of the operation, but this will be the Sea to Sky's own version.
The planes will depart from Squamish Airport just before 7 p.m. and then fly over downtown Squamish and up over Whistler Village.
"We have such a group of aviators here, so we thought, 'Let's do our own Sea to Sky edition,’" said Alexis Thind, who has been a pilot for a year.
She said at least six local pilots so far have committed to the flyover Monday night.
"I am a young, local aviator and I was always inspired by the Snowbirds," said Thind, who used to routinely go to the Abbotsford Airshow with her dad, who was in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
"That had a huge role in why I became a pilot and I think maybe this will inspire some young future pilots in the area, I hope," she said.
Thind said that given Casey was a public affairs officer, and her job was to talk to youth and fans, everyone who has gone to see the Snowbirds recently, had an interaction with her.
"To see something like that happen to the ambassador is just definitely heartbreaking," she said.
~With files from The Canadian Press
