You may have noticed a Beaver aircraft mounted on a pedestal on the south entrance of highway 19 into Campbell River. The aircraft's registration is CF-GBV, flown years ago by local aviation legend Bill Cove who gave it the unofficial callsign " Great Big Vodoo One'. CF101 'Vodoo' jets were based at CFB Comox at the time and were a familiar sight in the local skies. Here is Bill's story about 'Great Big Vodoo One':

GreatBigVodooOne.pdf

Every Year, dedicated volunteers on Texada Island run a week-long camp for youths 10-16, exposing them to all facets of aviation. Pilots from the Courtenay Airpark supports their effort by providing air experience flights to participants at the end of the camp.

After missing a  couple of years due to Covid, the camp was in action again this past year, and our group flew over on July 29 to give the 16 youths a local flight.

Ray Henault, president of the Courtenay Airpark Association. participated with his aircraft and  afterwards penned a couple of articles describing the experience. See link and article below:

Texada Aerospace Camp. Crown Isle Magazine. Sept 2022.pdf

Article in The Totem Times, 22Nov.2022:

BC Aviation Museum.pdf

A new (April 2022) PowerPoint Presentation on revised VPTC  information for the Nanaimo airport, has been provided by NavCanada/PrepAIR. The file (requires .pptx viewer) can be accessed on the 'Links' page or here.

RCMP RESCUE TRAINING AT THE COURTENAY AIRPARK

The Courtenay Airpark was the site of some very specialized training during the week of 21 to 25 February 2022.

Over the course of the week, Emergco Aerospace, a Canadian company based in Vancouver, BC, provided Human External Cargo (HEC) rescue training for the RCMP Comox Air Section and the Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team (ERT). The training, conducted at the Airpark and at Smits Field, provided the RCMP pilots and ERT members from across Vancouver Island with the skills necessary to conduct external helicopter-borne rescue and evacuation operations in difficult and often inaccessible environments.

The training included classroom work, static harness training and specialized external long-line training, using the Comox Air Section’s Airbus H-125 helicopter flown by RCMP pilots. The HEC training, which certified seven members of the Vancouver Island ERT and the local RCMP pilots, was successfully completed on 25 February.

The Courtenay Airpark was delighted to host the training in their facilities, and is proud to have contributed to a skills-building undertaking that will benefit those who may find themselves in distress across Vancouver Island (and elsewhere, if needed).

Ray Henault

President

For,

The Board of Directors

Courtenay Airpark Association

100 – 20^thStreet

Courtenay, BC V9N 8B1

Due to issues with the pipes that connect the Airpark fuel station with the dock, 100LL fuel is no longer available at the dock. As of now, the pipes are not planned to be replaced. A notam has been posted and the CFS (Water) will be amended in due course.

BPM10063548_lr-1.pdf

News item 24 Mar. 2021 in local publication

Comox Valley Record

From CFB Comox: "Effective immediately, there are no fees associated for practice approaches and circuits for non-commercial/private pilots, including flight schools, at CYQQ. This is retroactive, to the start of this initiative a few months ago. "

Document.rtf

ADS-B Information posted by COPA