Don’t Get Taken Out of the Play – Book the BCAC26 Conference Hotel Now Before the Memorial Cup Skates into Kelowna!

It’s no joke – we really did arrange for the Memorial Cup to occur in Kelowna, BC, during our conference. The things we do to support aviation and aerospace! Book your conference spot(s) now before room rates go insane. 

Our aviation and aerospace policy/programs Conference Hotel is the historic (100 years) lakeside Eldorado/Manteo joint luxury property. BCAC rate $278 single, two bedroom villa $548. Details at: bit.ly/BCAC26

(*Memorial Cup takes place in downtown Kelowna, BC, May 21^st - 31^st, 2026. We are 4.6km south. Tickets are available.)

(Photo/Kelowna Rockets)

Barry Lapointe, Founder KF Aerospace and Longtime BC Aviation Council Supporter, is Signature Dinner Keynote Speaker in the KF Centre for Excellence He Built: Museum, Learning Centre, and Hangar

Our Council is over the moon that Barry Lapointe, an influential and highly-respected leader of the aviation and aerospace industry in BC, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Signature Dinner at our 2026 BCAC Conference Kelowna (YLW): Soaring Above Challenges – Eyes on the Horizon event.

Barry will be touching on the following topics: the role of aviation and aerospace in protecting Canadian sovereignty; Barry's vision for the future of KF Centre for Excellence; why he's strongly supporting Okanagan College's aviation and aerospace expansion; and, (hopefully) Barry's inspirational, "God, I Love Aviation" opus. 

Don't miss this historic occasion. Conference registration and ticket information can be found at bit.ly/BCAC26.

Questions? Contact us!

Our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the two pilots lost in the tragic incident at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express aircraft. The aviation community stands together in mourning. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

Hundreds of Air Canada pilots, crew members and families lined the streets outside Air Canada's Montreal headquarters on Thursday evening to welcome home Captain Antoine Forest, one of the two pilots killed in the LaGuardia Airport crash on March 22, 2026. Forest's remains arrived at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and were met with a water salute from the airport fire crew.

Co-pilot Mackenzie Gunther, just 24-years old and from Peterborough, Ontario, was honoured first in Ottawa where pilots carried his remains from the aircraft in a standing tribute before Forest continued his final journey to Montreal.

Both pilots were killed when a fire truck collided with their Air Canada Express CRJ-900 as it landed from Montreal.

(Contributor, Simon O'Mara, Quote & Photo/Aviation Journal Facebook post)

2026 Scholarship Applications close at midnight on April 30th

Are you a student accepted to, currently studying in, or in some cases just completed an aviation and/or aerospace program in British Columbia? Or perhaps you're already working in the aviation and/or aerospace industry and want to upgrade your skills? If so, you may qualify for one – or more – of the $250,000 in scholarships currently being offered. The BCAC administers the largest aviation and aerospace scholarship program in Canada, growing an average of 26% a year.

Scholarships are grouped into four broad categories within which the Scholarship Selection Committee determines which applicants are best suited for which individual scholarship.

Pilots (private, commercial and flight instructors) including the Bain and Brown Aviation Career Scholarship ($20,000).

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) including the AME-Structures Career Scholarship (a $54,000 value), sponsored by Coulson Aviation in Port Alberni.

Aviation and Aerospace Operations and Management, including the YPK Gateway to Education Scholarship ($5,000).

General which includes Indigenous, Women, Employee Training, and Career Advancement-specific scholarships up to $10,000.

Visit our Scholarship Applications web page for more information and apply using our new-and-improved online Scholarship Application form. Submission deadline is midnight, April 30th, 2026.

Good luck!

Questions? Contact us!

How Airports Support Business Growth

This posting is republished with permission from Joyce. We sometimes get so wrapped up in the miriad of challenges our industry faces daily we forget the big picture. Aviation and aerospace is the most powerful social and economic infrastructure we have. Now, as we face uncertain times, it is more important than ever to get that word out. Where our industry goes, the wellbeing of our communities follows.

By Joyce Carter, President & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority (LinkedIn)

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce about the role Halifax Stanfield plays in supporting business growth across our region. A few key messages I shared:

Connectivity fuels opportunity. Halifax Stanfield is the most internationally connected airport of our size in North America, with 57 non-stop destinations connecting Atlantic Canada to global markets (yes, you heard that right!).

Atlantic Canada is having a MOMENT. With a growing and diverse population, strong post-secondary institutions, leadership in ocean technology, aerospace & defence, and clean energy opportunities, the world is paying attention to our region.

Growth is accelerating. International air service continues to expand, domestic connectivity is increasing, and Halifax Stanfield is strengthening its role as a gateway between North America and Europe.

Our greatest advantage is colloboration. When we work together, across business, government, and communities, we move from incremental progress to transformational change.

Our airport is more than a place where planes land and take off. It’s a catalyst for trade, tourism, innovation, and connection. My message to the business community was simple: build your strategy with connectivity in mind, and think globally from here. The opportunity isn’t somewhere else — it’s here, and it’s connected.

Thank you to all luncheon sponsors including Air Canada as presenting sponsor; to the Halifax Chamber for the invitation; and to everyone working to help our region reach new heights.

SUPPORTER PROFILE

BCIT’s Aerospace Campus: Success By the Numbers

(Ed: BCIT publishes "Student Outcomes" surveys annually. We have attached the "Aviation Management and Operations Diploma Program Overview (three year average)" survey as a PDF to this edition of the Frequent Flyer. It is a powerfully transparent document.

This document summarizes survey results on the outcomes and quality of a three-year aviation management and operations diploma program, focusing on student satisfaction, employment, and skill development.

Program Quality and Student Satisfaction

• The program received high ratings for instruction quality, course relevance, and up-to-date content, with over 83% rating aspects as very good or good.
• Students reported strong skill development, with 96% feeling well-prepared for their main jobs and 100% satisfaction with their education.
• Practical experience and instructional organization were rated positively, though some aspects like textbooks and equipment received lower ratings.

Educational and Employment Outcomes

• Graduates demonstrated high employment rates (87%) and quick job placement, with most finding related jobs within one to two months.
• The average hourly wage for those in training-related jobs was $27, with median wages varying across occupations, including air traffic controllers, customer service representatives, and human resources managers.
• About 50% of employed graduates worked full-time, with a significant portion employed in program-related roles, and 87% in the labor force.
• The majority found the program useful in securing their main job, and 92% were satisfied with their education.

Demographics and Additional Findings

• The program's student body was predominantly aged 25-29, with a gender split of roughly 60% female and 40% male.
• Students rated instruction and course organization highly.
• Skills such as clear communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving were rated as highly developed, with over 80% feeling confident in these areas.
• The survey emphasizes the importance of comparing programs and consulting current students when evaluating educational options, noting that results are based on past graduates and industry trends.

(AI Generated Summary - please refer to the actual attached report.)

(Source: BCIT, Aviation Management and Operations, School of Transportation. Photo/BCIT)

Another great reason to attend the 2026 BCAC Conference Kelowna (YLW) – making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. We are strongest and most resilient when we act as a community; our conference offers lots of opportunities to connect in a convivial environment, all while keeping abreast of industry developments and innovations. This is how the best business gets done.

Register now at bit.ly/BCAC26.

Questions? Contact us!

(Photo/Brendan McAlpine)