Buttonville Flying Club News

Annual General Meeting and Election Results

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:37:40 GMT

At the annual meeting held on October 08, 2025, the following members were elected to the executive of the Buttonville Flying Club Inc.

President and Board Director: David Sprague

Treasurer and Board Director: Gordon Roberts

Secretary and Board Director: Michael Templeton

Membership Director and Board Director:Hy Hirshberg

Directors of Operations: Cam McEachern

Directors of Flyouts and Activities: Bob Kisin and Marvin Kalchman

Webmaster: Erica Peterson

Communications Manager: David Cox

Safety Officer: David Cox

Annual General Meeting and Election Results

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:22:35 GMT

At the annual meeting held on October 9, 2024, the following members were elected to the executive of the Buttonville Flying Club Inc.

President and Board Director: David Sprague

Treasurer and Board Director: Gordon Roberts

Secretary and Board Director: Michael Templeton

Membership Director and Board Director: Michael Walker

Directors of Operations: Moe Shehata and Cam McEachern

Directors of Flyouts and Activities: Bob Kisin and Marvin Kalchman

Webmaster: Erica Peterson

Communications Manager: David Cox

Safety Officer: David Cox

The membership also approved the new bylaw and articles of amendment circulated in the Sept 28, 2024 notice of meeting.

BFC Remembers Dav1d Grossman

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:58:55 GMT

By: Phil Lightstone

I first meet David Grossman, or as he liked to be known as Captain Dav1d, in the late 1980’s. Dav1d was the founder and President of Davgro, a technology company located in Markham ON. At that time, Dav1d was heads down in application development, computer networking and all things hi tech. He was not only the smartest guy in the room, but he remembered everything. He was passionately driven to learn new technology skills, whether it was the latest version of C++, everything PCs and computer networking.

In the early 1990’s Dav1d found his love for aviation. In 1992 he began ground school at the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport (CYKZ) located in Markham ON. Dav1d’s craving for knowledge saw him actively participating in each ground school session and the required homework. Flying became natural to him, as he progressed through the flight component of obtaining a Canadian Private Pilot License with Toronto Airways. In the spring of 1993, Dav1d earned his wings. The journey to get a PPL is hard, requiring time, money and discipline. Of the 35 people enrolled in the ground school, only 5 graduated. Each proceeding ground school session saw the class progressively getting smaller. Dav1d had the drive, discipline and dedication to complete the course. He continued his flight training, obtaining other ratings, including Night.

Renting aircraft was a steppingstone to purchasing a 1969 Piper Cherokee light aircraft, call sign CF-QER, which he purchased in July 1995. For Dav1d, his Cherokee became his second child, next to his Porsche. He babied his aircraft, keeping it always hangared, out of the elements and harms way. Protected from the ravages of the environment, hailstorms and off course other pilots. His aircraft became a time machine, allowing him to compress distance and time. It added lots of experiences which last a lifetime. Dav1d put roughly 1,650 hours on CF-QER, which from General Aviaton perspective, is a lot of hours.

His parents and later his mother had a condominium in Fort Lauderdale. Dav1d would fly down to Florida many times a year, with side trips to the Bahamas. I would kid him that his aircraft did not need an autopilot, that it could fly down to Florida unassisted. He always laughed.

In May 2023, the announcement of the closure of Buttonville (November 30, 2023) was a tipping point for Dav1d’s ownership of his beloved Cherokee. On November 15, 2023, the new owner and custodian of CF-QER, Jeffery Dekort of Sarnia, flew Dav1d’s Cherokee away. No doubt it was a sad day for Dav1d.

Dav1d was a strong member and participant in the Buttonville Flying Club (BFC), joining the club in 1996. He kept his membership up to date with both the BFC and the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA). He was a fixture at club events including: monthly meetings; weekend coffee at Druxies at the Buttonville airport; many club flyouts; trips to Florida and the Bahamas; club BBQs; and John Van Lieshout’s famous Beefapalousa BBQ held at the Oshawa Executive Airport (CYOO).

It was part of Dav1d’s DNA to share knowledge and the joy for flight. He was an active participant in the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), participating in their Young Eagles program. A program, hosted by the BFC, with the goal of introducing children between the ages of 5 and 13 to aviaton, including a flight in a light general aviation aircraft. Dav1d flew 290 Young Eagles and a large number of COPA for Kids as well as participating in Girls Take Flight. But Dav1d did not need to stand on ceremony, he routinely flew kids, whether they were nieces, nephews, or co-workers children. Friends of Dav1d thinks that he flew over 500 kids.

Flying was an adventure for Dav1d. On a personal note, Dav1d and I had travelled to Vancouver to attend an IT conference (Comdex West). We decided to stay a few extra days, getting checked out in a Cessna 172 at the Boundary Bay Airport (CZBB). The next day, we rented the C172 and flew to Chilliwack (CYCW) for their legendary pie. Flying back, we followed the Fraser River into Vancouver’s harbour and back to CZBB. The next day, we flew west to Vancouver Island and up the western shore to Tofino (CYAZ). Needless to say, the scenery was stunning. Dav1d and I would switch seats on each leg. With no autopilot in the aircraft, we both became adept in flying from the right seat, acting as the autopilot (George) when the other wanted a break. The beauty and majesty of flight never failed to amaze Dav1d.

How do you sum up someone’s life? In Dav1d’s case, he was a disciplined man, driven by curiosity and the love for aviation, technology and sharing. Family was his epicenter, always at the dinner table for Friday night dinners with his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. He was generous man, especially when it came to flying, always offering up a seat in his aircraft for a weekend fly out.

Keep the Blue Side Up Captain Dav1d.

BFC remembers Peter Styrmo

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 22:08:46 GMT

Long time BFC member Peter Styrmo passed on December 31st, at the age of 96. He was still flying during this last year, in a C172. You can read his obituary here.

Peter’s Celebration Of Life ceremony will be held on Monday January 8 at 1:00pm, at Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Parkway South, Aurora, ON L4G6W8.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to The Alzheimers Society of York Region, 2-240 Edward St Aurora, ON, L4G 3S9

https://alzheimer.ca/york/en/take-action/donate

Buttonville Airport has closed, permanently

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT

While we mourn the loss of this important resource that brought so much joy to our lives, we look forward to the future of the club as a general Toronto-area group for pilots to socialize, plan flyouts, and learn from each other.

Several members of the BFC collaborated to produce this video, showing footage from the last days of our beloved airport. We will cherish the memories.

COPA Appreciation Award for Charlie Rampulla

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 14:10:06 GMT

The Buttonville Flying Club (COPA Flight 44) was delighted to present aviator Charlie Rampulla with a COPA Appreciation Award during our November club meeting! The COPA Appreciation Award is given to a group or aviator who made a significant contribution to support or promote flying, piloted and remotely piloted, in Canada. Nominations are made by COPA members.

Below is Charlie's aviation biography, prepared for the award ceremony by BFC President David Sprague and BFC Safety Officer David Cox.

CHARLIE RAMPULLA – AVIATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

Charles Rampulla was born in Sicily on May 9, 1948. He emigrated to the Toronto area in Canada with his family in 1952.

Charlie attended Riverdale Collegiate for High School. He obtained his Private Pilot Licence during these years. His first flight was on May 27, 1967 – he was just 19.

He started a course in Aeronautics in Ryerson but left after 6 months to start his long-term flying career. Soon thereafter, he was an instructor at the Markham Airport flying Fleet 80 Canuck taildraggers and multiple other early trainers – as he describes it, “anything with a single engine and wings”!

In parallel with building his flying bonafides, Charlie began his training to be an ATC Controller with a stint at the Ottawa Tower as a student trainee, followed by time at the Hamilton Tower where he obtained his Controller licence. His first assignment was in the Oshawa Tower where he spent 5 months before he joined Toronto Centre as an IFR area controller in 1971. He remained there for 19 years leaving in 1992. Charlie will disavow any knowledge of helping ATC improve service levels and engage pilots in high quality traffic control, but he has never been shy of offering his expert opinion on how to do so! He has helped many a “lost” pilot flying in difficult conditions to find their way to safe landings over those years.

In 1981, Charlie joined Georgian College to train new ATC controllers which he did for 2 years.

Charlie became a Pilot Examiner – Private and Commercial Licences - in 1972 and performed these duties through 1982 when he put the Examiner role on pause while he opened a computer services company in 1985. For several years in the late 70s and early 80s Charlie owned the Markham Airport with a partner along with the King City Airport Flight
School. He sold both in 1983 while still with ATC in Toronto. Charlie retired from ATC in 1992 so he could devote proper time to his developing Computer Services business. He sold the computer business in the year 2000.

In the year 2000, Charlie returned to his training roots as a senior instructor at Island Air for a year. In 2001 he joined Canadian Flyers as an Instructor at Markham Airport until 2003. In 2003 Charlie began flying as a cargo carrier in Cessna 310s and Piper Navajos for the next 4 years. At the end of this period, Charlie had accumulated over 15,000 hours of flight time. In 2006, Charlie joined Brampton Airport flight school as an instructor. He was Assistant CFI in 2007 and became full time CFI for 6 months in 2010/2011 timeframe. In 2023, he is still a member of the Brampton flight school team.

In 2008, Charlie returned to the Flight Examiner role with Transport Canada and in 2009 earned his qualification for Multi-IFR Flight Examiner status. Over his many years as a Transport Canada Examiner and his experiences as a flight Instructor, Charlie has trained over 300+ Flight Instructors and has trained numerous IFR pilots (too many to count as he says!).

Over the 56 years since Charlie’s first flight in an airplane, he has made many positive contributions to the many flying communities in Canada – flight instruction, airport development, Air Traffic Control, Flight Instructor development, IFR Pilot development and a general support for those flying in and those using our Canadian airspace.

Give Hope Wings: Supporting a Worthy Cause with Gord Roberts

Wed, 10 May 2023 23:28:06 GMT

This article has been contributed by BFC member Gord Roberts.

Give Hope Wings

Many of you know that I have been a Volunteer Pilot for Hope Air for the last 15 years and I have flown more that 100 volunteer flights in that time.

In June, 2023, I’m taking part in Give Hope Wings — an epic flying adventure with an important purpose.

Many of us take travel for granted. Hope Air supports those who don’t have that luxury when they need to travel for medical care. All fundraising through Give Hope Wings provides travel for patients in financial need who must reach vital medical care far from home — and as a Hope Air Volunteer Pilot, I get the opportunity to connect with the people Hope Air helps firsthand.

The Give Hope Wings Expedition fund-raising event is a series of flights by multiple aircraft consisting of three regional expeditions: Western, Prairies and Eastern, taking place in June, 2023. To help raise much-needed funds for Hope Air, I’m flying the Eastern Canada mission to make a difference.

Supporting Hope Air allows me to combine my love of flying with an opportunity to give the gift of flight to others - our flight path takes us through some of the most interesting aviation sites the region has to offer but most importantly it takes us on a journey to connect with the many Hope Air communities where our clients live and work.

Thank you for considering the important role you can play in helping patients get to medical care.

If you’d like to support this cause and my personal goal of $5,000, you can make a donation below using the link. There are suggested amounts however any donation is appreciated.

Donations over $20.00 will receive a tax deductible receipt. Donations may be made at:

https://support.hopeair.ca/give-hope-wings/gordon-roberts

Please share this with any friends you think might be interested in giving to this worthy cause.

Thank you,
Gordon Roberts
Hope Air Volunteer Pilot

About Hope Air:

Hope Air's Mission is to provide Canadians in financial need with free travel and accommodations for medical care far from home. Founded in 2018, the Give Hope Wings event has raised more than $1.8 Million for Hope Air.

Pickering Airport is One Step Closer to Reality

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 13:43:45 GMT

Written By: David Sprague, President Buttonville Flying Club

Toronto: Recently, members of the Buttonville Flying Club attended a series of publicly held municipal planning meetings. On behalf of the 200 plus members of the Buttonville Flying Club, part of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, I would like to thank the competent and organized elected officials and staff of Durham Region for recognizing the importance of aviation. The Region’s recently released draft Official Plan is the culmination of years of work completed through the Envision Durham process, the Municipal Comprehensive Review of Durham’s existing strategic growth plan.

The plan includes input from individuals, planning experts, businesses and not-for-profit organizations such as our flying club. It will replace a planning document released 30 years ago. A lot has changed in 30 years, including the growing importance of aviation to our economy. The new logistics hub and airport planned in North Pickering cannot come a moment too soon.

With Covid behind us, the capacity crunch at our major commercial airports, especially Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ), are well known. What is less well known, is the dire situation developing in Southern Ontario for General and Business Aviation. Airports that traditionally serve GA and BA have limited ability to accommodate additional growth. Space at Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport (CYKZ), historically on of Ontario’s busiest airports, is at a premium. The Oshawa Executive Airport (CYOO) is already trying to evict a flight school to reduce daily flight numbers.

The new airport in Pickering will remedy both the BA and GA capacity issues, enhance safety, provide badly needed new industrial space and provide the capacity for future passenger flights.

For more than a decade the Buttonville Flying Club’s members have been volunteering their aviation expertise in support of a new airport on land set aside in Pickering. Since 2017, our club members have created a framework to discuss the need for the new airport, which can be found at www.PickeringAirport.org. This includes more than 130 well researched and written articles about the need and role of the new airport.

The Buttonville Flying Club’s volunteers look forward to continuing to support our community with educational efforts on the role of aviation in Canada’s modern industrial economy and the value of local accessible aviation. Working together we can help foster the appropriate conditions for a prosperous Net Zero emissions future in which the new airport in Pickering is the lynch pin of our connection to the global economy.

For more information, contact Mr. David Sprague at sprague@rogers.com.

Sun n Fun 2023

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:47:34 GMT

SUN n FUN 2023

The annual run away from our Toronto winter trek to Lakeland, Florida is now over and the 2023 edition of Sun n Fun is completed. About a dozen members of the Buttonville Flying Club attended the show this year.

The weather was superb and the plethora of activities keep everyone well entertained. Each evening, small groups of BFC members gathered for ad hoc get-togethers and shared comradery over dinners. Fun times were enjoyed by all.

BFC members stayed in hotels, motels, condos, and Airbnb rentals. Some flew their own airplanes into the event and others used commercial airliner flights. Rental cars are very affordable in Florida and parking was readily available at the Lakeland Linder International Airport (IATA: LAL, ICAO: KLAL, FAA LID: LAL) venue.

Sun n Fun is Florida's largest annual convention of any kind, and each year over 200,000 visitors flock to what has become known as “Aviation's Season Opener” or “Spring Break for Pilots.” Pilots flying into the Expo are fascinated by the vision of hundreds of aircraft showcased in all shapes and sizes.

All reports are indicating another record-breaking year for attendance and rumours persisted that this year's event could top 225,000 in 2023!

SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In, Inc. is all about education and training. SnF is a non-profit organization that markets and supports dozens of year-round events, including the Aerospace Expo. Proceeds from these events are the primary source of funding for The Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), which has emerged as a nationally recognized leader in STEM-related and aerospace education through its various learning centers, outreach programs, scholarships, and summer camps aimed at engaging, educating and accelerating the next generation of aerospace professionals. In addition to SUN ‘n FUN, ACE is the home of the Florida Air Museum, Florida’s Official Aviation Museum and Education Center, and the Lakeland Aero Club, which is the country’s largest high school flying club. ACE is the world’s leader in producing licensed teenage private pilots and delivers youth programs that engage over 50,000 students a year.

Set your calendar for Sun n Fun 2024 as the dates are April 9th to 14th.

Canada and USA 2021 Airshows - PDF List attached

Wed, 05 May 2021 12:19:58 GMT

Many of us are keen to get back to some form of normal. As pilots, we love airshows and to see amazing pilots flying incredible airplanes. In 2020, most airshows were cancelled, but as the USA opens up again and Canada gets ready to return from the brink of COVID, our focus is back on the possibility of attending an airshow. Here is an abbreviated list of Canadian and USA airshows that BFC members have attended in the past. Some have been cancelled and others may yet be stopped, but we all remain hopeful that some of these airshows will happen and we can be there. Over the next few months, I will update this schedule for you so you have a convenient location on the club's web site to see what is still on and when the dates are planned. If I have missed a show that you would like to be kept up to date about, just drop me a note and I will track it for you all. You can email me at - mjmartin@bell.net - Michael Martin

2021 Airshows [pdf]

February Meeting: Canadian Forces Pilot Andy Chen

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 20:32:15 GMT

The guest speaker at our February 2021 meeting (via Zoom) was Canadian Forces Pilot Andy Chen.

Andy got his start flying in a Piper Archer at Buttonville for his PPL, and then joined the Canadian Forces for fighter pilot training. He shared stories with us from his flight training experiences, as well as the following slides including photos from:

PPL training at Buttonville
Primary Flight Training at Southport, Manitoba
Basic Flight Training at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Fighter Lead in Training Cold Lake, Alberta

Enjoy!

The Right Attitude -- Inside and Outside of the Cockpit (Andy Chen)

2020 (Belated) Awards Night Honorees!

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:51:41 GMT

Every November, the BFC hosts an awards banquet, honoring those who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer contributions, earned new licenses or ratings, or achieved anything otherwise noteworthy (or funny!) in the last year. In 2020 we could not hold our banquet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we got together on Zoom in January 2021 to honor our members and give out some door prizes.

2020 BFC Awards Night Honorees

Mark Brooks: Pickering Pilot

For perseverance, determination and skill in leading the relentless pursuit of a new Pickering Airport!

Phil Lightstone: Pickering Co-Pilot

For perseverance, determination and writing skill in leading the relentless pursuit of a new Pickering Airport!

Dr. John Brown: Pickering Co-Pilot

For perseverance, determination and writing skill in leading the relentless pursuit of a new Pickering Airport!

Michael Martin: Pickering Co-Pilot

For perseverance, determination and writing skill in leading the relentless pursuit of a new Pickering Airport!

Jason MacBean: Instrument Rating

For learning how to fly with his head in the clouds!

Peter Kofman: Instrument Rating

For finally figuring out that he already knew how to fly with his head in the clouds!

Marvin Kalchman: Passenger Carrying Rating (Ultralight)

For qualifying to introduce his friends and family to aviation in tiny light aircraft

Erica Peterson: Night Rating

For qualifying to come home late

Humberto Villalobos: Multiengine and Multi-IFR

For proving that you can teach an old dog new tricks twice in the same year

Michel Quintas: Multi-IFR

For achieving the ability to fly IFR while burning twice the fuel

Claude Pio: Twin Comanche and Multiengine Rating

For proving that the four forces acting on an aircraft in flight are money, money, money, and money!

Paul Hayes: Life Member

For his many years of tireless devotion to the Buttonville Flying Club, to the defense of our nation, and to aviation in Canada

Million Air: BFC Supporter

For generously hosting, supporting and encouraging the continued activity of the Buttonville Flying Club at the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport

Mike Walker: ~~Sucker~~ Volunteer of the Year

For taking on the thankless tasks of BFC membership and marketing from Simon Lam

Nick Bartzis: Buttonville Safety Coordinator

For successfully taking on the task of keeping the skies over Buttonville Municipal Airport safe

Simon Lam: Marketing & Membership (Retired)

For figuring out a way to smooth-talk Michael Walker into this thankless job

Werner & Eunice Amsler: COVID-19 Test Pilots

For unfortunately becoming BFC's first COVID-19 patients and for their good fortune in faring so well

Paul Hayes: BFC Octogenarian Chapter Member

"Be nice to the old farts" award

Bill Harding: BFC Octogenarian Chapter Member

"Be nice to the old farts" award

John Chandler: BFC Octogenarian Chapter Member

"Be nice to the old farts" award

Attain Honor, Glory, and Chocolate in the BFC Photo Contest

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 15:24:28 GMT

Contributed by BFC Member Michael Martin

Hey Buttonville Flying Club (BFC) let’s all have some fun. During the cold, dark days of winter, when flying opportunities are limited. And COVID still has its grip on our daily life, it is time to get creative, get some exercise and fresh air, and do something interesting.

So, here is an exclusive invitation to the members of the Buttonville Flying Club. Let’s get out our cameras and have a photo contest. It is important to include everyone so we will run three categories so everyone can have a chance to win the prizes.

What are the prizes? As Forest Gump said, “Do you want a chocolate? I could eat about a million and a half of these. My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get.”

So, our prize will be a deluxe 24-piece box of chocolates. But, not just any chocolates. We are offering a box of premium chocolates from “Peace by Chocolate”. Here is Prime Minister Trudeau talking about this famed Chocolatier. https://peacebychocolate.ca/pages/our-story

The time frame for this contest is from 12:01 am, January 1, 2021 until 11:59 pm, March 31, 2021. All times are Eastern Time Zone for Toronto. All photos must be taken within this window of time. You will need to submit a large sized JPEG image of at least 1 MB, but not larger than 3 MB, with at least 1000 dpi on either the horizontal or vertical edge. By making a submission you are asserting that the submission was taken within the time frame stated. All images, regardless if taken digitally or on film, need to be submitted in a JPEG digital file format via email to the address provided below. We will have three categories.

Aviation – on the ground or from the air
Nature - Waterfalls and Streams
Nature – Animals, domestic or in the wild

All photographs submitted must be taken outdoors. So, go for a walk and get some fresh air and exercise. Be sure to practice safety first by wearing a mask, maintaining at least 6 feet / 2 metres away from others, and washing your hands.

Please include a brief description with a maximum of 250 words with your photo to be shared with the members online. Also, include a title for your photograph submission, humours titles add points.

Photos will be judged on the context to the category, framing, exposure, colourimetry (or B&W), detail, storytelling, lighting, and aesthetics.

All images will be judged by famed aviation photographers “Gus and Clara”. The judge’s decisions will be final. Winners will be announced on April 16, 2021.

Please read all of the terms and conditions of this contest fully and by submitting your photos you will be deemed to have agreed to all of them and will waive all rights other than as described below.

Rules and Guidelines for this contest

Which cameras can you use? Whatever camera you have! You can shoot with a smartphone, a DSLR, or a film camera, the choice is yours to decide. All cameras and technologies – digital or film are acceptable to use.
One entry per category per BFC member.
Photos will be posted online in various social media venues and on the BFC web site.
Please use the prescribed naming convention to identify your photo, as follows:
- Rename the submission by using your BFC membership number and the category name that you are submitting to: [insert your BFC membership number here]-[category].jpg or 123456-aviation.jpg
- By using your BFC membership number, we can identify you and keep the submissions anonymous for the judging review.
All photographers will retain the ownership of their submitted images and by entering this contest agree to allow the Buttonville Flying Club to use these images online or in any manner at its sole discretion.
Only the winners will be notified via return email. So, please include your detailed contact information with your submission.
All submissions must be from members in current standing with club members by the close of the contest.
All submissions must be original work taken by the BFC members within the defined time frame.
Entries will only be accepted via email to mjmartin24601@gmail.com in before 11:59 pm on March 31, 2021.
We reserve the right to disqualify any entry that is deemed inappropriate or does not conform to stated contest rules.
No nudity or profane content will be accepted.
We reserve the right to disqualify any submission at our sole discretion for any reason whatsoever. Our decisions are final.
No submissions will be accepted after the close of the contest deadline of March 31, 2021 at 11:59 pm ET.
The photo must be in its original state and cannot be altered in any way, including but not limited to removing, adding, reversing, or distorting subjects within the frame. Resizing the image to meet the file size limitation is acceptable as long as the EXIF data is retained and included with the submitted photo.
The photographer is responsible to have secured prior permission to include any persons or personal information visible within their submitted photograph and will agree to save the organizers of this context and the Buttonville Flying Club harmless and will sign an indemnification agreement before being named a winner.
We reserve the right to amend the rules and guidelines of this contest at any time.

Flight Simulator Buying Guide

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 04:03:13 GMT

This article is contributed by BFC Flyout Director Charles Barnes.

The BFC will be hosting a Flight Simulator zoom session in January. In case there are members who have simulator-related items on their gift lists, our panel has put together ideas for checking if your PC has the necessary capacity as well as some simulator peripherals to help get the right gifts under your tree!

The Zoom session will focus on software (XPlane 11 and FSX 2020), electronic flight bags and virtual ATC networks for those looking for more 'realistic' sim flights.

Happy shopping and see you in January.

PC System Capacity

Will my current system run X-Plane 11?

https://www.x-plane.com/kb/x-plane-11-system-requirements/

It helps to know what the vendor expects you to have and what they officially support because they've usually tested to exactly that hardware.

With XPlane you can test using their free download version. The result between the free version and their full version will be identical (not similar - identical).

Will my current system run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?

https://www.pcgamebenchmark.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-system-requirements

I need a new computer. Upgrade Vs New?

The important factors may vary from person to person. Lots of CPU and memory and a faster drive will significantly improve load time on X-Plane 11. It takes a very long time to load depending on hardware. Once loaded, frame rate is the most important thing. Older or lesser hardware will not keep up. What worked in XP10 might be a dog in XP11. My current realistic frame rate on my older machine is down to about 10fps with XP11. That's why I was going to load on updated hardware.

So yes, you can upgrade successfully (if not buying new) but this is a buyer beware situation.

What new computer would you recommend, for a casual player?

Check this one out - Alienware Aurora R11 Gaming Desktop
On Sale for $1,799.99 down from $2,469.99 - If you’re not computer literate, make sure to take advantage of chatting/talking with one of their sales support people.
Does NOT include the monitor, speakers/headset or the Yoke/Throttle/Rudder Pedals (see the Sporty’s link below for info on that).
This configuration has an SSD hard drive (at the time I sent the link) and that is very important for this game to load quickly.
Caution: The hard drive is FAST, but it’s not very big. If you’re moving stuff from another computer, you should probably get a 2^nd larger hard drive or opt for the larger hard drive model (it will be slower)
What Monitor should I get? I think bigger the better. You will see monitor options, if you follow the purchase link.
If you want to use multiple screens, the video card becomes more complicated. This configuration will not work for multiple monitors.
I’ve bought a bunch of Alienware (Dell bought the company) PCs for home gaming and have not had any problems. The support is pretty good too.

Peripherals

What other equipment do you use?

For my Yoke and Throttle, I have this: Logitech Professional Simulation Yoke and Throttle Quadrant
For Rudder Pedals, I have these: Logitech Professional Simulation Rudder Pedals with Toe Brake
Here’s a link to Logitech/Saitek’s Canadian Store on Amazon -- they have 636 products on Amazon!
I also have a TrackIR system which works pretty good for flight simulators, it tracks the motion of your head and uses that to look around the cockpit: TrackIR 5
Here’s a video explaining how it works:

What about Virtual Reality?

X-Plane 11 supports VR now
Flight Simulator is supporting VR very soon, they have tested and approved the HP VR headset, more will come..
Here’s a link to the latest HP VR headset: HP Reverb G2

What if I’m rich and want to stay legally current in the comfort of my own home?

No problem, just add this to your cart: Redbird MX2 Flight Simulator

Other good information to check out:

Sporty’s Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Guide: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 - What Pilots Need to Know

Hardware Buying Guide for Nerds: Microsoft Flight Simulator Performance and Benchmarks (Tom's Hardware)

Sporty’s Webinar on picking the right gear for Flight Simulator:

BFC 60th Anniversary Lapel Pin

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 12:04:18 GMT

The Buttonville Flying Club was founded in 1969, to create a community of aviation enthusiasts, to create a friendly social atmosphere where members can enjoy each others company, and to organize group flying trips and other aviation related activities.

To (belatedly!) celebrate our 60th anniversary and recognize all the BFC has accomplished over six decades, the Executive has designed a commemorative lapel pin, which will be mailed to all those who were current members in 2019.

BFC Members-Only Fuel Rebate

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 23:00:16 GMT

The Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport is happy to offer the members of the Buttonville Flying Club a new fuel rebate program for the purchase of AvGas 100LL. Please see the below for details pertaining to this program:

The rebate entitles you to a 10% rebate after 1,000L is purchased at Million Air Toronto. This rebate can be used for future fuel purchases at the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. It is not a monetary rebate.
Fuel purchased is to be totaled according to the USER/PURCHASER not the aircraft registration. Please ensure you provide your name when requesting fuel and specify you are a member of the Buttonville Flying Club rebate program.
Applicants must provide a list of all aircraft they will be operating. Aircraft registrations that are not included on the individual’s application will not be eligible to be included on the individual’s total fuel purchases.
All applicants will be reviewed by the administration of the Buttonville Flying Club and Torontair Ltd. Only current members of the club will be eligible to receive this rebate.
All individuals interested in receiving this rebate must individually sign up. Individuals not on the pre-approved list will not be eligible to receive this rebate.
Please note that all individuals flying into the field or based on the field are beholden to the rules and regulations of the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. If you are unfamiliar with these regulations, please see the attached documentation for further details.
This rebate program will take effect as of August 1^st 2020. The program will run on a 12-month standard calendar year and will reset as of August 1^st 2021.

To register for this program, please download and print the following pdf, and return the filled form to Dave Sprague (you can get his email address from posts to BFC News):

BFC Fuel Rebate Program 2020.pdf

Every pilot should fly a Spitfire at least once

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 20:35:30 GMT

"Every pilot should fly a Spitfire at least once."

Those are the words of BFC member Bob Steenson, who shared this photo in the club WhatsApp chat today. Bob says that flying the Spitfire has been a dream of his since the age of 12 when he first saw one fly about 100' AGL, inverted, the length of the runway at Barton Aerodrome in England. Inspired to fly, Bob got his PPL at CYOO under the instruction of George Nelson, and later earned his seaplane rating.

In January 2019 Bob learned of an opportunity to fly Spitfires out of Biggin Hill, on the outskirts of London, and made inquiries. ‪On 11 June‬ 2019 he completed a one-hour light in Spitfire MJ772. In his words: "My younger brother flew in a 'chase plane' during the first 10 minutes and snapped the photo just before the pilot flying did a steep breakaway and we headed to the coast, to Beachy Head. After about 5 minutes flying up and down the white cliffs we headed out over the English Channel, completed a 180 degree turn back toward base, and just before crossing the White Cliffs completed a 360 degree roll in under 2 seconds. Absolutely one of the greatest experiences of my life...worth every penny. To those elder pilots out there I say NOW is the time to live your dreams."

COVID-19 Q&A from BFC member and virologist Simon Lam

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:35:52 GMT

Editorial note: there have been a lot of questions and rumors posted about the novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 -- many sent to the club newsgroup or WhatsApp chat. Club member Simon Lam has a PhD in Virology and works in the pharmaceutical industry, and has addressed a list of these questions.

This is not medical advice; just a Q&A. For medical advice, follow the guidance of your doctor, and check official public health resources such as the following:

Public Health Ontario

Public Health Agency of Canada

The World Health Organization

The following responses were contributed by Dr. Simon Lam:

Why should I believe you?

I have a PhD in virology. I am not specifically a Coronavirus expert, but I know viruses in general. Unlike "A prominent doctor at xxxxxxx hospital", I actually exist. We've had coffee together at Druxy's and we've gone flying together. I just want all of us to be safe, sensible, and educated.

If there is a question you don't see answered below, please ask.

How is the virus transmitted?

The virus is transmitted via droplets for the most part. (i.e. someone coughs, the virus hitches a ride in droplets, ends up being inhaled by someone else.) These droplets are microscopic. The droplets can also land on a surface, where someone soon after touches it, and that person then touches their eye/nose/mouth, but this is much less likely. To be clear, there is no evidence the virus is "airborne" as in floating in the air by itself. (There is some evidence of <5 micron aerosols carrying the virus, but it's not strong evidence.)

Why is social distancing effective?

Maintaining distance from other people drastically reduces the chances of being infected because most of the transmission is direct from one person to another, and the droplets from a cough/spittle can only travel a few feet.

What is "flattening the curve"?

Flattening the curve is based on a pessimistic assumption that we cannot reduce the rate of infection to a point where the virus goes away slowly, which has since proven true. On this curve, X is time, Y is number of new cases. It assumes that the virus would continue to spread. If we know we cannot stop the spread, the goal then becomes slowing it down as much as possible so that the medical system doesn't get overwhelmed. The more resources are available, the better the care available, and the fewer deaths will result from this. Sadly, it doesn't mean fewer people will be infected, but it does mean you'll get better care when you get infected. (For the nerds: the area-under-the-curve remains the same.)

What age group does Covid target?

Simply put, all age groups. Like most diseases, the risk of severe outcomes goes up with age. The early data shows ~3% death rate from 60-69 and ~8% death rate from 70-79. Most of these cases had some "complications" such as high blood pressure or diabetes. That said, the death rate varies widely from country to country, and perfectly healthy young people have died from Covid as well. It's difficult to predict, and some evidence points towards an immune response called a "Cytokine Storm" that may be a factor in younger victims. (Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_release_syndrome")

Should I wear a mask/gloves?

Masks:

Surgical masks are designed to protect the public from the wearer. They do give some limited protection to the wearer. Many Asian countries recommend/enforce wearing surgical masks in public because of people who are infected and can spread the virus but don't know it yet. So, wearing surgical masks is sometimes recommended for the general public, but we now have a world-wide shortage and it's questionable whether these products should be used by the public, taking them away from healthcare workers.

N95 and other "respirators" need to be worn properly (tightly). When worn properly, they can be very uncomfortable. They also need to be fit-tested for individuals. There should be no gaps around the respirator at all. A recent study has shown that they are usually not worn properly and have about the same effect as surgical masks as a result. When worn properly, they do offer protection to the wearer. To be clear, these respirators are proper professional equipment, not designed for public use. As with surgical masks, the general public using them deprives the supply for healthcare workers.

Cloth masks offer even less protection than surgical masks but do offer some minimal protection, especially in protecting the public from the wearer.

Masks are single use. If absolutely necessary, store them in a clean, dry environment between use. Don't put them in zip-lock bags because that traps in moisture and encourages bacterial growth. Store in a paper envelope if absolutely necessary, but the best practice is to dispose of them.

Gloves:

Don't touch your face. Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer if you can't wash your hands. That said, gloves don't do any harm. Remember to take them off before getting home or getting in your car.

Why is handwashing effective?

As mentioned earlier, if you touch a surface that has the virus and then touch your eye/nose/mouth, you can catch the virus. Hand washing is effective because it physically removes the virus. Only if you cannot wash your hands should you use an alternative such as hand sanitizer. Remember to moisturize your hands after washing, otherwise your skin may crack and leave you open to other infections.

Why is alcohol-based sanitizer effective, and what concentration do I need?

Alcohol is great at killing just about anything. It "denatures" the proteins on the surface of the viruses. Don't worry too much about the concentration if you're using a store-bought hand sanitizer. (If you must know, not all of them are alcohol based, and the alcohol ones are usually >= 65%.) Let your hands air-dry. But remember, washing your hands is better than using a sanitizer. Please don't try to make your own hand sanitizer.

What are some other substances that make good disinfectants, and what concentration do I need?

Buy a household disinfectant from the supermarket. Anything available in stores for kitchen, bath, or household cleaning that claims to be a disinfectant is probably effective. If you need an alternative, 1% bleach in water. You can use 2% in higher traffic areas, but don't go higher. Don't mix bleach with anything except water. Generally speaking, disinfectants work best if you let it sit for a few minutes before wiping off. You might want a second pass with plain water to get rid of the residue.

Will it help to adjust the heat/humidity in my house?

You won't be able to get your house hot enough or dry enough to matter to the virus. Keep your home in a comfortable temperature and humidity. That will help keep your mucous membranes (the inner bits of your nose and mouth and sinus) moist, which will help protect you.

How does the virus testing work?

Very simplified version: A swab goes very-very far up your nose and into your sinus to pick up the virus if it’s there. That swab holds only a very very small number of virus even in a positive sample, so few that it cannot be detected. The sample then goes into a machine that looks for and replicates a very small piece of the virus's genes and makes enough copies to actually detect it. If it replicates it and detects it, it's a positive. If it can't find the gene, it can't replicate it, then it can't detect it and it's a negative. (Further reading: "Real-Time RT-PCR" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_transcription_polymerase_chain_reaction) There are also antibody tests but those aren't yet common.

Is there anything I can eat or drink, or any medicine that would help/cure Covid?

Nothing has been proven to have any effect.

When will a vaccine be available?

I don't know. I would guess at least 12 months as an absolute minimum. More likely 18-24 months. For a vaccine to be safe enough for the public, there has to be a lot of testing, which takes months to years. In a typical non-emergency scenario, testing takes years, then setting up the manufacturing facilities to make it for millions of people takes a few more years.

When will this be over?

I don't know. I don't even dare guess.

The "I heard that..." section:

I heard that heat kills the virus?

Yes. Enough heat kills everything. But you can't get your body hot enough to kill the virus without killing yourself. Don't wash your hands with extremely hot water. The objective is to wash the virus off, not kill it. You'll just end up with burns on your hands. Don't stick a hair dryer in your face. You'll just burn your face and it won't affect the virus deep in your sinus.

I heard that UV kills the virus?

Yes. Enough UV kills everything. For that to work, you need proper industrial grade UV lamps which give off enough power at the right wavelengths to kill. These lights are also highly damaging to almost all materials, including humans. (The ones we have at work have a safety interlock so the shield must be closed or they won't turn on. That's how damaging they are.) A store bought black-light won't work.

I heard that I should drink hot water / lemon juice...

I see this going around a lot. Something about using hot lemon water to kill the virus and wash it off your throat. It doesn't work. The first point is you can't drink something hot enough to matter. The instant the hot water touches you, it burns you and cools down before it even affects the virus. Second is that the acid in lemon water gets diluted as soon as you swallow it. You can't drink enough acid to affect the virus without killing yourself. The third is that the virus doesn't live on your throat; it lives deep in your sinuses and lungs. The fourth is that the virus lives inside your cells and in the layers of cells deep inside; it doesn't just sit on the surface waiting to be washed off.

I heard that I should gargle with salt water...

No. Same as the above; the virus lives mostly in the sinus, not throat.

I heard that I should steam my face...

You can't get your sinus hot enough to kill the virus without killing yourself.

I heard that I should microwave my mail...

Don't. Your mail and/or microwave will probably catch fire.

I heard that I should wipe my shopping/parcels...

There's no harm in it, but I'm not sure how much there is to be gained either. It is highly unlikely to catch the virus this way. If you insist, wipe down the entire surface of your shopping/parcels, and then put it somewhere else so your wiped and un-wiped stuff don't mix. Also, make sure you clean off whatever disinfectant you used afterwards. (Obviously, don't disinfect fruits that you eat the skin of. Wash those in clean water.)

I heard that you can tell if you have Covid-19 by holding your breath....

No. It's so silly, I don't even know how to answer that. If it worked, we wouldn't need test kits.

I heard that this will go away as soon as it warms up because the virus dies in the heat...

It's hitting 30 degrees C in many parts of the World where the outbreak is... so, no. The effect, if any, is very small. Keep in mind, your body is 37 degrees C...

I heard this drug (chloroquine) works against Covid and was approved by the FDA...

There has been no solid evidence it works against Covid. There was a research article that said it works with SARS, but the evidence so far with Covid is questionable. FDA didn't approve it's use. FDA approved experiments on using it, but not for its general use.

I heard this virus was man made...

I don't think so. I don't think we're remotely that good...

Other:

Can COVID-19 mutate and spread to domestic animals, and what will that mean?

For a virus to jump from one species to another, a lot of luck (and therefore time) is involved. A virus that crosses into a new host is most likely going to die there as a dead-end because the virus hasn't adapted to spreading within the new host species. Over time, by the luck of mutation and evolution, it will. Once it has established in the new host species, it will spread much faster within that new host species. The bright side is by that point, the virus is no longer adapted to spreading back to the first species. In other words, because a virus needs to adapt and optimize itself for each host-species, jumping between species is relatively rare. When it does, it can cause an outbreak like the current one.

What a virus does once it's in a new host is unpredictable. How the virus affects one host species does not allow us to predict how it will affect another host species. There have been reported cases of pets testing positive for Covid-19, but it's impossible to say for now how they will react.

COVID-19 Aviation Updates (this post will be continuously updated)

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 00:39:07 GMT

Last update: July 5.

If you have information that should be added to this page, contact the webmaster (Erica) via email or WhatsApp, or use the website contact form.

General safety information

[April 11] COVID-19 Q&A with BFC member and virologist Simon Lam -- Simon has addressed a bunch of questions we've seen come up in our club mailing list and WhatsApp chat about what prevention measures work, and why they work
[April 11] Advice to GA pilots regarding COVID-19 -- BFC's Phil Lightstone has written an article for COPA eFlight with safety advice for GA pilots flying during the pandemic

Airport status

July 5, 2020 Update:

The Buttonville terminal is once again open!
- Masks or face coverings are mandatory
- All individuals entering the building must complete a daily health check, and leave contact information
- Physical distancing measures are in place
Druxy's is open as of July 1st for takeout or patio only (no indoor seating)
Canadian Flyers is open as of June 22nd

Please see the March 24 mail forwarded to BFC-news, in summary:

Toronto Buttonville Airport is classified as an essential service and will remain open, serving customers
Pilots based at Buttonville: To assist with safety and social distancing with Flightline, please submit all fuel and service requests via phone or email, and respect the two hour request window (outlined in your aircraft accommodation agreement)

Please see the March 18 mail forwarded to BFC-news, in summary:

Pilots based at Buttonville: the terminal is closed to the public. Flightline or Million Air can provide access to the terminal and main apron, if you do not have a security pass. Access to the south end of the field is via the gate. See the mail forwarded to bfc-news for more details.

Please see the March 17 mail forwarded to BFC-news, in summary:

Pilots based at Oshawa: the terminal is closed to the public. Duty staff can provide access to the terminal and main apron. Access to the T-hangars is via the gate. See the mail forwarded to bfc-news for more details.

Returning to Canada

[Last modified May 13] Due to COVID-19, CBSA has temporarily suspended service at many small airports. Here is the list of remaining ports of entry.
[March 23] If you are a Canadian abroad, register with Global Affairs Canada so the government can send you information as it becomes available
If you need to book a charter flight to return to Canada, contact FLYGTA (based out of Buttonville and Billy Bishop)
You can return to Canada in a private or business aircraft, not subject to the restrictions on airlines, but you must undertake 14 days of self-isolation upon return (reference: see the letter forwarded to bfc-news from COPA president Bernard Gervais)

Transport Canada

[June 3] COVID-19 exemptions to the Canadian Aviation Regulations
Transport Canada's March 18 and April 15 aviation safety seminars have been cancelled

Cancellations and schedule changes

[April 1] The April 8 BFC meeting has been cancelled
[April 1] The Air Canada Operations Centre tours (April 20 & 28th) have been cancelled
For the time being, Druxy's is closed and we will not gather there on Saturday and Sunday mornings
Transport Canada's March 18 and April 15 aviation safety seminars have been cancelled
This year's Girls Take Flight event at Oshawa, scheduled for April 25/26, has been cancelled
Sun 'n Fun has been rescheduled from March 31-April 5, to May 5-10 -- see updates on flysnf.org
For a list of airshow cancellations that is being actively updated, visit airshowstuff.com

BFC Remembers Ferdinand Arcon

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 02:00:07 GMT

ARCON, FERDINAND ANTON January 9, 1934 - March 8, 2020

Ferdinand, affectionately known as Nando, passed away on March 8, 2020, peacefully in his home surrounded by loving family and friends. A worldly man, Ferdinand spoke seven languages and experienced different parts of the world, making him what he was to all friends and family. From growing up in Egypt, working and living in Germany, and finally finding his last home in Canada, his life was reflected in his love of food, the arts and especially his love of flying. In his 40 year career with SEW Eurodrive Germany, he assisted in the expansion of the company's global network, bringing him to Canada. An initial five-year secondment to run the Canadian operations turned into 46 years of life in this country which he called his home. His love of water and water sports -- from his birthplace in Alexandria and finally to his beloved cottage in Muskoka -- were a continuous enjoyment to him. His years of retirement were spent enjoying winters in Miami Beach and summers in Muskoka. When he wasn't basking in the sun, he was cooking while listening to Julio Iglesias or sipping his 6 p.m. single malt scotch, sitting in his boat overlooking his beloved Brandy Lake.

He had also found a new passion in flying during his retirement years. Ferdinand’s maiden solo flight was in 1991 out of Buttonville Airport. Flying became his new life and passion. He was a long-time and avid member of the Buttonville Flying Club, reading all the BFC news group postings on his iPad until his last days. His favorite Saturday or Sunday morning flight was to Collingwood for breakfast, but he was also just as content to meet with the boys and a few ladies at Buttonville Airport for the usual get together and breakfast at Eggsmart. He was a generous member of the Buttonville Flying Club and always offered rides to anyone that wanted to go flying. He ventured to many destinations in Ontario -- London, Goderich, Kincardine, Killarney, and Muskoka -- as well as longer flyouts to Pointe Carniel Lodge, and Vintage Wings in Gatineau. One of his favorite annual flyouts was the Poker Run … a wonderful day of flying that allowed him to see all the local airports.

His family would like to thank you for all the condolences that they have received. They also thank all the doctors, nurses, and support staff for all of their care and outstanding work while fighting his battle against bladder cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held, however due to current circumstances and for everyone's safety, we are postponing this to a later date. For information, please email us at andreavonmoeller@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Bladder Cancer Canada in memory of Ferdinand Arcon. Online condolences may be left at www.rosar-morrison.com.

Photographs contributed by Albrecht Weller.

Top volunteer pilots with Hope Air!

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 22:43:41 GMT

A big congratulations to Gord Roberts and Gerd Wengler, who were among the top three volunteer pilots in 2019 with Hope Air! Hope Air provides Canadians in financial need with free air travel to medical care that is far from their home.

In 2019, volunteer pilots flew 177 flights for Hope Air. BFC members Gord Roberts came in #1 with 20 flights, and Gerd Wengler #3 with 10 flights. Fantastic!

Other members wishing to volunteer with Hope Air -- please check out the volunteer pilot information for this very worthy cause.

Gord Roberts

Gerd Wengler

Fuel Payment Methods in Mexico (via CST)

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:38:10 GMT

Member Terry Martin has forwarded this notice from Caribbean Sky Tours, of interest to those of our members who fly to Mexico:

- IMPORTANT UPDATE -

Starting November 19th, 2019 CASH (Mexican pesos) and CHECKS will not be accepted as a payment method for fuel at any Mexican Airport where fuel is sold by ASA.

The Authorities state that this measure was taken in order to avoid corruption and money laundering.

Previously fuel payment with US Dollars had already been forbidden by law.

We recommend always verifying in advance that fuel is available at your destination and that your selected method of payment will be accepted.

Commonly accepted fuel payments methods in Mexico are:

Credit Cards (make sure your bank is notified and they will allow international transactions)

Fuel Cards & Fuel Releases (from all major fuel companies)

For reference here is the bulletin from the authorities (in Spanish):

Midway

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 21:22:12 GMT

Several BFCers and I went to watch the feature film Midway, last night. It was fun to do as a group. The flying scenes were amazing. Here is a review.

https://vividcomm.com/2019/11/17/cgi-in-war-movies/

November meeting: Centennial College tour!

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 19:40:19 GMT

Our November meeting has been moved to the Centennial College DOWNSVIEW Campus.

65 Carl Hall Rd, North York, ON M3K 2C1

This is a one time opportunity to see the new Centennial Campus and their facilities.

The college will be happy to show every nook and cranny of the new facility. That includes the main and secondary hangars and compound (which holds a variety of aircraft including a Cessna Citation II executive jet, a Cessna 425 twin-engine turboprop, two Piper Seneca II and four Cessna 172 single-engine light aircraft and a recently donated Bombardier CRJ 200); our electrical and avionics labs (and related training aids); our piston engine, sheet metal and composite labs; and anything that catches your fancy along the way. We simply ask that you resist the temptation to take anything out for a spin.

Those members of club who want will meet for an informal and self funded supper at the Penalty Box Pub at 6pm. The Penalty Box is a just a 3 minute walk from the College and located at Scotiabank Pond 57 Carl Hall Road. THERE WILL BE NO CLUB SUPPLIED DINNER AT THIS MEETING.

If you are planning to attend, please email Dave Sprague (see the news group post for his address) and specify whether you are attending just the tour or also the pub dinner.

Detailed information on how to get there can be found at

https://en.downsviewpark.ca/tenant-directory

http://www.buckinghamarena.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=6585&leagueid=0&pageid=19034

A.I. Pilots: Are they about to replace Human Training?

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:35:21 GMT

Here is a link to a new article that I recently posted regarding the application of artificial intelligence in aviation

https://vividcomm.com/2019/10/29/a-i-pilots-is-it-about-to-replace-human-training/

We have all heard how artificial intelligence is so great. How it will dramatically change our lives and make them better. How computers can outperform humans in just about every way possible.

Are you buying all of this hype?

Personally, I find some aspects of the propaganda troubling. The key strategy of AI is that it is better. But, is it really? Can AI truly outperform humans at critical tasks?

After Testing The Fuel Sumps, These Pilots Still Experienced A Fuel Contamination Engine Failure

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 00:03:17 GMT

See article at Bold Method

October meeting triple header with BFC Elections

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:22:29 GMT

This month's meeting is a triple header!

First we will have club member Al Robinson tell us about the challenges of being a flight instructor the day after you get your certification. And then accumulate 500 hours or so in the next year and still love to fly.

Secondly we will be trying a Member’s garage sale of aircraft related stuff. If you have aviation related material you would like to sell off or give away we will have space set aside to have people put out their wares. But you must let me know by Monday the 7th if you are bringing stuff so we can make sure there is space. This is the chance to get your excess inventory to someone who wants it. Old radios, instruments, headsets you name it.

Thirdly we are having our annual general meeting and elections, at which the members elect the executive of the BFC. Nominations are welcome and encouraged for all of the executive positions listed below. We are always looking for new volunteers, so if you are interested in a position, please let us know. All the positions are open for election, including those where the current member is willing to serve again (some current members would gladly surrender their position to a new victim, er ah candidate, or who knows, we could even have a contested election). In particular, we need two people to serve as directors of operations as Joe and Massoud are seeking to retire..

Executive Position	Current Holder	New Candidate
President and Chair of the Board	David Sprague	David Sprague
Treasurer and Board Director	Gordon Roberts	Gordon Roberts
Secretary and Board Director	Michael Templeton	Michael Templeton
Membership Director and Board Director	Simon Lam	Simon Lam
Director(s) of Operations	Joe DeCaria & Massoud Ghahremani	NEED VOLUNTEERS
Director(s) of Flyouts and Activities	Charles Barnes	Charles Barnes
Webmaster	Erica Peterson	Erica Peterson
Online Content Manager	Claude Pio	Claude Pio

If you cannot be present at the meeting and would like to submit a proxy ballot, check the mailing list (bfc-news) for instructions from Michael Templeton, or ask any current member of the Exec.

September 11, 2001 - Where were you?

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 15:19:23 GMT

Last year, I wrote this story about my personal experience on September 11, 2001. So, I am sharing it here again this year as I remember this horrible day and these many events. I honour the fallen. I was airborne when these events happened.

Where were you on 9/11?

1943 Berlin Blitz

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 18:51:47 GMT

So, I finally made it to the Canadian Warplane Heritage in Hamilton to see the new Virtual Reality Experience created by the BBC. It was absolutely remarkable and I urge my fellow BFC members to get to see it before it ends on August 31, 2019.

It was one of the most ambitious and dangerous reports made during World War II. In September 1943, BBC war correspondent Wynford Vaughan-Thomas boarded Lancaster ‘F for Freddie’ with his recording engineer and a microphone.

Their destination: Berlin.

The BBC has created this masterfully animated Virtual Reality Experience using Vaughan-Thomas’ original recording, which vividly captures the danger of the bombing raid. This unique cinematic experience transports visitors inside the bomber as the crew endures endless flak and a night fighter attack in their journey to the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe.

Presented in immersive Virtual Reality, this powerful experience is the closest that one can get to truly experiencing the bravery demonstrated by Bomber Command, the median age of which was only 22 years old. As described by Vaughan-Thomas upon his return, it was “the most beautifully horrible sight I’ve ever seen.”

This 14 minute experience is available for those aged 13 and up on a first come, first serve basis (no pre-booking required). The Virtual Reality Experience is limited to six stations.

Event: Virtual Reality Experience - BBC 1943 Berlin Blitz

Date: Until August 31, 2019

Location: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Time: 9 am – 5 pm daily

Admission: Virtual Reality Experience is FREE with admission. Regular admission rates are Adult (18 – 64) $15, Senior (65+) $13, Student (13 – 17) $13, Youth (6 – 12) $10. Free admission for museum members and children 5 & under.

Friendly Flying Family

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 13:34:51 GMT

The world of aviation is said to be a tightly knit community. There is a kindred spirit in this connected village of folks who all share a passion for all things that fly.

However, this tribe is unlike any other societal grouping. It is driven by a shared wicked disease that controls the entirety of your life. Sure, we use positive words to spin it as a healthy thing, words like ‘passion’, ‘hobby’, ‘interest’; but those of us who feel the twitching yank of airplanes recognize that it is something else – it is an addiction. The collective is more of an assemblage of rambling plagued zombies who surrender to a nagging agony for aviation.

Having been infected by the aviation germ as a child, there seems to be no known cure. Once you are sickened for airplanes, all you can do is feed this habit and live a lifelong existence lurking in the far reaches of airports waiting to spot that next big hit of something exotic - perhaps a warbird or a heavy transport. Often, you cannot find the boundless rush of heavy iron, so even a small smack of a Cessna, Piper, or a Cirrus pulse tickler must suffice until the next spell compels you.

Once a year, the afflicted arise to sate their unquenchable thirst. We gather for the big fix. We come from all over the world to one point - Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We know well that here in this quaint mid-western valley that we can reach a level of aviation euphoria that cannot be found anyplace else. While it is impossible to satisfy our never-ending needs, it still temporarily overwhelms us and serves to fulfill the necessity right now nevertheless.

Of course, I am just poking fun at this passion for the aviation virus, but AirVenture is the Woodstock for pilots and want-to-be aviators. This year more than 642,000 gathered for the last week of July to pay homage to the hunger for flying. It was an inspiring gathering of like-minded folks who all come to kick tires, look at airplanes, hear the Doppler song of a Merlin V-12, and discuss minuscule details about flying that absolutely baffles and bewilders those outsiders who collectively shake their heads and roll their eyes at us.

One aspect that makes me happy is the community itself. I marvel at this gathering of friends and fans. Aviators know no boundaries of culture, age, language, colour, sex, education, or citizenship. If you are a pilot, then you are in the club. You crisply comprehend a divergent universe. You see the world diametrically; in a deeper manner that mere mortals cannot grasp. You enter a conception that blends physics with romance seamlessly. It marries sophisticated cutting-edge technology with old style, highly questionable, but workable know-how. Sometimes, using just a wool string to coordinate flight. It is simply magical how we can slip the surly bonds of the earth.

My village is the Buttonville Flying Club based at the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. We are perhaps 200 members strong. But when AirVenture rolls around every July, we rally en masse in Wisconsin to feed our condition. This year, about 40 members trekked to Oshkosh. Most flew into KOSH or neighbouring airports, some of us drove. We camped, rented homes, stayed at the university dorms, found distant hotels, and one even set up a tent in the gymnasium at the local YMCA. All sorts of levels of discomfort can be easily endured simply to play with airplanes.

We gather as a collective, with a goal to build even more plans to meet again, so as to continue the aviation conversations. During the days of the show, we all operate independently, or in small groups of two or three friends. Every day of the show, our club’s plan is to meet at noon at the AOPA tent for 10-20 minutes to discuss ideas for dinner, to share the hot topics, and discuss the fun times. As a group, dinner reservations for large numbers of 15 to 25 are pre-set for each evening and those so inclined, join in ad hoc.

On the Wednesday of AirVenture, I hosted a beer and ice cream social from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at my motorhome for members of the club. My 37-foot coach was my home for 21 days while I attended three airshows in three weeks – Geneseo, AirVenture, and Thunder over Michigan. It is my habit to sport a large Canadian flag off of the door awning. I fly a second Canadian flag high up on a mast 30 feet above grade to act as a beacon to guide the weary souls / soles towards the festivities. Finding a motorhome in the sea of 5,000 campsites can be a daunting task for the uninitiated. But a cold beer and ice cream awaited the brave folks who made the journey outside of the fenced-in exhibits.

What did we all talk about at the social gathering? Airplanes of course, what else.

These meetings make AirVenture special. Helen Keller once said, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much”. Without exception, the club members generously help each other. When we come together for a shared passion, we support each other. We exchange knowledge, guide thoughts and ideas, debate and argue, and shape ourselves based upon the congregation to which we all subscribe. So, being a pilot is part of what makes me who I am – it is in my DNA. And, my pilot friends have a considerable influence over my ever-changing persona. We are all so different from one another, yet we hold a common bond that stitches us together into a beautifully woven fabric of strength, warmth, and wisdom.

The history of aviation should inspire us all to innovate, create, and know that impossible ideas are all possible. As pilots, we can all be fearless intrepid explorers. We can travel and see the world – or parts of it anyway. It is these adventures that make flying stimulating and fascinating. But, to do it alone is not nearly as much fun as doing it all as a member of a village of friends. Thus, I say, share the passion, share the affliction, be a part of it all. The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.

Buttonville Safety Reporting

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 23:19:42 GMT

Buttonville's Safety Manager would like our assistance in keeping track of issues that should be reported as CADORS or simply things that can be managed better on the field. If you experience this type of situation, please write it up (using the form below). You can do this whether or not you submit a separate CADORS.

CYKZ Safety Report

BE PREDICTABLE: Safety in the Buttonville Mandatory Frequency Area

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 21:22:13 GMT

Wednesday’s club meeting featured members Mark Brooks, David Cox, and Phil Lightstone, discussing recommended procedures for flying into and out of the Buttonville mandatory frequency area.

Please review the excellent slides from the meeting presentation:

Buttonville-MF-Area-Safety-Ver-4.pdf

Please also review this document discussing recommented VFR procedures at Buttonville. An equivalent IFR document is in progress.

Buttonville-MF-Procedures-Ver-6.pdf

Buttonville Mandatory Frequency Area: Useful Information

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 21:27:31 GMT

Now that the tower has closed, Buttonville is a Mandatory Frequency area. Our president has collected a series of useful links, which are summarized here and will be maintained in the future on the Useful Links page.

NAV CANADA announcement of Buttonville tower closure and map of new MF area (pdf)

Weather:

Call London FIS on 123.15 for weather information from the air or on ground. Their phone number is + 1 866 992 7433 ext 3 for Ontario briefing or flight plans

NAV CANADA Aviation Weather Web Site flight planning page with links to METAR information, NOTAMs, GFAs, and other useful information

METAR and LWIS

Ontario GFA

CYKZ wind and altimeter settings — this page updates the LWIS on the METAR page, and updates many times an hour

General MF area information

The Smart Pilot Video series is also useful for some reminder information on process in Mandatory Frequency areas:

Uncontrolled Aerodrome Intro — Radio and flight procedures for landing and departing Non-Tower Aerodromes using ATF and MF

Departing a Mandatory Frequency Aerodrome

Landing at a Mandatory Frequency Aerodrome

Departing an ATF Aerodrome

Landing at an ATF Aerodrome

Apps

AeroWeather Pro (IPhone/pad app) has the LWIS for Buttonville now. You may have to pay a bit extra ($5/year subscription) plus upgrade to PRO but it is useful. You access it through the settings page in AW Pro and additional features (plus subscription).

Response to Planned Closure of the Buttonville Control Tower

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 04:36:28 GMT

The Executive of the Buttonville Flying Club has prepared the following documents in response to the planned closure of the Buttonville Control Tower in January 2019.

Letter to Minister of Transport Marc Garneau [pdf]

Appendix A -- Buttonville AS Report -- final Received from Nav Can May 3 2018 [pdf]

Appendicies B C D and sign off v1 [pdf]

2018 BFC Elections

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 04:44:58 GMT

On Wednesday November 14 it will be time once again for our Annual General Meeting and elections. We hope you can make it to the meeting, but if you cannot, we are making our proxy form available online, until the meeting begins at 7pm. You will need to be logged in to fill out the proxy form — please contact the webmaster if you have trouble logging in and we will be happy to help.

Voting has ended — thank you!!

The new Exec is as follows:

President and Chair of the Board: David Sprague
Treasurer and Board Director: Gordon Roberts
Secretary and Board Director: Michael Templeton
Membership Director and Board Director: Simon Lam
Directors of Operations: Joe DeCaria and Massood Ghahremani
Director of Flyouts and Activities: Charles Barnes
Webmaster: Erica Peterson
Online Content Manager: Claude Pio

Markham Air Cadet Gliding Operations

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 04:03:37 GMT

The Commanding Officer of the Markham Cadet Flying Site asks that we make our members aware of the following information, to reduce potential conflicts in the vicinity of Buttonville, Markham, and the Claremont practice area:

Operating near Claremont, Markham or Buttonville?

The Air Cadet League of Canada operates 8 Gliding Centres from various small airports across Ontario each Spring and Fall. The Markham Cadet Flying Site (Markham CFS) operates from Markham Airport (6.5NM NE of Buttonville) and would like to make you aware of our presence. A recent review has identified traffic conflicts occurring at an increasing rate. The most alarming were aircraft that blundered through the circuit area, unannounced, at circuit altitude operating to/from Buttonville or the Claremont Training Area.

Quick Facts

Markham CFS operates from April through mid-June and late August through mid-November
Operations occur only on:
- Weekends and holidays during Day VFR between 0800 and sunset, and
- Occasional Friday afternoons during Day VFR until sunset
All active operations are advertised by NOTAM and are included in the Buttonville ATIS
The tow aircraft and up to 2 gliders will only be found in the red box bounded by:
- Markham airport runway 09/27 centre line and the town of Stouffville
- McCowan Road and 10th Line
All operations are conducted from the surface to 3,500’ ASL
Glider and tow aircraft continuously monitor and transmit on VHF 122.8
The tow aircraft uses TCAS technology and will detect aircraft operating a transponder
Markham Unicom or “Glider Ground” will provide GTGC operational status on VHF 122.8
During active operations, the tow aircraft and gliders remain in the north circuit–all other powered traffic remains in the southern circuit. Circuit joining via overhead is not authorized.
Markham is a PPR (Prior Permission Required) airport. Permission must be obtained from the airport operator by phone as per the CFS.

Tower Schedule Changes

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 17:37:06 GMT

As of Thursday July 19, the Buttonville control tower is operating between 0800 and 2000 local time (EDT/EST). This is a reduction from the previous hours (0800 – 2300). While the tower is closed, the airspace is MF uncontrolled.

The ARCAL system is now operational on 124.8 — ~~5 clicks to engage, 3 clicks to disengage. The timer is 30 minutes, and at this time only the maximum lighting intensity is available.~~

Update:

The ARCAL at the airport has been adjusted to give you 2 different intensities.

Now 3 clicks on the microphone will activate the medium lighting for both runways.

Now 7 clicks will activate the high intensity lighting for both Runways.

The original 5 clicks will no longer work.

The lights will then time out after 30 minutes.

As a refresher, please review the Transport Canada one-page pdfs on uncontrolled airspace operations:

VFR Circuit Procedures at Uncontrolled Aerodromes

IFR Procedures at Uncontrolled Aerodromes

VFR Communications Procedures at Uncontrolled Aerodromes With MF and ATF Areas

Buttonville Flying Club News

Annual General Meeting and Election Results

Annual General Meeting and Election Results

BFC Remembers Dav1d Grossman

Captain Dav1d Grossman

By: Phil Lightstone

BFC remembers Peter Styrmo

Buttonville Airport has closed, permanently

COPA Appreciation Award for Charlie Rampulla

CHARLIE RAMPULLA – AVIATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

Give Hope Wings: Supporting a Worthy Cause with Gord Roberts

Give Hope Wings

About Hope Air:

Pickering Airport is One Step Closer to Reality

Sun n Fun 2023

Canada and USA 2021 Airshows - PDF List attached

February Meeting: Canadian Forces Pilot Andy Chen

2020 (Belated) Awards Night Honorees!

2020 BFC Awards Night Honorees

Attain Honor, Glory, and Chocolate in the BFC Photo Contest

Rules and Guidelines for this contest

Flight Simulator Buying Guide

BFC 60th Anniversary Lapel Pin

BFC Members-Only Fuel Rebate

Every pilot should fly a Spitfire at least once

COVID-19 Q&A from BFC member and virologist Simon Lam

COVID-19 Aviation Updates (this post will be continuously updated)

General safety information

Airport status

Returning to Canada

Transport Canada

Cancellations and schedule changes

BFC Remembers Ferdinand Arcon

Top volunteer pilots with Hope Air!

Fuel Payment Methods in Mexico (via CST)

Midway

November meeting: Centennial College tour!

Those members of club who want will meet for an informal and self funded supper at the Penalty Box Pub at 6pm. The Penalty Box is a just a 3 minute walk from the College and located at Scotiabank Pond 57 Carl Hall Road. THERE WILL BE NO CLUB SUPPLIED DINNER AT THIS MEETING.

A.I. Pilots: Are they about to replace Human Training?

After Testing The Fuel Sumps, These Pilots Still Experienced A Fuel Contamination Engine Failure

October meeting triple header with BFC Elections

September 11, 2001 - Where were you?

Last year, I wrote this story about my personal experience on September 11, 2001. So, I am sharing it here again this year as I remember this horrible day and these many events. I honour the fallen. I was airborne when these events happened.

Where were you on 9/11?

1943 Berlin Blitz

Friendly Flying Family

Buttonville Safety Reporting

BE PREDICTABLE: Safety in the Buttonville Mandatory Frequency Area

Buttonville Mandatory Frequency Area: Useful Information

Weather:

General MF area information

Apps

Response to Planned Closure of the Buttonville Control Tower

2018 BFC Elections

Markham Air Cadet Gliding Operations

Tower Schedule Changes