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.

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

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):

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/

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

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?

See article at Bold Method

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.

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?

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.