2024: A Wonderful Year
As we close the chapter on 2024, let’s take a moment to celebrate the achievements and memorable experiences that made this year exceptional for the Qualicum Beach Flying Club (QBFC). Here’s a highlight reel of our journey:
Our Members
Our club's renewed energy stems from its incredible members. We proudly have 151 members, including 30 Flying Program members, and 58 Sealand students, with the remainder being a mix of Regular, Partner, and Corporate memberships. It was wonderful to see so many existing members renewing their memberships. Plus, I want to extend a special welcome to all the new members who joined in 2024.
This year was filled with milestones: members achieved first solos, night ratings, and private and commercial licenses; some began careers with airlines like WestJet and Porter, and one even flew a DC-3 to Antarctica!
Special thanks go to our board members—Bev, Wolfgang, and Terry—for their commitment to managing memberships, addressing queries, and handling payments.
Social Events
Our Christmas Party was the perfect way to wrap up the year, and it was a fantastic celebration! With delicious food, lively conversations, and a standout highlight—Greg’s Flight Simulator and VR goggles—guests were thrilled to try out the immersive experience. It was an absolute crowd-pleaser!
A Private Tour of the BC Aviation Museum kicked off our first event of the year back in February. Following a group lunch, we were treated to a tour of the Victoria Airport Control Tower. The event was a fascinating blend of social and educational components.
Spring Cleanup was the theme for April and it had the club looking (and smelling) fantastic thanks to an amazing group effort.
The Comox Airshow was the destination for the club’s road trip in May. Although it wasn’t possible to fly in, we all enjoyed the impressive aerobatic performances and static displays.
Our Gillies Bay Airplane Camping Trip is an annual tradition. It took place in June under clear blue skies - the perfect weather for a walk to the beach, and a swim in the ocean. (On a personal note - I had the privilege of being flown over by Ethan, who was at that time one of Canada’s youngest pilots!)
The Boundary Bay Airshow in July was our fly-out destination for the second year running. The following weekend several club members visited the Wings ‘n Wheels event in Campbell River.
Sealand Flight partnered with the club in August to showcase their newest aircraft - a Pipistrel Velis Electro (electric airplane) - here at the Qualicum Beach airport. The event was well attended by members of the public and the local media.
The Orcas Island Fly-out was a great success with several aircraft from the flying club participating in the overnight camping trip. Members went swimming, played games, cooked food, explored the town, and had a group brunch. Based on the feedback, this is sure to become an annual event.
Movie Night in November featured the classic Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines on the screen in the clubhouse, along with popcorn and snacks.
Club BBQs were held four times this year; in May, July, August, and September. These events are always wildly popular with our club members and the many visiting pilots who fly in.
A big thank you to Mike, our Social Director, who plans and organizes all these events. Likewise, for his partner Sam, who helps out so very much at each function. These two are golden threads in the social fabric of the club.
It’s worth mentioning that beyond the official club events, there were a myriad of impromptu get-togethers by individual club members. A big advantage of the flying club is that there are a lot of pilots and airplanes around - which leads to get-togethers in the air and on the ground!
Shared Flights
There’s a strong sense of camaraderie within the club, which extends beyond the official social events. Many impromptu gatherings naturally take place among members, driven by a shared passion for aviation. With so many pilots and airplanes around, the club fosters countless opportunities for shared experiences both in the air and on the ground, strengthening bonds and creating lasting memories.
Thank you to club member Ken, along with Mike and Greg, for their generosity in sharing rides in the beloved Stearman biplane. These flights, including the occasional local aerobatic shows, bring joy and inspiration to the aviation community and local residents.
Wednesday Morning Coffee
Each week, members gather at the clubhouse to enjoy friendship, hot coffee, and homemade banana bread, in a delightful tradition started by Doug and maintained by Chris. A warm thank-you to them both for their consistent efforts at keeping this wonderful social event alive.
Additionally, Brendon's snack table and routine fridge restocking have been instrumental in making the club more welcoming - while generating much-needed extra revenue.
The Clubhouse
Owning our building outright is a privilege, but it demands upkeep. In 2024, Chris, our Facilities Director, implemented several remarkable improvements:
Hangar Doors - We’ve debated installing replacement doors for many years, but the costs have always been prohibitive. Chris hired a welder, who cut 2” off the bottom of the old doors. This modification, along with new hardware that Chris and Brent installed in the overhead tracks has completely fixed the problems with the doors dragging and jamming. This saved the club thousands of dollars!
Energy Improvements - To save more money Chris installed LED lighting and programmable thermostats throughout the building. We have already seen a substantial reduction in the club’s monthly electrical bill.
Security Enhancements - Chris modified the existing door locks to help prevent unauthorized entry to the club and the hangar. He also installed additional exterior lighting to make it safer for all members at night.
Cleaning Staff - Increased use of the clubhouse has necessitated increased cleaning. Thanks to generous donations from coffee, snacks, and the drinks fridge we have been able to fund professional cleaners twice a month.
The Flying Program
Panel Upgrade - This year saw significant enhancements to our aircraft, including an all-new panel, electronic instruments, and an engine monitoring system - improving safety and restoring Night VFR capabilities. Pavel did a beautiful job of fabricating the panel and installing the instruments. Meanwhile, Nick, Greg, and Mike managed this unique and complicated project for the club.
Maintenance Tracking System - Greg and Mike implemented an automated system to track maintenance required for our aircraft. It integrates with FlightCircle to provide automated reminders based on air-time and calendar dates. This, along with a new Work Order system, created by Nick, will increase safety and improve our communication with our various maintenance providers.
Operations Manual - Nick championed the development of this critical document which details the overall roles, responsibilities, and procedures for flying program members. This ambitious project involved input from many club members during its final review phase.
Resources Page - We updated the club’s website to include a new Resources page containing links to digital copies of user manuals, checklists, and handbooks for our aircraft.
Training Videos - Mike created two training videos to introduce flying program members to the new features of the upgraded instrument panel. They can be found, along with Brendon’s excellent CAT4 Airport Overview video, on the Resources page.
Ferry Pilots - As we expanded our list of approved maintenance providers, we needed pilots to fly the plane to Victoria and Campbell River for service. It’s delightful that so many club members have volunteered to help out.
A sincere thank-you to Greg and Nick for their tireless dedication to maintaining the club’s aircraft and ensuring its airworthiness for all the flying program pilots.
Board Members
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all past and present board members for their unwavering support and invaluable guidance. Your dedication has been the backbone of our success. Following the Flying Club AGM in June, the executive team convened for two subsequent board meetings, held in September and November.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we wrap up this incredible year, I'm grateful to everyone who contributed to our success. Here's to another outstanding year ahead for the QBFC!
Happy Holidays - and we’ll see you in 2025!
P.S. Have you renewed your 2025 membership yet? If not, follow the instructions here.