Newsletter Archive/Archives du bulletin

webstertrophy.ca Newsletter #005 - 2016

Previous Webster Finalist Passes Away: We are sad to announce that Fred Ralet, 2010 Quebec Region finalist succumbed recently to cancer. Fred continued to enthusiastically support the Webster programme and would often visit when in Ottawa from Montreal. He will be sorely missed.

Another Webster Alumni Makes It To The Airlines: Another 2010 finalist, Jeff Smith, who represented the Atlantic Region has just recently been hired on by Jazz. Congratulations have been sent out to Jeff and as we wish for all our Webster finalists, the best of luck as he progresses upwards through his career.

A New Webster Photographer: Due to personal commitments our Webster photographer over many years Andrea Shury has elected to withdraw from the position and will be replaced by Mike Doiron, who likely many of you know over the years from ATAC and Transport Canada and other aviation endeavours he has been involved in. Mike is currently scanning Andrea's previous work along with our input of required shots and developing his own approach to Webster Week. He is planning to develop a book of Webster Week photos which will be available to the finalists and judges and available also for purchase on-line for Webster at a reasonable price to anyone wishing to acquire one. We have seen his work and one of these books produced and the concept is outstanding.

How Goes It This Year So Far? The competition due to extenuation circumstances had to be changed from the third week in August to the third week in September and it has has an effect on the number of competitors applying, especially those from the aviation colleges are many will be back in class at that time and find it hard to get away for a week to compete. We also in an attempt to enhance the programme further by testing aviation knowledge along with flight skills at the regional level, introduced an on-line written exam developed by Nav Canada specifically for Webster and has become one of the requisites to qualify. Even though it contains aviation subjects that all Private Pilot and higher licence holders should easily know, it may also be a deterrent to some. Nevertheless at the time of this update, the slow trickle of applications received over the past few months is now accelerating, which often also occurs about now due to better flying weather and flight tests being completed. All regions at this time are covered.

Due to the later date of the competition, the deadlines were extended to June 15th for applications and final deadline for the submission of all required documents by midnight June 30th. Normally we would announce the finalists the very next morning however with the inclusion of the Nav Canada exam, we have to ensure that all the marks have been received, entered into computer programme set up to meld and calculate both exam and flight test totals and determine the finalists. This project is being undertaken by Brenda Reid, our new National Administrator taking over at the end of the 2016 competition. Because of this and also as it is the Canada Day weekend, the announcements are planned for July 4th, at which time the finalists are notified first, followed by all of the competitors and then posted on the website.

Transport Canada Bows Out: Unfortunately earlier in the year we received notice that Transport Canada (TC) will no longer allow their Civil Aviation Inspectors (CAIs) the time off to come to Webster Week and conduct the flight tests. This is unfortunate for the Flight Training Standards CAIs thoroughly looked forward to the event and enjoyed it immensely. More important than that was an opportunity for them to get out of head office and see what was happening in the field, personally assess pilot skills and even try out new exercises on the finalists that they may wish to incorporate into TC flight tests in the future. They will be sorely missed.

We are currently searching for an authorized Pilot Examiner to take on the airborne portion of the competition flight tests and have a name or two being contacted now. I will take on the Redbird simulator portion of the tests. After the number of years I have been away from flying, it is too dangerous to let me into a real aeroplane again.

Wayne

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