Tag Archive for 'Pilot Training'

Two OFC Alumni in Space

Published
by
Michael McKay
on 24 July 2009
in OFC and Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

I’m proud to look up and see colleagues Julie Payette and Bob Thirsk in orbit on the International Space Station.  I worked closely with both of them and have high regard for their abilities.  Now that I’m working with the Ottawa Flying Club, I’m reminded of them and all the Canadian Astronauts daily since our pictures are on the walls.  Before the Canadian Space Agency moved to St. Hubert south of Montreal, the Astronauts recieved their primary flight training at the Ottawa Flying Club under contract with CSA.  It was great fun.  Julie and I did our first cross country flights on the same day back in 1993, dodging snow squalls as we flew small Cessna 150’s between Ottawa and Kingston. 

The Station is quite visible in the sky (when its clear).  If you want to see it, check out the sightings page at the NASA web site (http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/sightings/).

A New CEO for the Ottawa Flying Club

Published
by
Michael McKay
on 20 July 2009
in Management, OFC and Pilot Training
. 1 Comment

This is my first post as the CEO of the Ottawa Flying Club. It is a honor to be given the responsibility for such a venerable organization. The club has been active since 1928 and has a long history of promoting aviation in Canada. In the last few years, a strong partnership has formed with Algonquin College where OFC provides professional flight training to students at the Algonquin Aviation Management program. While this is beneficial for the club in terms of increased activity and revenue, it is also creating new challenges for a club that is now a multi-million dollar business. Properly managing the growth in the next few years will be critical to ensure that the club continues to benefit from its new business activities. I look forward to these challenges and would appreciate any comments the club members may have regarding the way ahead.