The Patrician MAR-APR 2022
The Victoria Flying Club ~ Aviation Excellence Since 1946
AN INTERVIEW WITH
JESSICA
JAMES VFC ALUMNUS AND PILOT
OF THE HISTORY CHANNEL'S LOST CAR RESCUE
The Patrician
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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“To “T o promote flying and aviation in general, and to teach and train persons in the art and science of flying and navigating and operating all manner of heavier-than-air aircraft.” PVictoriatyF ingCtubncorporaD I onytaw B sdrQ
PRESIDENT Don Devenney VICE PRESIDENT otin C Wittiamson SECRETARY Glen Rippon TREASURER Catjotsnes M DIRECTORS ain I arnes B Graham Palmer dam A ohnston J Lauriengatts I CHIEF FLYING Mike Schlievert INSTRUCTOR
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News around the Club High Flying Memes Womenof viaon A Wortdwideby Ramona Reynolds Feature: Interview with Jessica James Member Achievements & First Solos Ground School Schedule Thanks for the Share!
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PHOTO CREDITS Front cover photo provided by Jessica James.
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MAR & APR 2022
VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946
NEWS
Around the Club
WELCOME TO THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOCIAL SATURDAYS
Now that things are going back to normal, the VFC is going to hold a social event the first Saturday of every month at 9:00 AM! There will be coffee, tea, and pastries in the pilots lounge for everyone to joins us for this casual social event with other members. Come out and connect with other members, find new friends to fly with, and bring that club spirit back to the Victoria Flying Club. Our first social is going to be on May 7th, so mark your calendars!
COMMITTEES NEED YOU!
Do you have what it takes to help makes things happen at the VFC? We are presently looking for members to join the Social Committee and the Marketing Committee! Interested? Please email gm@ flyvfc.com.
HELP BUILD A BETTER VFC
The VFC needs a people skilled in trades to help us make some upgrades and improvements to the Flying Club. Are If you have these skills, don't hesitate! Send an email to gm@flyvfc.com today! www.flyvfc.com
Are you a female pilot looking to get into flying floats? An exciting new 99s scholarship is being offered in Kelowna BC for a Float Rating, valued at $3,000! The 99s are offering a fully-funded 7 hour Seaplane Rating to an ambitious, and determined member in Canada.
News and Events
On April 26th, the VFC was able to hold its first in-person Annual General Meeting in two years. As always, this included the election of members to the VFC's Board of Directors. While the majority of the Board was reelected, two new members have joined: Cal Mjolsnes, as Treasurer, and Laurie Ingalls, as a Director. Good luck to both of you in your terms on the Board of Directors!
FEMALE FLOAT PILOT SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE 99s
The Scholarship Application is now available and was emailed to all members of the East and West Canada Sections of the 99s. Any members of the 99s who didn't receive this email should check their spam folders. The application deadline is May 31, 2022, so don't wait: apply today! Please note that the Scholarship winner must provide their own transportation to Kelowna BC, as well as their own accommodations.
TELL YOUR STORY
Everyone wants to hear from YOU! Every member of the VFC has a story to tell, and the Patrician wants to share it! Email vfcpatrician@gmail.com to share your story.
EVENTS & HOLIDAYS APRIL 26 MAY 23 JUNE 21 JULY 1
VFC AGM VICTORIA DAY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER CANADA DAY
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com!
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News and Events
VFC MENTOR PROGRAM There s no be er gi than know edge oD ouy ant w otherpitotstoflywithdsptitflightcostdshareknowtedgedorgethetp geDfingtoanewairportforthefirstDme5indpotenDatmentorsandtheirresumes postedontheentorsbutteDnboardbesidetheDispatchcounter:ontact C detaitsare oneachmentorgsresumeorouy canemait v formoreinformaDon: nterested in becoming a mentor Theregsatwaysroomformoreexperiencedpitots4Sendanemaitto formoreinformaDononhowtofoinup4
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VFC CHARTER SERVICE Be there in minutes!
VFC Charter offers inexpensive, on-demand, and direct transportation to places not serviced by other commercial carriers in the lower BC area. The charter service is operational in day VFR conditions. Contact us for more information on destinations and costs or to book a flight at: Email: tedk^flyvfc8com Call: 1-778-350-3213
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MAR & APR 2022
VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946
HIGH FLYING MEMES It's been a rough couple of years. You deserve a laugh.
HIGH FLYING MEMES
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Women of Aviation Worldwide
WOMEN OF AVIATION WORLDWIDE
By Ramona Reynolds
I
was invited to speak along with fellow VFC community member, Jessica James, on March 12 at the Fly It Forward event for Women of Aviation Worldwide hosted at Glacier Air in Squamish. We enjoyed powerful speakers that included Angela Mourar whose career has taken her across Europe, West Asia, North Africa and the Gulf. She now manages operations for a Gulfstream
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in Austria. And Katie Coley who did her training on the Sunshine Coast, training on floats and tailwheel, and has worked in sightseeing, northern float operations and is now flying for a regional airline. I know that Jessica will be sharing her own experience but part of the challenge for me of preparing to speak with all of these young women and girls was to tell
them them truth without freaking them out. So my intention was actually not to tell them about the exciting world of sitting on a board, or holding the position of accountable executive, or managing a flight training unit and aircraft maintenance organization, regulatory issues, or even being the first woman to ever hold those positions at the Victoria Flying Club. I didn’t even talk to them about flying, I was there to talk to them about having full ownership of their own experience. I was very clear with my intention of the influence I wanted to have; and that had everything to do with empowering the next generation by telling them what nobody ever says out loud. I wasn’t there to tell my story; and in fact, I didn’t tell my story. I was there to use my own unique understanding and experience to expand their ideas of what was available to them.
VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946
Women of Aviation Worldwide
What I wanted them to take 2) You know how to feel and with them were these points: be fully empowered in your own experience. 1) All of us belong to an incredibly supportive The reason I want to walk community full of consistent these women through this active leaders, willing and experience, is because part able to show you the way. of being a woman in aviation is that there's are a lot of To that end, appreciation to Colette Morin, the owner of Glacier Air, and Madeline for organizing this event.
people who don’t feel shy about telling us what our experiences are. They will tell you how it’s going to go for you and what you are experiencing. They're gonna tell you how you feel about things. It’s important be confident in yourself.
And also thank you to the BC Coast 99s, because, they are true examples of a supportive group of women who are really committed to their community. I've been watching and learning from them since 2009 and they always show up. They are consistent and that’s important.
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Women of Aviation Worldwide
market research for the actual position. Do your homework just like you would with any job you're going to apply for. Just know that walking in the door, if you're qualified to do the job, you are equally as valuable as everybody else who walks in that door. 4) You have options – lots of them.
3) You are valuable. I am talking about money so start asking for what you are worth.
speak at this event was so moving. We have all been watching her grow for the last ten years. To know that her first instructor told her that it took girls longer to learn to fly, that it was harder for girls, and then reinforced that belief, only makes me more proud of her abilities and accomplishments.
To know she has a platform We had a pilot shortage to discount that belief is before the pandemic, we good. To know that this is have a pilot shortage now. just the beginning for her We had a labour shortage is even better. Her whole before the pandemic, we life has opened up, yet she have a labour shortage remains a person of integrity now. In some cases, if you who we can all be proud don't fill that position, to know. I know we will nobody is going to. Let that all keep supporting her by sink in. watching “Lost Car Rescue” but also by supporting her 5) The sky is not the limit – future initiatives because it’s just the beginning. that woman really is a rising star – not because of TV Watching Jessica James because that’s who she is.
What I see consistently, literally 100% of the time, is that women always ask for less money. Whether in aviation, law or whatever agency I'm recruiting for, I always see it. Quit doing that. I'm not talking about comparing you to your male counterparts, I'm talking about always asking for less. If you are going into a job in aviation, make sure you talk to all the people around you, both the women and the men. Do some
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VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946
6) You are right on time!
You know, I was asked to speak at this event to inspire young women in aviation and I came away completely inspired by them. In my own experiences, I’ve had plenty of people betting against me. With those young women, I wanted to be the person who is betting on them. My hope is that they can be confident that we will all show up for them. That they can be fully empowered in their own experience and speak their truth to the fullest.
Women of Aviation Worldwide
Whether you want to be a pilot, aircraft maintenance engineer, air traffic controller, regulator, or you are interested in the military, airport operations, maintenance or management – now’s the perfect time. This market is magic so decide, plan and execute!
I thought I was going in as the teacher here but, in fact, I was the student. It gave me time to reflect on how important my mentors in aviation have been for me. It was truly a privilege to be part of an experience that encouraged these young women to fly. All photos are used with permission from Ramona Reynolds, Colette Morin and Michaela C. Photography (michaelacphotography.ca).
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AN INTERVIEW WITH
JESSICA
JAMES This month the Patrician sat down with Jessica James, VFC alumnus and pilot on the History Channel’s new show, Lost Car Rescue.
owH didouy enduponost L ar C Rescue4 I met the host, Matt Sager, about nine or ten years ago at the Victoria Flying Club. We were both working on our Private Pilot Licenses and became really good friends and stayed in touch after flight school. I went off to become a commercial pilot and he started developing the show’s concept. Matt’s hunted cars since he was young, but when he got serious about doing it as a TV show he put together his own sizzle reel. I’m a firm believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason. In March of 2020, I was laid off from Kenn Borek Air, and it was pretty grim. 2020 was not the best time to be a fixed-wing pilot, let alone an unemployed one. I went back to school for a bit to get my paramedic license, but then the show was picked up and the next thing I know I’m working with Matt. The timing just worked out. Everything happens for a reason.
An Interview with Jessica James
tI probabpyheppsthat ouy twoapreadyhadthat friendpychemistry8 Absolutely! I’ve known Matt and his family for the past ten years. We were able to go right into it with an authentic connection, which really brings a lot to the show.
Whatas w itpikegrowing upwithapipot4
my dad finally told me “You’re getting over this” and put me up front. It was only a twenty minute flight, and he decided it was the right time for me to do it. I was really young, maybe five, but it worked! I’ve been fine ever since then. It’s really funny looking back on it.
a career, but once I got my private pilot’s license the rest is history.
Soonceouy ere w It was always a partnership up comfortabpeinthe frontofappane6when in the front. My dad is a pilot y startflying4 and my mom was his co-pilot didou and navigator.
It’s funny, as a kid I was terrified to go up front. Completely terrified. That’s so ironic, right? Even when the plane was on the ground, I was terrified to go into the front even for a photo. I don’t know why, but I was absolutely terrified of it! And I stayed that way until a short flight from William’s Lake to a family friend’s farm when 12
MAR & APR 2022
I was 19 when I started. I had just graduated high school and didn’t know what I wanted to do, but my mom is a big advocate of school and told me I had to do something. I couldn’t commit to a university program, but I always knew I want to get my license. I honestly had never thought of it as VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946
Sowhatareouy uptoright now4
It’s also great to learn a new skill, and a good way to spend time until I find out if we’re getting a second season.
id D growingupina remote6avia…onHoriented
Growing up in a small town, particularly a northern small town, I had a sense of the aviation/bush world. Even though I was young, I knew it wasn’t going to be all roses and sunshine. There were definitely challenges, even as early as my private pilot’s license. I think the biggest thing is to let people know that it’s okay to talk about it. If we don’t talk about it, it’s easy to think that you’re alone.
It’s important to let people know that they’re not the only ones going through it and to support each other. Women are the minority in this industry, but it’s important for me to say that both females and males have supported me. However, throughout my career and my training, I heard comments that said females were unable to be pilots. Really unacceptable things. Look, the truth is: you want to do well at this job. Your life depends on it. Other peoples’ lives depend on it. It doesn’t help your confidence to constantly hear those kinds of comments and think you’re the only one. The aviation industry is hard enough without that being a part of it.
An Interview with Jessica James
When I’m not filming, I’m doing tech records work for a helicopter company. I’m learning something new, which is great. And I have so much appreciation for maintenance departments now! It’s so much easier being a pilot, breaking the plane, and pawning it off.
townaffecthowouy saw theindustryorwhatouy expectedfromit4
id D ouy expecttoface thosekindsofdifficup…es ouy asaomen w in avia…on4 To be honest, I think a key part of the situation was that I was very young. This was Jess becoming an adult and learning to grow up. When I heard comments or faced negativity, I just took it and I shouldn’t have. I tried to laugh it off, but in reality I internalized a lot of it because I thought I was the only one hearing it. I felt alone. But I’m also the kind of person who rises to a www.flyvfc.com
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challenge. When someone questioned whether or not I’d ever be good enough to be a pilot, my response was: “I’ll show you.”
An Interview Interview with An with Jessica James Jessica James
And I did.
Whatdoouy thinkhepps peoppegetthrough situa…onspikethat4 It’s important that people talk about the times that are tough. This industry
is full of ups and downs. People need to know they’re not the only ones struggling and that this industry can be a bit soul crushing, to say the least. It’s not all good, and we need to be comfortable sharing that. But that said, at the same time it’s just as important to celebrate the successes. For example: I feel very
grateful for my time at Harbour Air. I had the chance to fly with amazing captains, learned from very knowledge float pilots, and made a family there that I still feel connected to today. When I went to Borek, I expected to see the world, but then the pandemic happened and I was sent home, which was a really hard blow. I don’t think we talk about it a lot, but pilots really identify as pilots. If that’s taken away from you, it’s a real jab to your mental health. It feels like starting over. When I was laid off, there was a prediction that it would be 3-5 years before I’d be flying again. But I’m the type of gal who can’t still for long, so I went back to school and got my paramedic license.
Doouy thinkthingsare changinginavia…on4 I think we’re getting better at supporting each other, but at the same time the fact that there are less female pilots creates an artificial sense of competition. Which is the exact opposite thing we should be doing. It’s heartbreaking. I was incredibly lucky to meet another female pilot in Harbour Air who was ahead of me in the process. We compared notes, and 14 MAR & APR 2022
VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946
good and the ugly, because there is ugly. I hate say it, but unfortunately females have to go through more than males in this industry.
realized it turned out she had gone through the same type of experiences. Knowing that we weren’t the only ones having these feelings or struggles allowed us to empower each other. We have to break that barrier. I also think that it’s important to recognize the men who have supported me and their female colleagues in general. It can be hard not to generalize, but I think there’s good people and bad people in the world, and that applies to any gender. I can’t say enough good things about the captains I worked with at Harbour Air, but one of my captains in particular really stands out.
the captain and then myself as first officer. As we were taxing out, he turned to me and said something I’ll never forget: “We are an equal team. You don’t need to say that I’m the captain and you’re the co-pilot. We’re both pilots up here.”
An Interview with Jessica James
This industry is still evolving and you have to have the passion to push through it. Find your mentors, your advocates, and a positive group of people you can confide in and who will support you. I’ve been so fortunate to have amazing mentors, both male and female, throughout my career. Know that there are days when it’s going to be hard. Young, impressionable people come into this career and need to know that. You’re going to have bad days. You might fail an exam. Someone
And that is a moment that will always stay with me forever. It was the first time that I was acknowledged as a full commercial pilot. That’s one huge story, but are so many others from my time at Harbour Air. I was so lucky and am eternally grateful that my first job was there.
sI thereanythingthat ouy wishouy knewwhen I was in the process of moving ouy startedflying4 from Vancouver to Victoria and had a crummy week. I had just finished my safety briefing where I introduced
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My biggest take away from this whole industry is to learn to talk about the
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AnJessica Interview with James Jessica James
out with my best friend all summer, learn something new, and to fly a really cool aircraft while getting PIC time… it felt like summer camp! And the fact we were getting paid to do it was almost confusing because it’s something we love so much. It’s like a dream.
Whatesouy rfavourite momentfromtheshow4
might tell you that you’re not a good pilot. That affects your self esteem and your entire outlook on becoming a pilot. If you think it’s going to be perfect, it might be enough to make you walk away from it. But I believe that if we talk about it we can change the atmosphere.
Whatesthebestpartabout beingonost L ar C Rescue4
I didn’t do the show to be on TV. I’m not big on the limelight. For me, it was about being able to save these old cars and listen to peoples’ stories. As an only child who grew up in a small town, listening to stories from the older generation was everything for me. It was my childhood. Besides that, getting to hang
A few different ones. I fell in love with a 1959 Volkswagen Beetle, because of the owner’s story. He hitchhiked from Dawson’s Creek to Saskatoon to pick it up, which gives you so much appreciate for the world we live in now. He was so proud of this Beetle and he and his wife were so sweet. We’re still in touch. We also got a 1918 Model-T race car. It was the oldest one we’d found, but also had a really neat story. It was postwar, and the men were coming home, but wanted something fast. A lot of them were pilots and missed that adrenaline, so they’d do races. We found this one outside of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Fun fact: the Model T is at the BC Aviation museum right now! It’s all so amazing. We find these cars everywhere. Some are abandoned in the woods, but some are parked neatly
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MAR & APR 2022
VFC | Aviation Excellence Since 1946
An Interview with VIVE LA DIFFERENCE! Jessica Flying in James France
in the corner of a farm where the owner always intended to restore them up before life happened. There’s so much bleed over from the aviation world to the car world. These cars are part of their families. They’re not trying to sell them, but if the right person comes along they’re willing to let them go to a new home. And we stay in touch. I’ve had to promise to so many people that when their cars get restored by their new owners I’ll be contact with updates and photos. For these people it’s not about the money. Then for other people, they don’t even know they have the cars in the first place and look at us like we’re crazy. People have offered to pay
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us to take away what they see as junk and we’ve had to convince them of what they have. Every time is different.
Anyadvicefornewpipots4
something you are passionate about it is worth every hard day. I wouldn’t trade any of my adventures in and I feel grateful for where this career has taken me and the people I have met along the way.
Try different things. Network. You never know where Thanksfortakingthe…me connections and relationships tochatwithus6essica3 J will lead you in aviation! Always be a good person. Youcanfindessica J and That’s one piece of advice ost L ar C Rescueonthe that I was given that I’ve H Channep8 always kept close to my heart, istory because it’s such a small industry that your reputation is everything. Beyond that, support each other and talk about the good and the bad. Change the narrative. Even though there are bad days there are going to be the best days of your life if it’s
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MEMBER ACHIEVEMENTS Member Achievements & First Solos
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CLASS II INSTRUCTOR TEST Darren Rich
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