Canada’s best amateur pilot for 2013 is Takashi Hirose, an Algonquin College student who flies out of the Ottawa Flying Club. He was one of nine finalists taking part in the Webster Memorial Trophy Competition, which was hosted by Harv’s Air at St. Andrews Airport in Winnipeg this year.
- Takashi Hirose with Webster Judge Martine Dumas in the Redbird simulator
The runner-up in the competition was Stu Loney, who flies out of Brampton Flight Centre in Brampton, ON. Yurey Wu, from the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre won a separate competition sponsored by NavCanada on controller communications, airspace and aircraft operations near and at airports.
The finalists were chosen from regions across Canada based on the results of their Transport Canada written and practical flight exams. They took part in five days of competition that included written, practical and simulator tests. The competition enjoyed perfect weather at St. Andrews, a GA field just north of Winnipeg, along with great hospitality.
- Runner-up Stuart Loney gets ready for his flight
“Harv’s Air is one of the best flight training centres in Canada and their professionalism and courtesy towards the competition participants was amply exhibited during the entire week,” said Wayne Foy, who along with his wife Amy organize the annual competition.
Air Canada Flight Operations is the principal sponsor of the competition, which promotes safe and accurate flight operations by GA pilots.