Are you a COPA member with a friend interested in becoming a pilot-for-the-day? Provide an individual discovery flight for this pilot-in-the-making. Volunteer pilots can enjoy peace of mind with top-up insurance on top of existing aircraft insurance policies at no extra cost through COPA’s Discover Aviation program.

To qualify for the top-up insurance, participating pilots must be a current member of COPA, and the flight must be pre-registered using the form below. Pre-registration can be done at any time, right up until takeoff time.

Note: if you are a member of the public interested in a personal discovery flight and do not know a COPA member in your area, please contact programs@copanational.org. We will aim to connect you with a pilot who will volunteer their time!

Background screening

As COPA’s Discover Aviation introductory flights welcome young people (18 and under) into the world of aviation, all volunteer pilots flying a minor must complete a background check. The following background check options are accepted by COPA:

  • A background check conducted by a municipal, provincial or First Nations police service. These checks must be renewed every five years. Expenses are not covered by COPA.
  • A Government of Canada security clearance such as a reliability status, secret clearance, top secret clearance or a NEXUS/RAIC pass. These background checks must be active at the time of the Discover Aviation event. Expenses are not covered by COPA.
  • A background check conducted by a private business with authority to complete background screenings.
  • Completed online via Sterling Backcheck, COPA’s trusted background check partner. These background checks must be renewed every five years. COPA will cover the $25 fee for its members (we require first + last name and emails, this can be inputted in our event registration form). This new option was introduced in 2022 to save COPA members time and money, and should take less than 30 minutes to complete.

Consent Waivers
All participants in the Discover Aviation program must complete the following liability waivers. See below for a variety of waiver forms your COPA Flight can use:

  • YYYY slash MM slash DD
  • We will provide you a copy of this form upon completion via the email provided.
  • Note: Pilots flying minors without a background screening will not qualify for the liability insurance top-up incentive, available through this program. COPA will cover the expense of the background screening and it takes between 5-15 minutes to complete. Please contact programs@copanational.org to add yourself to the application list. Otherwise, upon completion of this form, we will send you a request to complete the background check.
  • We'll need a unique email for each passenger that wishes to enrol in Hangaaar's Free PPL ground school or to gain access to Infinite Flight Pro's 90-Day free trial
  • Discover Aviation discovery flights come with free online ground school through Hangaaar as well as access to Infinite Flight Pro, the most comprehensive flight simulator experience on mobile devices, whether you are a curious novice or a decorated pilot (conditions apply).
  • In order to provide access to Infinite Flight Pro, please confirm if this individual uses an iOS or Android system. (Please confirm with the passenger before completing this form).
  • We'll need a unique email for each passenger that wishes to enrol in Hangaaar's Free PPL ground school or to gain access to Infinite Flight Pro's 90-Day free trial
  • Discover Aviation discovery flights come with free online ground school through Hangaaar as well as access to Infinite Flight Pro, the most comprehensive flight simulator experience on mobile devices, whether you are a curious novice or a decorated pilot. (conditions apply).
  • In order to provide access to Infinite Flight Pro, please confirm if this individual uses an iOS or Android system. (Please confirm with the passenger before completing this form).
  • We'll need a unique email for each passenger that wishes to enrol in Hangaaar's Free PPL ground school or to gain access to Infinite Flight Pro's 90-Day free trial
  • Discover Aviation discovery flights come with free online ground school through Hangaaar as well as access to Infinite Flight Pro, the most comprehensive flight simulator experience on mobile devices, whether you are a curious novice or a decorated pilot. (conditions apply).
  • In order to provide access to Infinite Flight Pro, please confirm if this individual uses an iOS or Android system. (Please confirm with the passenger before completing this form).
  • We'll need a unique email for each passenger that wishes to enrol in Hangaaar's Free PPL ground school or to gain access to Infinite Flight Pro's 90-Day free trial
  • Discover Aviation discovery flights come with free online ground school through Hangaaar as well as access to Infinite Flight Pro, the most comprehensive flight simulator experience on mobile devices, whether you are a curious novice or a decorated pilot. (conditions apply).
  • In order to provide access to Infinite Flight Pro, please confirm if this individual uses an iOS or Android system. (Please confirm with the passenger before completing this form).