St-Jean NPF Flight Club
By Brigitte Smiley
 Roger Gauthier, PSP Community Recreation Director (left) and Capt Eric Tabard, pose in front of the Cessna 172. |
Did you know that St-Jean has a flight club? Le Club de Pilotage 5e GSS Région Montréal, is the only one of its kind in the NPF world. It was founded in June 2003 by Capt Claude Courcelle and Capt Eric Tabard, two experienced pilots who wanted to keep up their flying skills while stationed in St-Jean. Through his military training as an Air Force Navigator and his experience with the military flight clubs in Winnipeg and Greenwood, Capt Tabard knew the regulations that must be followed in order to get the club started.
 The St-Jean complex seen from 1000 feet. |
“The NPF committee was receptive to the idea of a flight club, but they wanted Capt Courcelle and I to make sure that we observed the bottom line,” said Capt Tabard. “We teamed up with le Centre Pluridiciplinaire d'Aviation du Quebec Inc., which is adjacent to the base, for storage of the airplane and to maximize its use.” The club has a membership of 48 people. CF members as well as NPF staff and DND civilian employees can rent the airplane for $96 per hour. New pilots can work towards obtaining the 4000 hours needed to qualify for a license. More experienced pilots will occasionally take passengers on a tour of Montreal, or the beautiful eastern townships. If you find yourself close to St-Jean and would like to take advantage of this flight club, feel free to contact the club president, Capt Bruno Demers at (450) 358-6777 ext 5915.
