The Kelowna Flying Club and its members of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) are hosting the COPA for Kids Aviation Program today at the Kelowna airport.

More than 180 Okanagan youths from ages nine to seventeen will be taking to the skies with pilots generously providing their time, expertise and aircraft. Participants will get the chance to have a close-up look at aircraft on the ground and attend a short ground school where they will learn about the airplanes and ask questions about aviation and flying.

Pilots will demonstrate how to prepare for each flight with a pre-flight walk around and brief the young flight enthusiasts on safety aspects of their flight before take-off. Then, they will take to the skies and cruise over the valley before experiencing landing and shut down.

The event is taking place until 2 p.m. today at the Kelowna Flying Club on at 6135 Airport Way.

The event is a fun-filled event for the entire family with food and refreshments available for purchase from Mission Lions Club. There is plenty for the entire family to enjoy, including aviation-related exhibits, displays and activities.

Participating exhibitors include Medevac, Search and Rescue, charter aircraft, a Flight School, Air Cadets, and more. Kelowna Flying Club members will be on hand to answer questions and share how you can be more active and involved with our local airport.