Associations

There are many associations and councils in the Canadian aviation industry providing invaluable resources for private pilots, aircraft owners, business aircraft companies and air carriers alike. Whether you are looking to become a member of an association, seeking educational and networking opportunities, or just hoping to keep current on key issues in the aviation world, we have provided a short overview of each of the most prominent trade associations.

The Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) came into existence as a result of a conference of aircraft operators and aircraft manufacturers held on November 18, 1934.

ATAC serves as Canada’s national trade association for commercial aviation and flight training industries as well as aviation industry suppliers, as well as advancing the issues that affect members’ bottom lines through a set of services, which help shape the development of those issues in the public realm. Some of ATAC’s objectives are to: promote safe, reliable, efficient and affordable air transportation of people and goods to the benefit of Canadian society; engage with relevant Government and regulatory authorities to advance Canadian commercial aviation and facilitate sustainable air transport; advocate for government recognition of commercial aviation as a vital Canadian socio-economic driver; promote the availability of world class flight training in Canada, domestically and internationally; promote and support sound environmentally responsible operations and policies; and promote and support a regulatory framework that recognises enterprise and imagination in providing safe and competitive air transport services.

The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) represents dozens of airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most passenger service airports in every province and territory. CAC members handle virtually all of the nation’s air cargo and international passenger traffic and 90% of domestic passenger traffic.

The CAC, a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada’s airports. Formed in 1992, as the devolution of airports to local control was beginning, the CAC has established itself as the reliable and credible federal representative for airports on a wide range of significant issues and concerns.

The purpose of the CAC is to be the industry association that lobbies the federal government on issues that affect the business interests of Canada’s airports. The vision is a community of airports, as collaborative world leaders in safe, high-quality, economically prosperous air transport. The CAC’s mission is to advocate for airports on matters of common concern by: Anticipating … initiatives and developments with the potential to impact airports; Collaborating … in positive ways with industry partners and government; Building … consensus among airports on areas of policy, legislation and regulation; Influencing … government initiatives in ways that support safe, secure, environmentally/socially responsible and competitive air transport; and Promoting … better knowledge about airports and their important economic and social roles.

The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) is a non-profit association formed in 1961 as Canada’s voice for business aviation and has assumed an increasing role in its advocacy for Canadian business aviation interests. With a membership of approximately 400 companies and organizations, including operators, management companies and suppliers, CBAA represents the entire business aviation community with a unified and collective voice.

The CBAA’s mission is to promote and simplify business aviation with its vision being to promote the value of business aviation and shape its distinctive identity; foster safety, security, efficiency and innovation for Canada’s business aviation community; lead the utilization of performance-based concepts; and promote a regulatory and policy environment which fosters the growth of business aviation.

The CBAA’s Strategic Objectives are to achieve fair and equitable access for business aviation; promote the growth and recognition of business aviation; foster safe, secure, and efficient business aviation; provide valuable membership services; and maintain good governance.

The Canadian Owners & Pilots Association (COPA) represents over 17,000 pilots and aircraft owners across the country and is the national voice for General Aviation in Canada. Through the mission of advancing, promoting, and preserving the Canadian Freedom to Fly, COPA is at the forefront on issues that affect pilots, aircraft and airports in communities across Canada and is an active partner with all levels of government in ensuring a bright future for general aviation.

The COPA Flight Safety Foundation, founded in 1973 to promote flight safety in the field of general aviation, collects donations from across the country to sponsor COPA’s safety-related initiatives, including the COPA Neil J. Armstrong Scholarship.

Due to the wide variety of challenges and obstacles faced by the general aviation community, COPA created a fund to solicit contributions which are used to fund legal actions at all levels and projects of national importance vital to the future of general aviation. To date, the COPA Freedom to Fly Fund has provided more than $1.3 million to secure general aviation’s future in Canada.

COPA is also active at the grassroots level, with over 200 regional and local chapters which constitute the COPA Flights. The first flight was formed in Guelph in 1964 and today the program boasts flights in every province and two territories. The COPA Flights are an essential component to the success of the COPA for Kids program which introduces over 3,000 Canadian children to general aviation each year and is a vital component of our collective outreach and promotion within the broader community.

Through the COPA Neil Armstrong J. Scholarship Program, COPA members and friends of former member Neil Armstrong provide scholarship funds each year to help worthy candidates offset the costs of flight training. Today they are proud to represent close to 16,000 members in every province and territory who recognize the need for strong, effective representation resting on their core principles of integrity, commitment, discovery, unity, and leadership.

The Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC) is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on bringing all areas of the Helicopter Industry together. They represent all areas of the industry ranging from operators, pilots, manufacturers, and much more, striving to accomplish the following objectives: to promote a political and regulatory environment that will foster a prosperous Canadian Helicopter industry; to educate members, civil servants, and the general public about issues important to the industry; to promote the continued enhancement of flight safety; to develop expanded utilization of helicopter transport at all levels of Canadian life; and; to exchange maintenance practices and common issues among members.

The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) was formed in 1991 as The National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) when eight of the country’s leading aircraft dealers came together to assure aircraft buyers and sellers of the highest level of ethics, experience, standards and trust. Since then, the organization has grown to be a worldwide association of more than 100 Aircraft Dealers, Brokers and business aviation product and service companies that do business in over 100 countries.

In 2018, NARA officially changed its name to IADA to reflect its constant presence around the world and international domination of pre-owned aircraft sales. Although just 3% of all aircraft dealers have earned IADA Membership, they are responsible for over 60% of all pre-owned aircraft sales globally.

The International Aircraft Dealers Association strives to be the collective force influencing and shaping the aircraft transaction industry. It seeks to be the acknowledged leader in developing standards for efficient, effective and ethical business aircraft transactions, valued by highly skilled aircraft transaction professionals and viewed by them as crucial to their success. Working for business aircraft owners globally, the International Aircraft Dealers Association provides a facility for professional standards, ethics and exchange of information among its members and to the public for the purpose of creating a more efficient market, facilitating transactions and providing transparency into the transaction process, thereby increasing business aircraft ownership and usage worldwide.

The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) is a professional association that facilitates the interchange of ideas and capital that finance the world’s general and business aviation aircraft. NAFA provides a forum for the discussion of issues impacting the industry, exploration of best practices and review of risk mitigation strategies, in addition to its other core missions of professional education, networking and industry advancement.

NAFA membership provides great networking and educational opportunities throughout the year. The network provides members access to some of the best resources in the industry.

Need to find a lender? NAFA lenders focus exclusively on aircraft finance and leasing. They are industry experts and can help you with your aviation financing needs. Looking for a Product/Service Provider? NAFA’s Product/Service Providers can help you with all aspects of your aircraft transaction. They work with NAFA’s lenders on a regular basis and can help facilitate a timely and efficient closing.

NAFA hosts networking and educational events throughout the year, helping members to stay abreast of current aviation finance industry issues and trends.

The National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) represents Canada’s largest national and international passenger air carriers: Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet, promoting safe, environmentally responsible and competitive air travel through the development of sound public policy, regulations and legislation and engaging with government and industry stakeholders. The association is for all air carriers facing similar regulatory and policy issues and all large passengers air carriers are eligible for NACC membership, if they meet required certifications and licences in NACC’s by-laws.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) based in Washington, DC, was founded in 1947 and is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive, and successful. The association represents more than 11,000 companies and professionals and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. The NBAA collects, interprets, and disseminates operational and managerial data related to the safe, efficient, and cost-effective use of business aircraft. The Association is the focal point for identifying and understanding advances in technology and procedures important to the business aviation community.

NBAA is dedicated to representing business aviation before policymakers at the state, federal and local level. NBAA’s team of professionals advocates for association members’ interests through daily contact with Members of Congress, as well as officials at the White House, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Transportation, the IRS, Customs and Border Protection and other federal and local government representatives.