Fly Drumheller hosted a fly-in event on Saturday, August 28 with Elevate Aviation, an Edmonton-based non-profit organization which supports awareness and introduces women and youth to various career opportunities in aviation.
The fly-in air tour was started by Dina Jammaz, Industry and Indigenous Relations with Elevate Aviation, professional air racer Scott Holmes of Outlaw Air Racing, and Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland MLA Shane Getson as a way to connect communities across the province with general aviation and raise awareness of the local aviation community.
“I’m really happy with the community turnout,” Jammaz said Saturday at the event. “And what a beautiful day for it!”
The air tour began as a “poker run” put on by the trio around Edmonton in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions which forced several aviation events to be cancelled last year. Following a successful tour to Mayorthorpe, which Jammaz says brought positive benefits not only to the local airport, but also the local area, Getson reached out to multiple municipalities to challenge them with the question “Why is your airport the best?”
Fly Drumheller announced on Facebook a total of 51 planes-39 of which were registered with the air tour-attended, including two helicopters.
Jammaz tells the Mail Drumheller was chosen as the final stop on the air tour “as a reminder of the beauty of the valley.”
Among spectators at the airport was Drumheller Mayor Heather Colberg, who gave a brief speech. There was a concession and live music for guests to enjoy, as well as a small market area with information booths from Elevate Aviation and the Alberta Aviation Council.
The fly-in was originally scheduled for August 7, however, smoke from wildfires in B.C. posed visual impairments for pilots, and the event was postponed.
