technical assistance to its members on aviation questions and problems. COPA is a registered lobbying organization and conducts advocacy work on behalf of aircraft owners with Transport Canada, Nav Canada and other governmental agencies. The association is a member of each of the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council's (CARAC) nine technical committees. COPA has a large Special Action Fund renamed the Freedom to Fly Fund collected from its members over the years, which is often used to fund court cases. The association has a network of 207 local chapters across the country. These COPA Flights annually run many local aviation events, including many of Canada's summertime fly-ins. COPA holds an annual general meeting and two conventions, one in Western and one in Eastern Canada. Youth flying programs COPA was the Canadian partner in the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program between 1992 and 2008. Young Eagles was started in 1992 with the goal of flying more than 1,000,000 young people between ages 8 and 17 by the December 2003 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight. The goal was met with COPA's members flying about 10% of the total Young Eagles flown in the world. COPA's participation in the program was terminated on 31 May 2008, due to insurance issues. COPA introduced a replacement program, under the name COPA For Kids Aviation Program on 11 February 2009. Then COPA President Kevin Psutka stated: References External links Aviation organizations based in Canada Organizations based in Ottawa Lobbying organizations in Canada 1952 establishments in Canada