Special Mentions

Kyla Ewasiuk

2025 – An ‘Honourable Mention,’ was given to KYLA EWASIUK, Alberta College of Aeronautics, Chair & Chief Flight Instructor for her significant contributions to advancing Canadian aviation safety.

“Our responsibility is to train not only skilled and capable pilots but also pilots whose approach to safety is unshakeable, in part because the overarching importance is demonstrated through recognition & awards such as ‘The David Charles Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award.” —Kyla Ewasiuk

“The DCAM Award celebrates aviation and the people involved with aviation.”

Special Recognition to ANDREW SIMPSON, Chief Flight Instructor at Ottawa Flying Club, Ont. who received a certificate from FlightSafety Canada.

Special Recognition to KYLE GREEN, Training Manager & Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre, Ont. who received a Flight Instructor Refresher course, sponsored by Seneca College.

“The David Charles Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award benefits the entire aviation community by raising the profile of professional flight instructors dedicated to advancing aviation safety across the country.”  

As a deserving nominee, JESSICA TRAYNOR, Flight Instructor, at Sault College, Ont. received a Safety Management System Workshop, sponsored by ATAC.

“My most heartfelt condolences go out to David’s family and friends. I would like to thank them for making sure that safety is recognized in this industry as an important and valuable attribute, inspiring others to keep the skies safe.”

2015

An Honorable Mention was given to ADAM PENNER, Operations Manager, at Harv’s Air Manitoba, who received an Aviator’s watch from Hamilton Watches. IMG_1504

“The DCAM Award celebrates aviation and the people involved with aviation.”

Special Recognition to ANDREW SIMPSON, Chief Flight Instructor at Ottawa Flying Club, Ont. who received a certificate from FlightSafety Canada.

Special Recognition to KYLE GREEN, Training Manager & Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre, Ont. who received a Flight Instructor Refresher course, sponsored by Seneca College.

“The David Charles Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award benefits the entire aviation community by raising the profile of professional flight instructors dedicated to advancing aviation safety across the country.”  

As a deserving nominee, JESSICA TRAYNOR, Flight Instructor, at Sault College, Ont. received a Safety Management System Workshop, sponsored by ATAC.

“My most heartfelt condolences go out to David’s family and friends. I would like to thank them for making sure that safety is recognized in this industry as an important and valuable attribute, inspiring others to keep the skies safe.”

2014

Keith (KO) Ostertag: was chosen to receive the 2014 DCAM ‘Legacy Award.’  A lifetime of achievement and experience, successfully teaching for over forty-five years in the helicopter industry, with a total of 35,000 hours he has created a significant training and instruction history for rotary wing Pilots.

AN HONORABLE MENTION WAS GIVEN TO: Cathy Press, Chief Flight Instructor at Chinook Helicopters, Abbotsford, BC and to Andrej Zile, Professor, School of Aviation, Seneca College.

Amanda Welsh, Assistant Chief flight Instructor, at Moncton Flight College, is the winner of a three day instructional refresher course sponsored by Seneca College.                                                                                                                                                  
“The Award keeps the spirit and memory of David’s efforts alive by recognizing individuals who themselves hold the cornerstone of safety at the forefront, with an enthusiasm for high quality.  They lead the industry with passion towards progress.  As leaders of safety, Instructors have the influence on many new Pilots that are beginning a career.  A foundation built on safety will initiate a future for young Pilots that will be long lasting and prosperous.”

2012

SPECIAL RECOGNITION 2012 was given to two deserving nominees of the DCAM:

Patrick Lafleur; A helicopter Flight Instructor, Chief Flight Instructor, Passport-Helico, Quebec, is the recipient of the Safety Management Systems workshop, sponsored by ATAC.

“Following  Mr. Patrick Lafleur being given Special Recognition by the DCAM Selection Committee in 2012, he gave me the opportunity to attend an SMS workshop on his behalf, that I attended in Toronto,  October 2014.

This workshop gave me a better understanding of the complete SMS system and how to implement and manage one for our company. It was a pleasant week and our consultant Mr. Mike Doiron was really entertaining.”

Stephan Grenier
CFI & SGS Manager,   
Chef Instructeur et gestionnaire de la securite,
Passport Helico,   Mascouche, Qc.

Chris Walsh: Director of Training, Mngr. Of Corporate Safety & Quality of Moncton Flight College, NB., was chosen to receive the three day Flight Instructor Refresher Course, sponsored by Seneca College – School of Aviation.

Chris Walsh, Director of Training, Mngr. Of Corporate Safety & Quality of Moncton Flight College, NB.

Kathleen (Kathy) Fox: “Receiving the DCAM Award would reflect very well on the RFC, its management and staff which has earned a solid reputation for safe, professional and friendly flight training. Further I hope it would serve as an encouragement to other senior, experienced pilots to continue to contribute their expertise in a meaningful way to training and mentoring new pilots.”

Mr. Orville Hewitt, Chief Flight Instructor & General Manager of Cooking Lake Aviation Academy, Alberta, was given an Honorable Mention in recognition of his lifelong excellence in flight instruction.

He received a state-of-the art pilot’s headset from Sennheiser Canada.

Orville Hewitt, Chief Flight Instructor & General Manager of Cooking Lake Aviation Academy, Alberta.

 

2011

SPECIAL RECOGNITION 2011 was given to the following short listed deserving nominees of the award:

Jonathan Isaac, Company Aviation Safety Officer & Senior Flight Instructor, Brampton Flight College, Ont. as a deserving nominee, has been invited to participate in training activities at FlightSafety Canada’s Learning Center in Toronto.

Tahara MacDonald, Manager Instructional Services, Moncton Flight College, NB, was the deserving nominee of a three day Instructor Refresher Course given by Seneca College, Ont; also included were monetary contributions from Essential Turbines Inc. & CAAC.

Michael Schuster, Principal Consultant & Director of Operations, Aviation Solutions, Guelph, Ont. was the deserving nominee of an engraved aviator’s watch from Hamilton watches.

L to R Michael Schuster, Principal Consultant & Dir.of Ops Aviation Solutions. & Thomas Sandrin, National Sales Manager, Hamilton watches.

Gregory Worboys, Chief Flight Instructor, Gander Flight Training, NL, was given a seat on an ATAC’S Safety Management Systems (SMS) workshop, facilitated by Mike Doiron, of Doiron Aviation Consultant; also included were monetary contributions from Essential Turbines Inc. & CAAC.

L to R Lynne McMullan, Chair, School of Aviation, Seneca College & President of CAAC, presenting CAAC’S cheque to Gregory Worboys.

L to R Wayne Gouveia, VP Commercial General Aviation, presenting ATAC’S certificate for an SMS workshop to Gregory Worboys, CFI Gander Flight Training. Photo courtesy of Perry Beaton

GREG WORBOYS: “Through the DCAMAWARD (2011) as a deserving nominee, I was awarded a Safety Management Systems workshop, sponsored by ATAC, & facilitated by Mike Doiron, of Doiron Aviation Consultant (DAC) The course really helps a person understand all aspects of SMS; this gave me the tools to start implementing an SMS program at Gander Flight Training where I was CFI., enabling me to reorganize and make my procedures more efficient.

I highly recommend this course to management; to fully understand how to correctly identify the root cause of a problem, which in turn should prevent issues, small or large from reoccurring, making our aviation world much safer.

Apart from the course, the DCAM Flight Instructor Safety Award gave me recognition at ATAC’S AGM & Convention which was great for networking.”

2013

SPECIAL RECOGNITION 2013 was given to DEANNA WIEBE, Assistant Professor of Aviation, Mount Royal University, Calgary; she is the recipient of the Safety Management Systems workshop, sponsored by ATAC, facilitated by Mike Doiron, of Doiron Aviation Consulting.

The DCAM introduced a ‘Legacy Award‘ in 2013. The Award is only provided when a deserving candidate has made it to the final selection process, and will not necessarily be given out each year.

Orville Hewitt, Chief Flight Instructor, Cooking Lake Aviation Academy, Alberta was chosen to receive this Award in 2013. He has created a significant training and instruction history. He received a DCAM Plaque and an engraved Aviator’s watch from Hamilton Watches.

HEATHER PHILPOTT; Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, Gander Flight Training,  as a deserving nominee, received a three day Flight Instructor Refresher Course, sponsored by Seneca College.

RICK WILLMS; was given recognition and received an engraved Aviator’s watch from our Sponsor Hamilton watches.

L to R. Director Michael Fox presenting Rick Willms, CFI, Prairie School of Mission, with aviator’s watch from Hamilton

L to R. Director Michael Fox presenting Rick Willms, with aviator’s watch from Hamilton

< 2011

Deanna Wiebe: I was finally able to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity given to me as a result of the Honorable Mention I received for the Flight Instructor Safety Award in 2009. I had the pleasure of taking the Flight Instructor Refresher Course through Seneca College in Toronto from February 28th through March 2nd. I was also able to participate in the Professional Development day on March 3rd.
    It was an excellent experience, and one that has given me new ideas and refreshed enthusiasm for instructing. I’m excited to continue to improve safety within my own school, and as a result improve safety in the greater aviation community. It is places like this, where we as instructors can meet and challenge each other to change and improve the way we approach instructing, that lead to improved safety for all pilots.
    Because of the DCAM Award I was able to be part of this course in Toronto. Meeting with other instructors from different schools, and hearing how they do things, has reminded me of what I love about instructing – there are always new and exciting ways to develop how we teach new pilots. The aviation community is strengthened when we all improve safety.
Deanna Wiebe, Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University

AARON SPEER: During Aaron’s interview at First Air, they asked about his “most significant aviation achievement”, to which he replied; “I indicated that it was being selected to receive the DCAM Flight Instructor Safety Award. The most significant part of the award was the need for recognition from both my peers and students. To me, the support from these folks, was what told me that I was doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason.”

GRAHAM SHEPPARD: “As a recipient of the DCAMAWARD, I was extremely pleased that there are people who actually recognize the fact that instructing can be a respectable and rewarding career. This recognition has certainly helped me maintain my focus and motivation during a very busy and dynamic time within the flight training industry.”

CLARK DUIMEL: “One of the highlights of my career has been receiving the David Charles Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award. I have gotten to know the Abramson family since that time and appreciate their commitment to recognizing the impact that a flight instructor can have on the future of their students. Awards such as the DCAMAWARD go a long way to promoting a career in flight training as rewarding and fulfilling.”

SIMON GARRETT: “As a career flight instructor and a strong advocate of flight safety, just being nominated for the DCAM, was an honour. With the distinction of being a DCAM recipient, my participation in a variety of aviation related meetings and seminars allows me the opportunity to promote the safety and general aviation, with far more credibility.
Knowing that the Rockcliffe Flying Club has a DCAM recipient on staff, students are confident in the flight training they are receiving.”

JOHN ROBERTSON: “The David Charles Abramson Memorial Flight Instructor Safety Award is significant, not only because it is in honour of a young man, son and dedicated instructor who gave his life doing something that he strongly believed in, it recognizes the dedication and professionalism of others with similar qualities. To be recognized as such, especially by your peers, would truly be an honour and a humbling experience. The benefits from winning this award would be a validation that you are providing students with leadership and quality education in today’s ever changing environment, a validation quite different from renewing or upgrading your instructor rating. It is in fact food for the soul.”

BOB HENDERSON: “The Abramsons have courageously maintained our awareness of David’s heroic efforts and in so doing created a positive influence on today’s students and their training programs. As our students learn in this type of environment, they will undoubtedly promote a passion for safety, professionalism and a systematic approach to all aspects of aviation in Canada and around the world.”

HARVEY PENNER: “The benefits of the award to me would be the recognition of close to forty years of doing the best I can do, in a field where there is little public recognition. To think of receiving this award at the ATAC meeting in the company of other instructors and pilots would be humbling and a great honour.
It would also be an honour to meet the Abramson’s. When I think of how this award came to be, it makes me sad; being a father of three sons, I cannot imagine the hard times they have been through, but they have certainly made a positive out of a tragedy. I admire that.”

WILLIAM SUTHERLAND: “For myself, this is once in a life-time personal achievement; to be honoured as the receiver in both the memory of David Charles Abramson and also the company of past and future peers who share the same characteristics and vision as award recipients and are now held as examples of progressive aviation safety in the country and globally.
Receiving the award provides reassurance to the staff and students of MFC, that the company’s leadership, as a team and as individuals, is a competent unit devoted to their safety.