Air Bridge 2025
Emergency Response Exercise

A VEAC initiative supported by Alliance North in coordination with COPA and emergency management partners.

On September 27, Volunteer Emergency Air Corps (VEAC) pilots will mobilize for a one-day emergency response exercise.

Be Part of Ontario’s First GA Emergency Response Live Simulation

VEAC is hosting Ontario's first GA Emergency Response Exercise. Air Bridge 2025 is a one-day live simulation where your flying skills will make a real difference. This multi-agency event will recreate a disaster scenario, deploying GA pilots to deliver supplies, transport responders, and connect communities, just as they would during an actual emergency.

When: September 27, 2025 weather permitting (all day)

Where: Main operating base CYSA (City of Stratford Airport) with simulated emergency response flights to several other key municipal airports in Ontario (e.g. CYGK, CYTZ, CYXU)

Training provided: Online briefing and access to newly developed online GA Emergency Response Course.

What's happening

  • Live response flights with VEAC Volunteer Pilots supporting emergency management partners and participating airports

  • Testing the Ontario GA Emergency Response Plan - first of its kind in Canada

  • Simulated ground and flight operations in realistic emergency scenarios

What you'll do

As a VEAC pilot, you will:

  • Join the roster of Public Benefit Pilots ready to respond when needed

  • Collaborate with emergency management partners in a groundbreaking simulation

  • Train alongside other pilots and first responders

  • Receive and respond to emergency alerts through the VEAC alert system

  • Fly meaningful flights delivering supplies and transporting responders when needed

  • Coordinate with specialized teams (K-9, medical, drone, NGO partners)

  • Help validate Ontario's first GA Emergency Response Plan

Emergency Partners for Air Bridge 2025

  • OSARVA K-9 teams

  • Queen’s University Wilderness Medical teams

  • York University Drone Team

  • Global Medics

  • Salvation Army

  • Canadian Disaster Response Organization (CDRO)

  • Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC)

  • …and other municipal airport service support

This is your chance to prove that General Aviation is an essential community resource.

If You Fly It, We Can Use It.

Your aircraft—whether it's a fixed-wing, rotary wing, amphibious or land based. A single piston, multi engine or turbo prop — each is a unique and valuable asset during a crisis. Most important is we need skilled and dedicated pilots like you.

Who we need

  • Licenced private pilots serving the GA community

  • Aircraft owners, fixed-wing or rotary, renters, single or multi engine

  • Airport managers and aviation support crews or ground volunteers

Basic Requirements

  • Current pilot licence (min PPL) with logged experience (we'll match roles to you)

  • Airworthy aircraft or access to one (e.g. rental or owned)

  • Willingness and commitment to follow procedures and participate in readiness training 

  • Ability and desire to collaborate and work as as a contributing team member

  • Mobile/smart phone for alerts & flight coordination (we use WhatsApp)

Ready to Make a Difference? Sign Up Now.

Register your interest for the September 27th exercise below. We'll contact you with exercise details and next steps.

Note: By signing up for Air Bridge 2025, you’ll also be added to the VEAC pilot roster, if you’re not already on it.

 FAQs

Have more questions? Use our contact form, or email info@alliance-north.com.

  • Registration only takes a few minutes and can be done now. This includes completing a short intake form online. Then you can expect approximately (2) 1 hour online webinar sessions  planned prior to the exercise date and of course a fun day of flying for the exercise on September 27 (note as part of the exercise you will also be part of the alert testing and response protocols which will commence a few days prior to exercise day) .

  • Air Bridge 2025 is a weather-dependent event with safety being paramount. Pilots will adhere to all regulatory requirements and only commence flights within their personal comfort levels.  Flights will only proceed if conditions meet safety requirements for participating pilots and aircraft. This could mean cancellation of VFR only flights, or all flights - including IFR should weather not be favourable.  

    If weather prevents flying on September 27, we will post further instructions offering participants to engage in an online abbreviated table top alternative to meet minimum exercise objectives. 

  • Only pilots demonstrating all regulatory requirements including currency can fly.  However, any and all non-current or retired pilots can assist on the ground or in operations.

  • Alliance North will be partnering with COPA and their insurance provider for event top-up insurance similar to COPA Discovery Flight events.  All other normally required aircraft insurance requirements and pilot licence/ratings and medical/currency requirements will be validated. Safety is paramount for flying; a separate pilot safety briefing will take place prior to flights. 

  • Renters (e.g. block-time users) are welcome!  If non-owner you must ensure the owner is aware and agreed to the use their  aircraft for the flight assigned.

The Volunteer Emergency Air Corps (VEAC) is a program of Alliance North – Public Benefit Flying Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing general aviation for community good.