Air Bridge 2026

Emergency Response Exercise

A first-of-its-kind live simulation proving the role of General Aviation in crisis response.

October 18, 2026 | Stratford, Ontario (CYSA) - 9AM to 3PM

We WANT you as a pilot, skills and aircraft. A unique fly-in simulation of the role general aviation can provide in emergency response.

You don’t need to be a VEAC member to attend the event. Just fly in!

Are you a pilot that wants to participate? Sign up for VEAC.

Check here for latest updates

General Overview & General Event Schedule

On October 18, volunteer pilots and emergency partners will join forces for Air Bridge 2026 — Our second annual GA Emergency Response Exercise. This is a multi-agency functional exercise that will deploy GA pilots and aircraft in simulations to deliver supplies, transport responders just as they would during an actual emergency.

When: October 18, 2026 weather permitting (all day)

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

Be Part of a GA Emergency Response Live Simulation

VEAC is hosting an Ontario-based GA Emergency Response Exercise. Air Bridge 2026 is a one-day hybrid exercise live simulation where your flying skills will make a real difference. This multi-agency event will discuss recreate a disaster scenario, deploying GA pilots to deliver supplies, transport responders, and connect communities, just as they would during an actual emergency.

When: October 18, 2026 weather permitting (all day). Arrivals from 9:30 to 10:30AM. Opening remarks at 11AM

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

What's happening

  • Live response flights with VEAC Volunteer Pilots supporting emergency management partners utilizing CYSA as a hub airport and participating airports

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

  • Simulated ground and flight operations based on an emergency scenarios

What you'll do

As a Become a VEAC pilot, and you will:

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

  • Collaborate with emergency management partners in a groundbreaking unique emergency response 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 GA Emergency Response Plan

Emergency Partners for Air Bridge 2026

  • OSARVA K-9 teams

  • Queen’s University Wilderness Medical teams

  • York University Drone Team cifal | unitar

  • Global Medics ???

  • Salvation Army Disaster Services

  • Canadian Disaster Response Organization (CDRO) ???

  • Canadian Blood Services

  • Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC)

  • Stratford Emergency Services ??? SAR?

  • …and other municipal airport service support

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

Latest Updates

CYSA - Airport Weather

CYSA Pilot Arrival Notes & Info page:

  • Pilots should flight-plan so their arrival is between 9:00-10:30am (latest). Official start is 11AM.

  • You may advise CYSA Unicom 122.8 (“inbound for the Air Bridge Exercise”)

  • A Safety Officer will be assigned and remain available airside

  • Marshallers will be in place to direct parking (follow their direction!)

  • Remember to always double check for any NOTAMs

  • There will be drone activity in the vicinity (11am -12:30pm) See map

  • 100LL available at the stationary pump (tow/fill whilst parked upon request)

  • Pilots will receive VEAC flight vests for visual wear upon sign-in

  • Departures unless pre-arranged will be after 3pm.

Remove drone circle above

Event Schedule

    • CYSA Ground Prep (set-up to be done by 10:00 a.m.)

    • Flights departing from home bases

    • Pax/cargo pick-ups at numerous airports

    • OSARVA K9 Team flights (Smith Falls CYSA – CNJ4 Orillia)

    • Aircraft parked by 10:30 a.m.

    • Coffee, tea, muffins

    • City of Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma

    • Guest speakers (TBA)

    • GA airport/aircraft safety & cargo loading/unloading

    • York University Drone Team demo

    • Queens University Wilderness Medical Team demo

    • Salvation Army Disaster Services (chaplaincy, canteen with snacks/lunch)

    • Queens Wilderness Medicine Team – info/networking

    • York University Drone Team – demo

    • York University / Dr. Brown – emotional care & stress mitigation

    • RAC – mobile radio communications demo

    • CDRO – mobile EOC display

    • Global Medic – food lift & cargo demo

    • Canadian Wings of Rescue – display/info

    • Roundtable opportunity for EM partners (7 minutes max each)

    • Facilitated feedback of exercise play/event

  • -

Pilot Information

Pilots must be registered to participate

    • Safety is our top priority and each PIC must ensure they are flying within their personal limitations and all regulatory parameters at all times. Although this is a simulation of an emergency deployment, it will be a ‘no -surprises’ event for pilots

    • An Aircraft Safety Officer and Marshallers will be in place at CYSA so please heed their direction at all times if arriving CYSA

    • VEAC is working with COPA National for Discovery Flight and event insurance, and will require your cooperation in verifying your credentials and aircraft airworthiness in advance, as well as awareness of our VEAC volunteer pilot policy.

    • If you are asked to carry passengers, note that all pax will have been pre-vetted and they will have a signed a pax liability waiver on file

    • Pilots must be prepared to use WhatsApp

    • You will be assigned a flight number and will work 1:1 with a transport coordinator to finalize your flight logistics  

    • In all cases a flight manifest with all actual weights for pax or cargo will be pre-screened and provided to you in advance 

    • Almost all flights are being planned to arrive CYSA (between 0900-1030 Oct 18)

    • If arriving CYSA you will be provided with a VEAC Flight Safety Vest which should be worn for the exercise

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.

Join VEAC

Partners

Presenting Partners

Exercise Players

OSARVA K-9 teams • Queen’s University Wilderness Medical teams • Canadian Blood Services • Global Medics • Salvation Army Disaster Services • Canadian Disaster Response Organization (CDRO) • Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) • Stratford SAR • and other municipal airport service support

Remove EXPLAN until Trevor has it

Resources

Exercise Plan for Air Bridge 2026

This Exercise Plan (EXPLAN) document is intended to provide exercise participants with the information required to participate effectively in Exercise Air Bridge 2025 on September 27, 2025.

Open Document

GA Emergency Response Plan

This General Aviation Emergency Response Plan outlines how GA pilots, aircraft, and airports can be integrated into coordinated disaster response efforts to provide timely, flexible, and cost-effective support.

Open Document

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.