When Warwick Patterson visited the Alberni Valley from his home in Squamish, he liked the potential. And when the seasoned pilot saw the Alberni Valley Regional Airport and what it has to offer, he knew he was home.
Patterson now owns and operates the Vancouver Island Soaring Centre, having purchased it in 2024 from Andrzej Roznowski, who started the business 17 years ago. Roznowski still instructs at the Soaring Centre.
The purchase is the culmination of a personal goal Patterson set for himself while he was still living in Squamish. "Ten years ago I had a 10-year goal of opening a flying school somewhere," he said. He learned that operating a power flight school is expensive. Then he discovered the VI Soaring Centre.
Patterson has been flying small single-engine aircraft for the past 10 years, and is no stranger to the aviation community. "I flew a lot when I was younger with my Dad. I always had a passion for it," he said. He got his licence while in his 30s, owned his own plane and operates www.flyingbc.com website and podcast. Patterson earned his glider licence two years ago.
He and his wife bought property near Sproat Lake and built a home, relocating permanently from Squamish last year.
Operating the gliding school "is perfect because you get to share it with tourists and locals and people that want to learn to fly," he said. The VI Soaring Centre is located in an area that offers "world-class" soaring conditions, said Patterson, who last winter travelled to New Zealand for more glider training.
"In fact, (Port Alberni) is only one of three locations in B.C. where you can try flying gliders," he added.
In 2024 he revamped the website and online presence, added an online booking system and said he's already getting requests from out of country for people wanting to take flights. "The result is 2024 was the business's best year to date. It was great to see so many Port Alberni people come fly with us, and the word spreading through town about the airport and the gliding opportunities."
He has added a single-seat glider to his fleet to accommodate licenced glider pilots who can fly solo. He also has a tow plane and two-seat glider, and the Alberni Valley Soaring Association is an active club with another glider available to rent.
Learning to fly in gliders is the most cost-effective way to learn to fly, says Patterson. It's economical enough that people who get their glider pilot's licence will be able to afford to keep flying. Several new glider pilot licences were awarded in 2024, he said, including to a 16-year-old and a 79-year-old.
The Soaring Centre will start a winter ground school class in 2025, and there are scholarships and bursaries available. For more information, e-mail info@gogliding.ca or visit the website at www.gogliding.ca.
