Usually when the flash from a lightning bolt passes through the lower atmosphere there is a momentary quiet while we count the seconds between the light and the rumble of the thunder allowing us to gauge just how distant or how far removed from our ground zero that strike may have been. It was without warning, of course, but on this occasion, the split second between the two allowed no one a moment to reflect. This time it was upon us and the surge of electrical energy was immeasurable.
It took our friend James Stevens with it and the thunder hasn’t ceased. “Arizona Jim” we called him at the Flight Centre, because of his yearly excursions as a true Canadian Snow Bird, left early this year. He simply left early this year and there is not one of us left behind in his slipstream who does not wish to be by his side. Not one of us. James Stevens was a man among men and a gentle giant whose instructional capabilities, were beyond exception. He loved to fly.
It has taken these past few days for all of us to come to grips with the fact that he won’t be showing up at the Fraser River Float Ramp. What a smile our Jim has. Standing there in his tilley hat, black jacket, life vest and lunch box and those “god awful” rubber gum boots he always wore when one of his Float Plane students was about to solo in that shiny, bright Cessna 172 office he loved to fly.
It goes without saying that our aviation related family is a tight knit community of caring, spiritually convicted individuals whose appreciation of the social and human condition is paramount. James Stevens, was a respected colleague, dedicated co-worker and ATPL Pilot Instructor whose diligence, pre-flight planning, quiet and decisive cockpit management skills and general knowledge of his “water world” environment could easily be described as being without equal. He loved to fly.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s capable crew of technicians are doing their due diligence in terms of the aircraft inspection. Our Transport Canada friends, advisors and associates have continued their support with the myriad of considerations associated when a flying machine falls from the sky. Make no mistake, James Stevens was a prince whose earthly absence will be felt by us all. To his immediate family of wife, sons and daughters and grandchildren who knew and loved him as “Grandpa Jim”, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. To the group of youthful, highly trained and caring Instructors who are struggling with the loss of a dear friend and respected colleague, the lesson is not over by a longshot. For me, the smell of ozone is still crisp in the early morning dawn, the flash of light brilliant and the thunder is deafening.
He loved to fly.
Christopher Georgas ( Owner / Operator of Pacific Rim Aviation Academy Inc. )
All of us in the ultralight community are feeling your loss. I had the honour of sharing the cockpit with Jim. His skills and knowledge have made me a safer pilot. He will be missed dearly.
Jim was a terrific flying instructor and friend. As I have lived away from Canada for many years now, I had not spent time with him recently but have many fond memories of the times we had ‘flying’ and socializing. My condolences to Diane, his family and all his multitude of friends.
To all staff members at Pacific Rim Aviation and family of “Arizona Jim”
From my family to yours, our deepest condolences.
Impressions of a Pilot
Flight is freedom in its purest form,
To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,
To feel the joy that swells within;
To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
Then back to earth at the end of a day,
Released from the tensions which melted away.
Should my end come while I am in flight,
Whether brightest day or darkest night;
Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,
Secure in the knowledge that I’d do it again;
For each of us is created to die,
And within me I know,
I was born to fly.
— Gary Claud Stokor
C. Kim Miles posted on Pacific Rim Aviation Academy’s timeline
“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Godspeed Jim.”
We are so sorry for your loss, all our best to you and family.
Golden Ears Flying Club
A beautiful tribute Chris. And the photographs are amazing. They give a true insight of what Jim was, a man of the North who just loved to fly. Thank you for sharing those.
So sorry to hear of your loss. Praying for both his family, and you, his flying family.
Jim was a great man and want to send our deepest sympathy to all and our dear friend Dee We love you
jim was a great instructor. a patient and very knowledgeable guy. he taught me the beauty of float planes. ill miss him.
My condolences to Jim’s family who are struggling with his loss so much more than the rest of us……. He left the world doing what he enjoyed right to the end. Jim was highly qualified, and a kind mentor true to the spirit of wilderness flying. I was lucky enough to spend time with him in Northern B.C. fifteen years ago, and again more recently to obtain my Seaplane rating. I am a better pilot and person for being around him. He will be missed.