Made cadet in 1943, and an ordinary seaman in 1944. Tended multiple training courses for aviation, eventually making the 825 squadron which served abord the HMCS Warrior (later renumbered as 880, as 825 was returned to the Royal Navy), and later the HMCS Magnificent. He was then promoted to a member of staff at Stadacona for the Maritime Wartime School, he served during the Korean war abord the HMCS Iroquois. After this he resumed instructional duties, eventually returning to Stadacona as First Lieutenant Commander. He retired from the Military in 1967 and switched to bush flying and forest spraying.

Copeland was a Pilot who flew both military and civilian planes. His military history began in 1949 at the Shearwater. He flew a variety of operations, including NATO operations, acted as an observer for the United Nations as commanding officer of the 424 squadron in 1970, and as an Intelligence officer in the USN as a China watcher in 1978. In 1985 he was transferred to the Senior Officer Naval 75th Anniversary Team. He began flying staff charters for IMP in 1986, and stayed with IMP until his retirement in 1991.