EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023: Exhibitors - Powerplants and Accessories

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, sponsored by Piston Aviation, with this selection of aerospace industry exhibitors we visited during our ten days on the grounds. Here we focus on the building blocks of modern aircraft - powerplants, avionics, float kits and parts distributers. These exhibits often feature aircraft that use the sponsor's products, and these displays can get very elaborate. The product brand is not always evident from a distance!

Aviation Safety Experts Share Their Experiences, Wright Brothers Master Pilots Named at 2018 St. Louis Super Safety Seminar

By Carmelo Turdo

The 2018 St. Louis Super Safety Seminar, held last weekend at St. Louis University, once again was the area's premier aviation safety and FAA Wings Credit event of the year. A variety of safety experts, active practitioners in the aviation industry, led interactive sessions focusing on the safe operation of aircraft from Cessnas to 747s, in good and poor weather, and through all types of airspace. The breadth of the experience and expertise of the presenters ensured coverage of as many aviation safety-related scenarios as possible in the main hall and in breakout sessions for VFR, IFR and CFI tracks. On Saturday afternoon, the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Awards were presented to Esther Grupenhagen and Robert McDaniel.

Awardees Esther Grupenhagen and Robert McDaniel with FAA Program Manager

Phil Dixon (center)

The venue, Tegeler Hall's T.A. Carlo Auditorium, is located on the campus of St. Louis University, home of Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. Many attendees were current or former students of Parks College, the first federally certified school of aviation. The Parks College flight training program is conducted at their facility at St. Louis Downtown Airport.

The Super Safety Seminar featured an exhibit area in the hall outside of the auditorium. Attendees networked with St. Louis area aviation organizations, including Parks College and Trans States Airlines shown below. There was also room in the lobby to enjoy complimentary breakfast and lunch provided by event sponsors.

Students network around the Parks College table

Trans States Airlines Pilot/Recruiter Captain Lee Moseley and Recruiter Kasia Segieda

Trans States Airlines First Officer/Recruiter Patrick Russell meets with a young pilot

FAA Safety Program Manager Phil Dixon (left), a principle coordinator of the event, introduced the presenters and also conducted several sessions himself each day. Other speakers represented aviation safety investigation, operations and maintenance, regional and major airlines, flight instruction, ADS-B avionics and air traffic control among other critical aviation industry segments. Most of the sessions were scenario-based, group discussions guided by a subject expert to the recommended solution or outcome. The exercise of thinking through a challenging situation helps to implant the lesson learned as if the participant was part of the solution, not the problem. 

Some of the presenters included:

 

Fred Harms, Former FAA Safety Program Manager

Jeff Edwards, President of AvSafe

Kase McDonald, St. Louis TRACON Air Traffic Control Manager

Captain Craig O'Mara, United Airlines and NASA SOFIA pilot 

William Hopper, Director of Training for Helicopters Inc.

Keith Mueller, Former Central Region Division Manager for American Airlines 

John Ladley, Certified Flight Instructor and Stearman Owner

The FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Awards were presented to Esther Grupenhagen and Robert McDaniel following the Saturday sessions. Both awardees were recognized for their 50 years of safe flying experience. 

Sponsors for the 2018 St. Louis Super Safety Seminar were:

Federal Aviation Administration FAAST Safety Team
Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association
Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association
Missouri Pilots Association
Southwestern Illinois College
Trans States Airlines
GoJet Airlines
Emerson Electric
Garmin
Elite Aviation
Ideal Aviation
St. Charles Flying Service
Women In Aviation

The Aero Experience will have more reporting on the 2018 St. Louis Super Safety Seminar in future posts.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015: Exhibits - Gee There's a Lot to See!

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience continues our trip through the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 exhibitor alphabet with our arrival at G (Gee!).  Included in this post are avionics giant Garmin and Light Sport Aircraft maker Glasair. 

Garmin Aviation Products

Garmin is not only a leading provider of avionics equipment in the aerospace field, it has also diversified its product line to include automotive, marine and consumer electronics as well.  Garmin featured its aerospace products in several different aircraft from an RV-7A to a Cessna 210 to a King Air.  Check their website for the extensive line of products for your new build or upgrade avionics needs.

Glasair

Glasair, the Arlington, WA based Light Sport Aircraft kit manufacturer, also had an impressive exhibit featuring an impressive GS-2 Sportsman on floats.  The Glasair pre-molded composite kits were revolutionary when they appeared in the 1980s, and since then over 2500 have been sold in several models.  The latest offerings include a diesel-powered Sportsman and the new Merlin design.