42nd Annual Ultralight and Light Sport Aviation Safety Symposium Held at Southwestern Illinois College Granite City Campus

By Carmelo Turdo

The 42nd Annual Ultralight and Light Sport Aviation Safety Symposium was held at the Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Granite City Campus on Saturday. The event, sponsored by SWIC, the Illinois Division of Aeronautics, Illinois Ultralight Advisory Council, the FAA St. Louis FSDO, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), EAA Chapter 64 and EAA Chapter 331, offered a wide variety of exhibitors and expert presenters addressing concerns common to ultralight and light sport aircraft operators. During the lunch break, many attendees also toured the SWIC Aviation Maintenance Technology Program facility just down the hall. The Aero Experience coverage of the day's activities includes a pictorial view of the exhibitors, guest speakers and the SWIC maintenance shop. We recommend that anyone involved in ultralight and light sport aviation attend the next symposium scheduled for February 24, 2024.

 

The symposium speakers are well-recognized experts in the aviation community, and their presentations were well-received and highly interactive. Below is a brief review of the program as it unfolded throughout the day.

 

Bob McDaniel and Jeremy Cox shared emcee duties throughout the program. 

Jeff Hurst, from the Ilinois Division of Aeronautics, welcomed the symposium attendees.

Keith Mueller represented Southwestern Illinois College throughout the event.

  

"Pilot Medical Issues and Medical Certification," Dr. Rich Hehmann

"The History of Gyros and How to Get Started in the Sport," Greg Gremminger

"Aviation Insurance Issues," Clyde Ehrhardt

"How to Get Started in Ultralights," Bob Karpinski

"How to Prepare for and Start a Kit-Built Aircraft Project," Jon Humberd

"Status of the Light Sport Aviation Industry and Coming Changes," Dan Johnson (on-line)

Highlights of our tour of the SWIC Aviation Maintenance Technology Program shop:

The Aero Experience thanks everyone who produced this great Midwest Aviation safety event. Our community grows stronger through education and personal interaction, and we look forward to another very active year ahead.