Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association Holds 2023 Aviation Awards Banquet

By Carmelo Turdo

The Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association (GSLFIA) held their annual awards banquet May 13 in conjunction with a celebration of the centennial of St. Louis-Lambert International Airport. The banquet was held in the Terminal 1, B Concourse event space with several jets parked just outside of the large windows for additional "atmosphere." The St. Louis aviation community was well represented, and sponsorship of the banquet was provided by Enterprise Leasing, Mungenast St. Louis Acura, Mungenast Alton Toyota, Piston Aviation and GoJet Airlines. 

Guests were greeted by the GSLFIA leadership team, including Association President Keith Mueller and Vice President Dick Horowitz, as they entered the concourse. For a few moments, they stepped back in time while viewing the exhibits illustrating the history of Lambert Field from the 1920s to the present day as seen through historic photographs, original art, models and even flight attendant uniforms from Ozark Airlines. The display items were provided by the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum and individual contributors associated with the airport or its tenants over many decades. GoJet Airlines was represented in person by Samuel Curless, Vice President of Global Sourcing and Strategy, with a very nice table exhibit.

Following the informal cocktail hour, the dinner began with opening remarks by GSLFIA President Keith Mueller followed by the invocation from Father James Sebesta, a St. Louis University certified flight instructor. The food was amazing, and the service was excellent!

The GSLFIA promotes aviation safety and flight instruction excellence through educational programs and recognition of outstanding flight instructors and organizations that significantly contribute to the St. Louis aviation community. GSLFIA Director Jim Stamm officiated the awards portion of the program as well as the presentation of Discovery Flights donated by Gateway Flight Training and Ideal Aviation. Discovery Flights provide the initial, hands-on flight experience for prospective student pilots, and this year they were awarded to Thor Gavin, Lillian Averbeck and Jack Stokes.

The James P. Byrnes Award was presented to three St. Louis area businesses that have contributed greatly to aviation over the life of the organization. Here representatives from the Boeing Company, Enterprise Leasing and GoJet Airlines accept their awards.

The Spirit of St. Louis Award was presented to three organizations who have contributed greatly to St. Louis aviation. Here representatives from the Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science, Elite Aviation and The Crossing Church accept their awards. Elite Aviation and The Crossing Church are sponsors of the Red Tail Cadet Program, annually providing flight instruction and mentoring to five high School students from the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Certified Flight Instructor of the Year was presented to the CFI with three or more years of experience and who shows initiative in professional development and student success. This year's recipient is James Braithwaite, Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at Ideal Aviation, St. Louis Downtown Airport.

New Certified Flight Instructor of the Year was presented to the CFI with less than three years of experience and who has outstanding performance and career potential as a CFI. This year's recipient is Meadow Boden, CFI at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. She will participate in the Air Race Classic, an all-female point-to-point cross-country air race, taking place next week.

One of the special guest speakers was Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, the Director of St. Louis - Lambert International Airport. She gave an update on various airport development projects, including the proposed single terminal renovation that recently received preliminary approval by the FAA as part of the Master Plan through 2040. Final approval and the start of construction are still years away, but Hamm-Niebruegge is optimistic that it will eventually be completed and improve the passenger experience in and out of the airport.

The keynote speaker for the GSLFIA Awards Banquet was Dr. Daniel Rust, Author of the book, The Aerial Crossroads of America: St. Louis's Lambert Airport. Since the book launch in 2016, Dr. Rust has given numerous presentations based on his authoritative work, and this one was just as enlightening and entertaining as ever. The book is locally sponsored by the Missouri Historical Society. Dr. Rust was previously the Assistant Director of the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and he is currently Associate Professor, School of Business and Economics, at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Dr. Rust was available to autograph copies of the book before and after the banquet.

The Aero Experience congratulates the GSLFIA for producing a great Midwest Aviation event to honor the awardees and celebrate the centennial of St. Louis - Lambert International Airport. Thanks also go out to all of the many organizations and individuals who contributed to the success of the banquet, and to those who attended to support their fellow flight instructors.