43rd Annual Ultralight and Light Sport Aviation Safety Symposium Held at Southwestern Illinois College Granite City Campus

By Carmelo Turdo

The 43rd Annual Ultralight and Light Sport Aviation Safety Symposium was held at the Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Granite City Campus last 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, raffle drawings, 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 22, 2025.

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

Bob McDaniel and Keith Mueller welcomed the attendees to the SWIC campus.

Randy Ottinger, FAASTeam Program Manager, St. Louis FSDO

Dr. Rich Hehmann, Pilot Medical Issues and Glider Operations

Jon Shadduck and Greg Gremminger, Gyroplane Operations

Richard McDermott, The Paragliding Experience

Jeff Hurst, Safety and Education Bureau Chief, Illinois Division of Aeronautics 

Chris Collins, MVN Outland Airport Director, Aircraft Operations Safety

Diane Earhart, Tips from an Air Traffic Controller

Bob McDaniel, How to Buy a Used Airplane

We conclude our coverage of the Ultralight and Light Sport Aviation Safety Symposium with this look at the tour of the Southwestern Illinois College Aviation Maintenance Technology hangar.

The Aero Experience thanks everyone who produced this great Midwest Aviation event, and we look forward to another great year ahead!