Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services Provides Aero Cosmetics Product Package Deal

By Carmelo Turdo

Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services continues to look for ways to add value for their customers, and now they have a product pack designed to help aircraft owners and operators maintain their plane's luster after the Plane Clean crew does the tough work. This special deal includes a range of Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax surface cleaners, towels and pads to make the job a snap. 

Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services uses the Aero Cosmetics line of American-made products that is safe for all aircraft surfaces. Wash Wax All gives UV protection and a light wax to make future cleaning easier. Belly Soap cleans tough areas like bottom panels and cowlings. Interior Cleaner and Leather Soap deep clean and preserve carpet and leather. The Aero Scrubber Pad is handy for wing leading edge cleaning after a flight.

Along with the Premium or Full-Service Detail Packages, a monthly Maintenance Wash keeps the aircraft clean and protected. This benefits fleet operators who employ the Maintenance Wash service at 100-hour inspection intervals. This small investment in regular detailing care will be noticed by pilot and passengers alike along with prospective buyers if the aircraft is offered for sale in the future. 

This Mooney recently received interior and exterior detailing from the Plane Clean crew:

Plane Clean is a mobile interior and exterior aircraft detailing company currently serving customers at five St. Louis and Metro-East Illinois area airports. They offer three levels of detailing services that will refresh and preserve most general aviation and business aircraft. Plane Clean not only makes your aircraft stand out from the rest, but they are also a certified dealer of Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All products and a provider of quality jobs for those entering and advancing through their careers in the aviation industry. 

Owner Guy Matthews and his crew strive to provide the best possible results through personalized service to aircraft owners and fleet operators. Plane Clean employees have a passion for aviation, and their skill and dedication are displayed on every aircraft they touch.

Contact Plane Clean today to reserve your aircraft detailing session.

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! 

STL Aviators Flying Club Holds Annual Dinner Meeting at Creve Coeur Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

STL Aviators, the area's non-profit, non-equity flying club, held their annual club dinner meeting Saturday at Creve Coeur Airport. Founded in 2019, the club has grown to fifty members and five aircraft, three based at Creve Coeur Airport and two at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The club provides an avenue for members to fly a selection of Cessna and Piper models while building an attitude of ownership through participation in managing the operations of the fleet. Aircraft preferences and utilization rates are closely monitored, and continuous improvements are made each year to make the club more valuable to current and future members.

The Aero Experience has posted several feature stories covering STL Aviators over the years, and we thank the club for inviting us to their dinner meeting. The guest speaker for the evening was Randy Ottinger, FAASTeam Program Manager for the FAA's St. Louis Flight Standards District Office. His theme of a Just Culture of Compliance, involving pilots in the process of working through safety and training issues, is part of the current FAA message he brings to aviation safety events throughout the area. 

The current STL Aviators club aircraft can be seen operating out of Creve Coeur Airport and Spirit of St. Louis Airport:

We will visit with STL Aviators again this spring for more insights on the success of the flying club. For more information about becoming a member of the club, contact them at stlaviators@gmail.com.