44th Annual Ultralight and Light Sport Aviation Safety Symposium Held at Southwestern Illinois College Granite City Campus

By Carmelo Turdo

The 44th Annual Ultralight and Light Sport Aviation Safety Symposium was held at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Granite City Campus on Saturday. The event, sponsored by SWIC, the Illinois Division of Aeronautics, Illinois Ultralight Advisory Council, FAA St. Louis FSDO, 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 and the new Aviation Electronics Technology (Avionics) Lab.

The Aero Experience coverage of the day's activities includes a pictorial review of the guest speakers, exhibitors and campus tour. We recommend that anyone involved in ultralight and light sport aviation attend the next symposium scheduled for February 28, 2026.

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.

Symposium host Bob McDaniel welcomed the attendees to the SWIC campus. McDaniel is President of AeroCareers, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating aerospace career education and mentoring to the next generation. His career spans from USAF transport pilot to former Director of St. Louis Downtown Airport. Currently, he manages the Southwest Illinois Sport Aviation Flight Park in Millstadt.

Randy Ottinger, FAASTeam Program Manager, St. Louis FSDO

Dr. Rich Hehmann, Pilot Medical Issues and St. Louis Soaring Association

Frank Dressel, Experimental Vans RV-14A Aircraft Builder and Pilot

Bob McDaniel, Airport Access and Operations for Ultralight Aircraft

David Warner, Illinois State Ambassador for Recreational Aviation Foundation

Rodney Killam, Flight Safety Coordinator, Illinois Division of Aeronautics (IDOT)

 

Breakfast was available before the symposium along with lunch served at the midday break. Throughout the day, attendees visited the exhibitors, which included Recreational Aviation Foundation, Magni Gyro, Wicks Aircraft and Motorsports, Southwestern Illinois College and Southern Illinois University.

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

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