Chicago Area Chapter’s Annual Aviation Expo 2012                   Submitted by Diane Cozzi

The Chicago Area Chapter co-sponsored its popular aviation safety seminar with IDOT Division of Aeronautics, FAA DuPage FSDO, FAA FAASTeam, Illinois Association of Air and Critical Care Transport (IAACCT), Bell Helicopter, and Northeast Illinois Pilots Association.  The seminar was held in Itasca, centrally located for Chicago area pilots who were treated to an excellent program and outstanding speakers.  For about 275 attendees, there were concurrent programs of interest to IFR and VFR pilots and Flying Companions, as well as an extensive vendors and exhibitor’s area.  IFR seminars included: “Situational Awareness in IFR Flight Using Electronic Flight Bags” & “iPAD in the Cockpit”, both by Rick Todd; “IFR Charts & Procedures”, by Lou Wipotnik; and “IFR Flight in Technically Advanced Aircraft”, by Robert Heise.   VFR seminars included: “Tower Operations Update”, by Pam Brophy, Aurora ATCT; “Non-towered Airport Operations / Traffic Patterns”, by Allan Englehardt; “Special Use Airspace” & “TFRs – What You Need to Know During the Upcoming Election Season”, both by Jim Sweeney; and “Operation & Maintenance of Continental & Lycoming Engines”, by Mike Carey, Poplar Grove Airmotive.   In addition we have been alternating special seminars for helicopter pilots or aviation mechanics each year; this time featuring the Helicopter Seminar.  Topics included:  “Helicopter Safety”, by Bell Helicopter’s John Williams & David Burch; “Helicopters: An FAA Perspective”, by Kris Kortokrax, DPA FSDO; and “So You Think You Have a Heliport”, by IDOT’s Jerry Lay, & Mike Conklin, AFCO Nighthawk Vertiport LLC. 

Special guest was Dr. Susan R. Shea, Director of the Illinois Division of Aeronautics (IDOT). Chapter member Carol Para, who works for IDOT, does a fabulous job each year of organizing the seminar schedule, soliciting vendors, working with the hotel, developing printed programs and signs, and making it all appear to be absolutely effortless.  The Flying Companion Seminar was conducted by chapter member Deanna Close and IDOT’s Linda Schumm.  The chapter wishes to recognize all the other members volunteered their Saturday for the cause of aviation education. They ran the registration desk, greeted Expo participants, participated in the seminars, and generally kept everything running smoothly. Thanks go to Rita Adams, Diane Cozzi (& Roger Kelly), Ruth Frantz (& Bob), Rae Goodman, Joan Kerwin, Donna Klein (& Wayne), Barbara Muehlhausen, Mary Lou Mueller Erikson (& Greg), Leslie Prellwitz (& Grant), Lora Yowell, and Susan Zdebski.  Our chapter meeting was held directly following the safety seminar.

 
Photo #1:  Civil Air Patrol exhibitors
Photo #2:  Tim Sokol, FAA
Photo #3:  IFR Seminar
Photo #4:  Susan Zdebski wins raffle for free glider ride
Photo #5:  Diane Cozzi and Donna Klein
Photo #6:  Linda Schumm and Deanna Close
Photo #7:  Carol Para announcing vendor raffle winners
Photo #8:  Roger Kelly talks with Blake Thomas of Poplar Grove Airmotive; Blake is the son of chapter member Tina Thomas & Steve who run the Poplar Grove Airport, which previously won Illinois’s GA Airport of the Year.

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