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By Madeleine Monaco
The Chicago Area Chapter 99s – the international organization of women pilots – ran another successful IFR/VFR Safety Seminar January 30th, drawing just over 300 local pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The 99s have been co-hosting the event at no cost to attendees since the late 70’s. In recent years the seminar’s co-sponsors were the FAA-DuPage FSDO, the FAASTeam and the Illinois Dept. of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics. As in the past, this year’s Annual Chicago Aviation Expo, IFR/VFR Safety Seminar required people to speak on a variety of useful and pertinent aviation topics that ran from 8:45 am until 3 pm in three large conference rooms at the Itasca Holiday Inn.
You may be aware that our great State of Illinois has been having a budget lockdown. This year, without a great deal of advance notice, our Chapter was told there would be no funding assistance. In previous years the hotel expenses were covered by the Division of Aeronautics. We decided as a Chapter to step in and provide the funding to continue the tradition. Our Chapter funded the entire Expo using vendor table sales, 50/50 raffle ticket sales and donations from supporters and attendees and managed to cover our costs and show a very small profit that went to our education fund.
The Expo also allows local and regional aviation vendors and organizations to present themselves in their best light to the many pilots present. This year’s vendors were: Aviation Universe, Avidyne, Inc, Chicago Flying Advisor, Chicagoland Glider Council, Civil Air Patrol, DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, Foresters Financial, Fox Flying Club, FSX Flight School, Hilton Software/WingX Pro7, International Flying Club, Naperville Flying Club, Pipistrel USA / Soar Free LLC, Poplar Grove Airmotive, Recreational Aircraft Foundation, Rochelle Avionics, Savant Capital and Stick and Rudder LLC. The hotel provides coffee and pastries in the morning and a buffet lunch mid-day.
In the absence of our Chair, Ellen O’Hara, Madeleine Monaco agreed to take charge of this project, acting as liaison and worked closely with Carol Para of the Division of Aeronautics who had chaired the event the past several years. The working team included Leslie Prellwitz as Vendor Table Sales Chair/Manager; Rita Adams and Diane Cozzi as registration and front of house managers; Jill Mann and Deanna Close as Flying Companion instructors, and Natalie Berman as 50/50 Raffle ticket seller.
We had good weather and the vendors were set to go when pilots and companions started flooding our space in the morning. The first session was a joint event, beginning at 8:45, introducing the sponsors, explaining the FAA Wings credits and getting the day going. The audience gave the 99s a standing ovation when told the chapter had funded the event in full.
Here’s a look at this year’s safety sessions.
IFR
IFR Charts and Procedures, Part 1 & 2 by Jason Unger, Chief Pilot/CFII Fly There LLC
Spatial Disorientation by Dr David Schall, FAA Regional Flight Surgeon
ARTCC Operations, Part 1 & 2 by Guy Lieser & Steve McGreevy, Chicago Center
VFR
Avoiding Class B Airspace Incursions by Lou Wipotnik, the 1996 FAA Flight Instructor of the Year & Nicole Sparger & Aaron Barclay of NATCA’s Bridge the Gap Program
Crosswind Landings Perfected by Alan Zielinski, Designated Pilot Examiner
Aviation Weather Impacts to the National Airspace by Kevin Fryar, Meteorologist-in-charge ARR
Loss of Control: The Stabilized Approach & Go Around by Carolyn Remol, FAASTeam Program Manager Ret
Your Next Flight Review,Next Rating or License by Dave Klopfleisch, CFI ChIcago Executive Flight School
Flying Companions/Aspiring Pilots, presented by 99s Deanna Close and Jill Mann
Why Does it Fly?
Aviation Charts
Helping Your Pilot & Dealing with Emergencies
Planning A Trip
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What your e-mail later this year for updates on the 2017 Chicago Aviation Expo