USUA Gears Up For Annual Meeting In Illinois
The United States
Ultralight Association will hold its 2004 Annual Member Meeting
February 28 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield (IL).
The mid-winter event will be held in conjunction with the 24th
Annual Illinois Ultralight Advisory Council (IUAC)
Ultralight/Lightplane Safety Seminar.
The Meeting and Seminar will be held in the Illinois Building
& Auditorium on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. This building
houses a 400-seat theater and a 12,270 sq. ft. auditorium. Aircraft
and vendor displays will all be under the same roof. These
Manufacturers, dealers, and vendors will exhibit during the
weekend. Registration for both events will begin at 8:00 am at the
fairgrounds.
After the annual member meeting, the day will conclude with the
presentation of the USUA Ultralight Awards Ceremony. This occasion
honors outstanding individuals who have been involved in various
facets of the ultralight industry and community. The most
prestigious of these awards is the Moody Award -- named for John
Moody, who many consider to be the father of American
ultralighting.
The Illinois Ultralight/Light Plane Safety Seminar is the oldest
and largest gathering of its type. Established in the 80's to
address safety concerns with the then newly emerged sport of
ultralighting, the IUAC advises the FAA and the Illinois Department
of Transportation on ultralight issues, in addition to organizing
the annual safety seminar.
Since moving to the
Illinois Building on the Springfield, Illinois Fairgrounds, the
Safety Seminar has been able to offer the 12,000+ square foot
convention area to organizations in the ultralight industry to
display everything from organizational literature to complete
aircraft including -- fixed wing, trikes, powered parachutes, rotor
craft, and powered paragliders. As a service to the industry, there
is no charge for those organizations that wish to display.
USUA will hold a BFI Clinic / AFI Seminar on Sunday February 29,
2004, the day following the Annual Meeting and Safety Seminar.
Registration begins at 8 am, with the BFI Clinic starting at 8:15
am and ending at 12:30 pm. The AFI Seminar continues at 12:45 pm
and ends around 5:30 pm. AFI Seminar attendees must attend the BFI
Clinic. The BFI Clinic fee is $35.00.
Seminar presenter Jim Sweeney will lead the clinic. It will
cover everything from training techniques to program administration
to Sport Pilot conversion. The AFI test will be administered at the
conclusion of the AFI Seminar. Fixed Wing, Trike, Powered Parachute
and Powered Paraglider BFIs and AFI's from any FAA recognized
ultralight training program are welcome, as well as any other
interested individuals.