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.

FMI: www.usua.org