2022 NW Aviation Conference and Trade Show

Welcome

2022 SPEAKERS

When we said our good bye in February 2020, none of us could have imagined thechallenges on the horizon. Despite the looming pandemic that still inhabits everycorner of our life, the show must go on. Statistic show that events that drop out ofrotation for too long, simply drop out. We’ll keep the hangar light on, even if yournot ready to fly yet.

We are very grateful to many speakers who offered to join us this year and support the Northwest Aviation Conference. Thank you to long time supporters, Baker, Mandel, McCaughey, Swedburg, Reeves,and Williams, your educational spirit, aviation enthusiasm, and dedication to the safety and prosperity of the industry is engaging, appreciated, and integral to the success of this event!

Although some of our regular exhibitors and familiar faces will be missed this year, when plans were announced for the 2022 Conference, we were overwhelmed by the show of support. Admittedly, it will never be the same as it was, but with some foresight, precautions and sensitivity – we are thrilled to be coming together again Puyallup.

As you view the following schedules, you will see we have focused on honoring the traditions of the event and creating changes that enhance tits impact. For example, it falls upon non-profit organizations like Washington Aviation Association to take the lead in providing opportunities to introduce the next generation of aircraft owners and pilots to aviation – know someone in high school, or changing careers, and who could benefit from straight talk on how to get from A to B? John Swedburg, Professor Emeritus at Big Bend Community College and long time supporter of NWAC, is pooling conference resources to present a dialogue-based career workshop Saturday and Sunday, augmented by a series of focused sessions Saturday afternoon. View details on page 21.

MARK BAKER

Mark Baker is a longtime general aviation (GA) pilot and only the fifth president in the 75-year history of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

Baker’s aviation story began in the same way as thousands of others. As a kid, he rode his bike to the airport to watch the planes take off and land. On a good day he might get a ride with one of the local pilots. By the time he was in high school, he was hooked for life.

Baker bought his first airplane—a 1968 Cessna 150—while still in college, selling his van to raise the money.

Baker worked his way through numerous airplanes, including a Cessna 177 Cardinal, various V-tail Bonanzas and Barons, a 36 Model Bonanza, and many more that he has used for commuting, business, and pleasure. With so many hours in everything from business jets to helicopters and even historic aircraft like Ford TriMotors, Baker doesn’t hesitate to name his favorite—a Piper Super Cub that he’s owned for more than 25 years and equips with floats or skis as the weather demands.

AOPA is a Bronze level sponsor of the event. Visit with their team at booths #610-611.

TOM CURRAN

Tom has been a pilot for over 40 years. An instructor since he was “a kid”, his unique career includes 26 years as a USAF instructor pilot and check airman in the B-1B and F-15C. His “day jobs” included Commander of a B-1B squadron, Director of a NATO Air Operations Center, and Deputy Director of the DoD‘s Joint Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence. His world-wide adventures included tours in Europe, Japan, and Alaska, along with deployments to the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia. Pre-USAF, he worked as an airport planner; his projects included Alaska’s first Aviation System Plan, several airport master plans, and the initial design of CO’s Telluride Regional Airport (KTEX). Post-USAF, he traveled extensively as a seminar presenter and instructor for AOPA’s Air Safety Institute. His current ratings include ATP, CFI, and Commercial SES.

ALICIA HERRON

Alicia Herron, Aviation Writer, for the Air Safety Institute spoke at the 2020 NWAC. Herron develops content including scripts for ASI’s safety videos, articles, and seminars. Alicia joined the team in September 2018. Prior to joining ASI, Alicia worked as a flight instructor, air tour pilot, and also towed banners in Citabrias.

Originally from Los Angeles, Alicia received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Rocky Mountain College. She enjoys reading, hiking, music, baseball, and all types of adventure. Alicia is an active pilot and aspires to learn aerobatics and own her first airplane.

Herron will present both days of the event on the Keynote Stage for the Aviation Safety Institute.

KURT KLEINER

Kurt Kleiner lives in the Bitterroot Valley near Missoula, Montana and has been a pilot since 1988. He became a CFI in 2005 and has given over 3,600 hours of dual instruction primarily in Wyoming, Oregon/Washington, and Montana. He recently retired from a 30-year career as an Aviation Manager with the Bureau of Land Management, and served as the National Airspace Program Manager for the USFS and BLM from 2017-2019. In the summer, he flies fire reconnaissance and detection missions for a Part 135 operator on a US Forest Service contract, and then commits several weeks to designing, modifying, and managing Fire TFRs as an Interagency Fire Airspace Coordinator in September-October each year. In addition to instructing in single engine airplanes, he also enjoys tailwheel and seaplane flying, soaring sailplanes, aerial photography, and skydiving.

JEFFREY LUSTICK

Jeffrey Lustick, owner of Tomahawk Aero Services will speak on aircraft sales both days of the event. Lustick is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, and has practiced aviation law for 20 years. Jeff’s seminar is designed to provide helpful information and pro-tips to first-time airplane buyers seeking to find their dream airplanes. He will cover what to look for when shopping for an airplane, from what airplane models are the most desirable to purchase and own, to how to evaluate engines, airframes, and avionics. He will also cover the best process for reaching a fair purchase price, and how to negotiate with brokers and private sellers. Finally, he will discuss the legal paperwork and cover the FAA forms needed to safely buy your new airplane. Visit him in his booth, #231 throughout the weekend.

PHILIP MANDEL

When Philip Mandel was young, he had no idea flying could be affordable for someone with an average income or possible for someone with an IQ under 200 – that was until he met a private pilot, just a “regular guy” with an average job, who flew for fun and owned a beautiful Mooney M20. The very next day, Phil drove to his local flight school and signed up for lessons. The bug bit so deeply that sometimes he went for two or even three flight lessons per day! That was back in 1981. He earned his Private Pilot certificate followed by an Instrument rating, Commercial Pilot certificate, CFI, CFI-I, MEI, and more recently AGI and IGI certificates and ratings.

Through the years he has owned airplanes ranging from a C-150 to a Piper Apache and is currently the proud owner of his tenth flying machine, a Thorp T-18 (Experimental). Now a “recovering engineer,” Phil is an independent flight instructor based at Starks Twin Oaks Airpark (7S3) near Hillsboro OR.

STEVE MCCAUGHEY

Steve has served as the Executive Director of the Seaplane Pilots Association since 2011. He served with the US Air Force Special Operations Command and has spent the majority of his flying time in tailwheel, seaplanes, aerobatic aircraft, and warbirds. Steve was instrumental in creating a Seaplane Rating Scholarship program and works tirelessly to save seaplane access.

Steve will speak all weekend on seaplane topics as well as serve as a mentor speaker in the NW Aviation Career Forum.

WAYNE MCGHEE

Wayne is the Northwest Regional Sales Manager for Garmin International. An instrument rated private pilot, he has over three decades of experience working for avionics manufacturers like IIMorrow Inc, UPS Aviation Technologies, and Garmin. Wayne was also involved in the first widespread test of ADSB technology in Alaska for the Capstone project.

SHAWN PRATT

Shawn Pratt grew up in Sitka, Alaska with his family routinely flying to explore SE Alaska in a rented seaplane, and it was there that he got his first taste of the freedom and excitement of general aviation! While stationed in Virginia with the US Navy, he decided to pursue flight training initially as a hobby, then as a profession. To date, Shawn has flown in and around the Appalachian, Rocky, Cascade, Olympic, and Sierra Mountain Ranges, and the rugged terrain of SE Alaska. He has additionally flown a number of small GA aircraft across the country through challenging terrain and weather conditions. As you will see, Shawn has a passion and excitement for mountain flight and passing on his knowledge and experience to his fellow aviators. Shawn holds ATP, CFI Gold Seal, and AGI certificates, manages two flight schools and FBOs, while additionally working as a charter and corporate pilot.

Shawn will present his “Pacific Northwest Mountain Flying Clinic” both days at the event. Visit him at SIM Flight Training in booths #117-118.

GARY REEVES

Gary Reeves is a well known national speaker and expert in Single Pilot IFR and GPS use. He teaches individuals and trains whole airline staffs how to use the new Avidyne and Garmin Units. He has over 6,900 hours, a Master CFI, is the only Avidyne National Training provider and was the 2016 FAA Instructor of the Year, WP region.Gary resides in CA Learn more at PilotSafety.org or visit him in booth #813 throughout the weekend. Reeves will speak numerous times over the weekend.

TOM ROGERS

Tom Rogers is a CFI CFII and CFIME. He teaches at Bremerton airport with company called Olde Thyme Aviation. Specialize in Tailwheel instruction, CFI candidate spin training, Upset Prevention and Recovery training and a basic aerobatic course. He is also a skilled Stearman Waco Bi-plane. and AT-6 pilot. He is a retired Alaska Airlines Captain and Retired AF F-15 Four-ship flight lead and instructor.

JIM RUTTLER

Jim Ruttler is a registered patent attorney with an MBA and a BS in neurobiology. He is an instrument rated private pilot and flies the RV-10 that he built. He is also the founder of Aithre, which makes smart oxygen systems and health technology for general aviation.

Ruttler will be presenting, Saturday and Sunday, on hypoxia. As GA pilots, most of us don’t need to worry about rapid depressurization at FL 280 where the effects of hypoxia are obvious. But, increasingly, pilots are flying above 8k MSL, into the teens, and even the low flight levels – in unpressurized aircraft. The FAA-sponsored seminal study on mild hypoxia above 8k MSL is 25 years old, but the FAA hasn’t changed the rules or training requirements despite more accidents and increased capabilities of the modern fleet. This leaves you as the pilot with the responsibility to learn, understand, and manage the risks of entering this dangerous zone, which this seminar will help you do.

BRUCE WILLIAMS

Bruce Williams is the owner of BruceAir, LLC, an aviation consulting, training, and pilot-services company based in Seattle, WA. A pilot since the early 1970s, he is a certified flight instructor and FAASTeam representative in the Seattle area. Today, he focuses on training for technically advanced aircraft (TAA), the Beechcraft Bonanza series, and stall/spin/upset courses in an Extra 300L aerobatic aircraft. He also instructs at Galvin Flying Services at Boeing Field. During his career at Microsoft, he worked on six versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator. In the 1980s, he edited the Western Flyer (now the General Aviation News). He has authored two books on using PC-based simulation to complement flight training, plus many features on a variety of topics for aviation-focused periodicals. Bruce will once again speak both days at the NW Aviation Conference and we thank him for his support.