2004 ASU Aviation Expo

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Arizona State University’s Aeronautical Management Technology Department will present the 2004 ASU Aviation Expo, Thursday, April 8, at Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona. The daylong event will promote the development of aviation in the Valley of the Sun.
Held on the airport’s flight line at the headquarters of privately-held Fighter Combat International, the Aviation Expo will focus on the aviation/aerospace industry, community development and airport growth, aviation education, and safety in the busy skies of the Valley of the Sun. “Everything Aviation!” is the theme of this year’s inaugural event.

Headlining the event will be an aviation safety seminar and exposition, featuring aviation instructor, columnist and speaker Rod Machado. Over the course of the day, expert panels will address the other major aviation topics.

The Expo begins at 8 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast, followed by a 9 a.m. welcome from co-hosts, William McCurry, chair of the Aeronautical Management Technology Department, and Paul "BJ" Ransbury, president of Fighter Combat International.

Panel discussions will start with "Airport Growth and Community Development," a look at the impact Valley airports are expected to have on community development. Panel members will represent the Phoenix airports system, East Valley airports, local government and the military.

A panel on "Air Traffic Control: Airspace Safety and Management in the Valley," with controllers from the Valley air traffic control facilities, will discuss the challenges of controlling the variety of flight activities, specific management processes, and safety concerns.

Machado's aviation safety seminar, “The Aviation Safety Reflex,” follows.
"Rod portrays the cockpit as a place for reflex, not reflection," said Professor Wayne Tripp, one of the event coordinators. "Learning about several important mental reflexes that can help prevent in-flight emergencies, Rod discusses some defensive flying tactics to help us from falling victim to aviation's natural predators and enemies.
"He rounds out the seminar by discussing our own limitations, psychological predators, and ways to correctly identify and handle these enemies," Tripp said.

Machado's seminar qualifies for credit in the FAA Wings Program.
Next, Aviation Education and Industry leaders discuss how Valley universities, colleges and businesses work together "building the bridge into the aerospace future," said Tripp. "This Valley of aviation has a plethora of opportunity for career and technology development."
Exhibitions throughout the Expo from aviation-related businesses and organizations will provide information on products, services, careers, and the industry. The Federal Aviation Administration and aviation safety organizations are among the planned exhibitors. Additionally, static aircraft displays will showcase various applications, including general aviation, military, police, corporate, airline, and training. Mesa Airlines, one of ASU’s flight program partners, will provide walk-throughs of its Canadair CRJ-900. Unannounced visits from noted aviators and unique aircraft owners will add to the Expo environment and could increase the types of static aircraft displays available.

Gifts and door prizes will also be available for those in attendance. Proceeds will benefit student aviation organizations at ASU. Included will be a silent auction of a one-hour flight in a full-motion, Level-D, regional jet simulator for the winner and two guests, compliments of CAE, one of ASU’s partners in professional airline flight training.
Catering by Joe’s Barbecue will also be available for event attendants, for a nominal cost.

Williams Gateway Airport can be reached by traveling south on Power Road, from U.S. 60. Exit to the east at Ray Road into the airport. Signage for easy access is visible. For those flying into this event, the ASU Aviation Expo is situated on the flight line at Williams Gateway Airport (IWA), at the Fighter Combat International Headquarters just north of the airport terminal. Full FBO services are available from Gateway Aviation Services (www.flywga.com).

Further information on the event is available from Wayne Tripp at Arizona State University at 480-727-1691 or via e-mail at wayne.tripp@asu.edu. Information is also available on the Web at http://eastair.east.asu.edu, by clicking on the ASU Aviation Expo link.
The ASU Aviation Expo was developed by members of ASU’s Aeronautical Management Technology Department and the ASU AMT Student Advisory Council to promote Arizona aviation education, industry, and policy.

Joining ASU as a sponsor of the Expo is Fighter Combat International, a leader in Emergency Maneuver Training. Fighter Combat International’s mission is to promote safety in aviation through a comprehensive training program with military fighter pilots in the Extra 300L aerobatic aircraft. Fighter Combat will have a presentation about their Adventure Flights and Flight Training Programs.


Sounds like it's gonna be a pretty good show. I'll probably be there the whole time, if any one in the valley is interested come on by!

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I just found out there's supposed to be around 65 vendors and Piper, Cirrus, and Diamond are just a few companies that will be bringing out planes. There's also going to be a B-17 and another WWII bomber on display.