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Aviation Programs Flying High

By Pete Rosenbery

February was quite the month for aviation programs in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts.

The aviation technologies program received a U.S. Navy Gulfstream III C20A once used to transport military leaders in Europe and Africa. Built in 1982, the aircraft has more than 21,700 hours. While it was flown Feb. 3 to the Southern Illinois Airport, the military plane is for ground use only and not flyable.

The program has approximately 170 students, and each will receive training on the Gulfstream at some point, Michael Burgener, chair of the Department of Aviation Technologies said. The jet will be particularly useful in advanced maintenance and avionics.

Burgener said there are two large aircraft repair organizations within 100 miles of the university in the Metro East area, and that both Jet Aviation in Cahokia and West Star Aviation in East Alton hire SIU Carbondale graduates and have programs to maintain Gulfstream jets.

“This donation allows us to train our students using the exact same aircraft they will encounter after they graduate in our maintenance training program,” he said.

The Navy used the aircraft and others like it to transfer leadership, including the Chief of Naval Operations, the Secretary of the Navy and other command personnel, to the U.S. Military Headquarters for African operations, or AFRICOM. The jet, “Catbird,” which would cost more to repair than it is worth, was part of an executive transport detachment out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy.

On Feb. 26, the Illinois House of Representatives honored the nation’s best intercollegiate flight team, the Flying Salukis. Members of the 2014 National Intercollegiate Flying Association championship team received a resolution honoring their achievement in the House chamber. University officials, including SIU President Randy Dunn, were among those present during the ceremony. The 2014 championship marked the second in four years, and the ninth in the program’s history.

State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Raleigh, was the resolution’s chief sponsor, with Reps. John Bradley, D-Marion, Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, and Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, as co-sponsors. Wehrli, elected to the Illinois House in November, attended the university’s aviation management and flight program.

José R. Ruiz, professor and chair of the Department of Aviation Management and Flight, said the legislative recognition “is a tremendous honor these students and coaches will never forget.”

The squad competes against the top flying teams in the nation and the dedication of students and coaches is evident, he said.

“Their national acclaim is not the result of good fortune, but hard work and the constant pursuit of excellence,” Ruiz said. “They routinely practice long hours after attending and teaching classes throughout the week. The Flying Salukis are outstanding ambassadors of Southern Illinois University. I hope all members of the SIU community are as proud of our competition flight team as I am.”

Dating back to 2005, the Flying Salukis have finished no lower than fifth in the nation in eight appearances.  The team’s 2011 championship was the first since a string of seven titles within a 10-year stretch in the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.  The team will compete and defend their title May 11-16 at The Ohio State University.