Safety Meeting - March 2024
2024-03-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Topic: Flying in mixed traffic at uncontrolled airports
Speaker: Tony Greco

Spring Weather Hazards and Crosswind - CEPA Safety Meeting - April 2024
2024-04-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Topic: Spring Weather Hazards, Crosswinds, and Flying
Speaker: Dave Klopfleisch
With Spring blooming all around, let’s not forget the winds and weather. Student pilots, VFR, and IFR pilots will all learn some helpful tips. Flying safely is Dave’s mission.
Speaker bio:
For more than 40 years as a flight instructor and 30 years at Chicago Executive Flight School, Dave Klopfleisch has helped hundreds of students learn the art of flying. Dave earned his pilot license while in high school.
Dave served in the Navy and flew in the TA-4 single-engine attack jet. After the Navy, he was an auto mechanic and race car driver. Luckily for us, he found his way back to aviation!
For his dedication and experience in aviation, Dave was awarded the “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award” in 2022 to mark 50 years of safe flying. “The most rewarding part of my career has been using my experience to teach future pilots how to not only fly a plane but how to fly safely,” he said.

Double Header: Chicago's Role in Airline and Updates to the FAA You Should Know - Safety Meeting - June 2024
2024-06-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Chicago’s Role in the Structure of the Airline Industry
Speaker: Mike Haupt
Today, Chicago is best known for being a hub through which countless passengers endure excruciating plane changes as well as O’Hare’s ability to completely disrupt nationwide air service. This program uncovers the critical role Chicago played in forming the airline industry not just for the United States but worldwide. Discover how rudimentary air mail carriers developed and morphed into the airlines we know today. See how Chicago became the center of the air mail system both for connecting routes and for technologies crucial to safe, long-distance, regular flights across our vast nation. Learn the role Chicago played in creating the safety-first regulatory environment that provided the general public with confidence in flying. Witness Chicago’s pivotal role in airline labor relations which has remained a significant factor in airline operations into the present. See how Chicago’s influence expanded beyond national borders to establish standards worldwide.
Michael Haupt, has spent decades exploring the extent of aviation activity in and around Chicago, especially in the early part of the 20th Century. His book, Aviation Chicago Timeline, is a product of his insatiable curiosity and research coupled with a fastidious attention to detail. The result is a well-written, fascinating history revealing many events which have been otherwise forgotten. Many regard it as the definitive history of aviation activities in Chicago and the surrounding region. Mike is a CEPA Member and well-respected presenter throughout the area.
FAA Changes That You Should Know
The enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and updates and new Airman Certification Standards (ACS) have taken place and that affects us as pilots. We’ll cover the highlights of what these changes may mean to you.
Register for WINGS credit here.

Hangar Party - CEPA's Scholarships Presentation
2024-07-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicago Executive Airport – Hangar 5, 1115 S Wolf Rd, Prospect Heights, IL, 60090, United States
Annual Membership Appreciation Hangar Party
Academic and Flight Training Scholarship Presentations

CEPA MEMBERS: free
GUESTS – $10

Becoming an "Appropriately" Confident Pilot - Marc Epner - Safety Meeting - August 2024
2024-08-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Pilots and their passengers want the PIC to be many things, all contributing to a safe and enjoyable experience, attributes that culminate in a confident pilot. However, confidence can come from multiple sources, some of which give a false sense of confidence. Join the discussion on being an appropriately confident pilot.
Speaker Bio:
Marc Epner started his love affair with aviation when as a young boy. After earning his private pilot license in 1976, he lost his medical in 1979. He didn’t step back into a GA airplane for 25 years. A chance flight in 2004 reminded him how much he loved flying and started him down a path of taking his skills to the next level. Today, Marc has accumulated almost 2700 hours, earned multiple ratings, purchased a Cirrus SR22, and co-founded Leading Edge Flying Club at Chicago Executive Airport. Marc shares his love of aviation with others via presentations, discussions, and his YouTube channel, “PF Flying”

Understanding the FAA Medical Certification Process - CEPA Safety Meeting - September 2024
2024-09-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Understanding the FAA Medical Certification Process: Overcoming Challenges and Update on Some Recent Changes
Pilots may face obstacles during the FAA medical certification process. Syd will share practical advice and recent changes designed to streamline approval for First, Second, Third Class, and BasicMed.
Syd is a HIMS AME in the FAA’s Human Intervention Motivational Study (HIMS) program, supporting pilots dealing with issues like DUI, alcoholism, use of SSRI antidepressants, anxiety medications, ADHD, and ADD. He has extensive experience in helping pilots navigate complex situations.
Whether you’re facing medical certification challenges now or want to be prepared for a possible future, this discussion will provide valuable insights. Join us and learn how to better navigate the FAA medical certificate process and improve your chances of a successful outcome.
Speaker Bio:
Sydney Schneidman is a 3,000-hour instrument-rated pilot. He has owned 5 airplanes, 3 were Cardinal RGs. Syd is dedicated to volunteer flying and actively participates in the local Civil Air Patrol Squadron at PWK.
He has 40 years as an Emergency Department physician and a decade as an AME, Syd specializes in handling complex cases and is well-equipped to provide expert guidance on the FAA medical process.

Sam Lasky, PWK Tower Air Traffic Manager - Safety Meeting - October 2024
2024-10-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Sam Lasky, Air Traffic Manager at PWK Tower
Why the heck did he send me there? What does that mean? Yes, they probably were talking about that last landing.
You want to know what is going on in the glass tower, don’t you. Well Sam is the guy who can give you the inside insight.
Speaker: Sam Lasky, Air Traffic Manager, Chicago Executive ATCT

Samuel Lasky became the Air Traffic Manager at Chicago Executive Air Traffic Control Tower (PWK ATCT) December, 2022. He worked as a Certified Professional Controller at Evansville (EVV) and Chicago Executive ATCT, and as an Operations Supervisor at Midway ATCT (MDW). In 2017, he won the NAS First, People Always Firefighter Award for his work in air traffic control simulation.
Before joining the FAA, Lasky served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Air Traffic Control Tower Supervisor at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, and deployed with Marine Air Traffic Control Mobile Team One (MMT-1) during Operation Enduring Freedom.
He values leadership and training as the keys to building strong teams. In his free time, Sam enjoys BBQ and spending time with his family.

Annual Business and Safety Meeting, CEA State of the Airport - November 2024
2024-11-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Our November meeting is a three-fer.
First, we will hold the election for our officers and directors. Members have been sent ballots via email. If you are a member and
Second, we will get an update on what’s going on at Chicago Executive Airport (CEA) from the supervisor of airport operations, Norm Mackey.
Third, we will review the delights and perils of winter flying.
Safety Meeting – Winter Flying: Forecasts, Preflight, Go/No-Go
Speaker: Michael Baraz, CFI/CFII

If you’re thinking, “I got new gloves, I’m ready for winter,” there might be a just a few considerations that you might want to think through. No doubt, the cold air gives us better performance; however the visibility and icing potential are often a concern, maybe VFR into IMC? We will explore these and a whole lot more winter flying topics together.

Where Did Those Pesky Electrons Go? - CEPA Safety Seminar at PWK
2025-01-22 19:00 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
It was supposed to be a challenging but fun training flight… until it wasn’t!
That first approach worked out pretty well. Then you see your Aspen PFD tells you that you’re running on backup battery power! The nearest VFR is over an hour and a half away.
How well do you know (and trust) your equipment? What do you do and when?

Speaker Bio
Michael Baraz is ATP-rated and holds CFI and CFII certificates. He is an FAASafety Team Lead Representative helping people stay current and proficient by encouraging continuous training with WINGS achievements. Michael has owned two Mooneys, currently has a Rocket 305, and enjoys flying all kinds of planes. He is a member of various flying clubs and pilot associations around Chicago and is currently the treasurer of CEPA.

Flight Simulators Have A Role In Training
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
There are a variety of of flight simulators around. Some are mostly for fun. On the other end of the spectrum, highly realistic Full Flight Simulator Level-D simulators provide an incredibly accurate experience of flying an airplane. Your laptop with a joystick maybe not so much. In between we’ll look at FTD, BATDs, AATDs, when an instructor is required and how much sim time is allowed.

March Safety Meeting - Safety Risk Management (meet at Chicago Exec Airport Office)
2025-03-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Chicago Executive Airport, 1020 Plant Rd, Wheeling, IL, 60090, United States
Topic: Safety Risk Management
Program: Joe Long will present a program on risk management. With about 2000 hours over 30 years as a pilot, Joe will bring his unique perspective to this presentation. His past as a KC-135 Boom Operator and a Chicago PD Lieutenant should make it an especially interesting evening.
Speaker Bio: Joe Long (Commander, Palwaukee Composite Squadron, IL Wing CAP Standardization and Evaluation Officer). Joe has 2000 flight hours. He has CFI, CFII, and MEI instructor certificates. Joe has been flying for over 30 years. He spent time as a KC-135 Boom Operator in the Air Force and ANG. Joe retired last year as a Lieutenant with the Chicago Police Department and is currently the Commander of the Palwaukee Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol and the Illinois Wing Standardization and Evaluation Officer.
WINGS credits will be awarded at the end of the presentation for those who attended at lease 50 minutes of the program.
Location: Please note the change of venue: Chicago Executive Airport office. Our traditional spot, Harper College, is closed for Spring Break.

"Say Intentions" with Aaron Barclay, CFII, ATC Approach Controller - April Safety Meeting
2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
If you’ve flown in Chicago airspace, you’ve probably talked to Aaron Barcley getting in or heading out. Most ATC Controllers are not pilots, but Aaron is. In fact, Aaron is a CFI/CFII. Aaron will share some tips on making the pilot-controller partnership work well.

May Safety Meeting - Collisions and Near-Misses are Happening, What's Your Plan?
2025-05-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Collisions and near misses are the talk everywhere. While a disproportionate number of aviation mishaps are done but us – light GA aircraft – this problem crosses the whole of aviation. Even the record holder for safest of virtually anything measured, U.S. carriers are now showing up with way too many near-misses, and for the first time in decades, some actual mid-air collisions, as well as many too many on the ground near misses.
This can be managed. It starts with you. Let’s talk about how we become the subject of the safety story and not the NTSB report.
Speaker Bio:

Michael Baraz holds ATP, CFI, CFII, AGI, and IGI certificates. He is an active flight instructor and FAA Safety Lead Team Representative. He loves helping people achieve their flying goals and staying safe, current, and proficient by continuous training with WINGS credits. Michael has owned two Mooneys and currently owns a Rocket 305, he enjoys flying fast. He is a member of several flying clubs and pilot associations around Chicago and is the treasurer and past-president of CEPA.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Day - Jerrold Seckler - June Safety Meeting
2025-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Two of the most hazardous threats to aircraft are thunderstorms and icing. Dr. Seckler discussed the risk and management of icing last January. Now, he will take on the beast of unfathomable energy, thunderstorms. One thunderstorm was measured at about 1.3 billion volts with a charging time of only 6 minutes. Jerry will explain how they form, forecasting where they’ll be, and how to avoid them in flight.
Speaker Bio:
Jerrold Seckler has been flying for over 58 years. During that time, he has amassed over 8,000 hours in various General Aviation aircraft and personally flown a GA aircraft on all seven continents. Jerry holds ATP, CFII, AGI, and IGI certificates. He has been named a Master Ground Instructor four consecutive times by the National Association of Flight Instructors.
In a previous life, Seckler was a Urologic Surgeon and an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner.
In 2017, Jerry received the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flying. Seckler has almost 4,000 hours on his Cirrus SR22.

2025 Pilot Appreciation & Scholarship Dinner
2025-07-30 18:00 - 21:00 | Chicago Executive Airport – Hangar 5, 1115 S Wolf Rd, Prospect Heights, IL, 60090, United States
Members free

Register guests

How many guests (non-members)?

Just one $10.00 USDTwo more $20.00 USDThree more $30.00 USDFour more $40.00 USD

Collision Avoidance Workshop - Jason Groh, CFII - August Safety Meeting
2025-08-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
The Collision Avoidance workshop is a fast-paced, one-hour safety session designed to help pilots navigate Chicago Executive’s busy Class D environment with confidence. It covers local collision risk areas—including jet and GA traffic mixing, and nearby airport conflicts—along with proven visual scanning techniques, smart use of ADS-B, and effective communication with Tower, Approach, and CTAF. Using local maps, real ATC audio, and an actual near-miss case study, pilots will learn practical strategies to see and avoid traffic, manage high-density operations, and prevent midair conflicts.
Speaker bio:
Jason Groh is a CFI/CFII with a passion for helping pilots train with confidence and safety in mind. He brings years of experience in guiding students from their first flights through complex instrument procedures.
In addition to instructing, Jason is the founder of The Pilot’s Discord, an online training and networking community that connects pilots nationwide for checkride preparation, career development, and mentorship. He also produces educational aviation content on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, and Discord, sharing tips, techniques, and industry insights with thousands of pilots and students.
Whether he’s flying in the pattern with a new student, coaching an instrument candidate through an approach, or hosting a safety workshop, Jason’s goal is always the same—build skilled, confident aviators who fly smart, stay safe, and enjoy the journey.

Daddy, I Really, Really Gotta Go! - September Safety Meeting
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Young and old alike, when you gotta go, you gotta go! And there are all kinds of urgent situations that pop up. And these can create these in unexpected, sudden, and urgent ways! No problem, there’s an airport nearby. The issue is the two other aircraft in position to land ahead of you—both of whom happen to be gliders. Flying into non-towered airports is one thing, but when you’ve got gliders and ultralights mixed into the traffic pattern, things get way more complicated!
Continuing with the theme of safety with mixed traffic, let’s discuss the thinking about diversions, traffic flows, priorities, and (always) risk management!
Speaker Bio:

Michael Baraz holds ATP, CFI, CFII, AGI, and IGI certificates. He is an active flight instructor and FAA Safety Lead Team Representative. He loves helping people achieve their flying goals and staying safe, current, and proficient by continuous training with WINGS credits. Michael flies a Mooney Rocket 305 because life is too short to fly slow. He is a member of several flying clubs and pilot associations around Chicago and is the treasurer and past-president of CEPA.

MOSAIC What's In It For Me? - October Safety Meeting
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Light Sport Pilot and Light Sport Airplanes will soon mean entirely different things from how you know them. “Light” used to mean significantly reduced privileges and capabilities, respectively. The Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (aka MOSAIC) regulation is going to fix most of that. And, by the time we meet, the first set of changes will kick in on October 22nd, for pilot certification. By next year’s AirVenture, on July 24, 2026, the aircraft rule changes will kick in. What’s in it for you?
Speaker Bio:

Michael Baraz holds ATP, CFI, CFII, AGI, and IGI certificates. He is an active flight instructor and FAA Safety Lead Team Representative. He loves helping people achieve their flying goals and staying safe, current, and proficient through continuous training with WINGS credits. Michael flies a Mooney Rocket 305 because life is too short to fly slow. He is a member of several flying clubs and pilot associations around Chicago and is the treasurer and past-president of CEPA.

CEPA Election, Annual Meeting & November Safety Meeting
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Evening topics:

CEPA Director’s Election
Annual Meeting
November Safety Meeting: Ice and Aspects of Winter Operations

Speaker:
Lou Wipotnik, Master CFI, CFII, MEI, has earned his Master CFI designation for the 10th time and was the 1996 National CFI of the Year. Holding the Master CFI designation continuously since 1998, Lou was granted Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE) status in 2016, following his induction into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame. This recognition was given in appreciation of his many years of commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education. He has taught for several distinctive flying schools during his aviation career and has logged over 15,000 hours as PIC in over 60 years as a pilot. Lou also served in the Civil Air Patrol, flies Young Eagles, and is a recipient of the distinguished FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

7 Times Lucky - How to Survive a Low-Altitude Engine Failure (Hopefully)
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Join CFI Daniel Feldman for an exploration of low-altitude engine failures and the lessons he has learned after seven of them.

Speaker Bio:
Daniel Feldman is a CFI Sport with more than 3,500 hours of dual given and over 5,000 total flight hours. He is the owner of Foxtrot Aero, which specializes in light sport instruction in both fixed-wing and gyroplanes with a focus on vintage and experimental aircraft.

Flight Following Or Go Rogue?
2026-02-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
You take off for your VFR one-hour cross-country. You’re about to head into a TRSA, so you call for flight following. It’s crazy hot and bumpy, so you tell them your destination, and you are climbing to 8,500 feet. Unfortunately, that’s not what ATC has in mind. They say maintain at or below 3000′. Whoa! What do you do?
Speaker Bio:

Michael Baraz holds ATP, CFI, CFII, AGI, and IGI certificates. He is an active flight instructor and FAA Safety Lead Team Representative. He loves helping people achieve their flying goals and staying safe, current, and proficient through continuous training with WINGS credits. Michael flies a Mooney Rocket 305 (because life is too short to fly slow). He is a member of several flying clubs and pilot associations in the Chicago area and is the treasurer and past president of CEPA.

Situational Awareness: How Good Pilots Lose It, and Get It Back - Penny Levin, PhD, CFI
2026-04-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Harper College, 1375 S Wolf Road, Prospect Heights, IL, 60070, United States
Join Penny Levin, PhD, CFI, for Situational Awareness in Single-Pilot Flying: How Good Pilots Lose It, and Get It Back. This practical program for general aviation pilots will explore how distraction, workload, routine, and cockpit screens can erode situational awareness in small airplanes, and what pilots can do to recognize the signs early, stay ahead of the airplane, and fly more safely.
Speaker Bio:

Dr. Penny Levin has combined her two professional passions-psychology and aviation. She presents on flight instruction, flight safety, and pilot mental health. She is a member of the Olympic Mental Health Registry. A longtime member of the Civil Air Patrol. Dr. Penny has flown as an instructor, a mission pilot, and a mission pilot instructor, and as the Pennsylvania Wing Assistant Director of Safety, responsible for creating an innovative aircrew safety seminar series. She is an instructor in the AOPA Flight Instructor Refresher Course
