Aviation Hall of Fame for Professor Rodriguez

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Assistant Professor Dr. Charles Rodriguez will be inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame in Peoria on April 14.

Rodriguez, a faculty member in the SIUC College of Applied Sciences and Arts’ (CASA) Department of Aviation Technologies, will join Illinois aviation pioneers such as Octave Chanute, whose 1894 book, Progress in Flying Machines, was a guidebook for early aviators, including the Wright brothers, and Merril C. Miegs, Chicago Herald and Examiner publisher who was among the individuals responsible for the creation of the Windy City’s Miegs Field. Hall members also include Gene Siebert, a leader in the early development of Southern Illinois Airport and SIUC aviation programs.

Dr. Rodriguez, who was named 2003 Educator of the Year by the National Congress on Aerospace Education, is the youngest aviator to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since it was established in 1970, according to Aviation Technologies Department Chair Michael Most.

“SIUC Aviation programs are among the most highly rated in the nation,” said CASA Interim Dean Paul D. Sarvela, “because of the outstanding scholarship, expertise, service and commitment of faculty members such as Dr. Rodriguez. Considerably less weighty in light of his other accomplishments, but certainly noteworthy, is Dr. Rodriguez’s superb remote piloting of the blimp that navigates the SIUC Arena during most Saluki basketball games.”

The SIUC aviation programs of which Rodriguez is a faculty member are primarily housed between Carbondale and Murphysboro at the Southern Illinois Airport, the future home of the $40 million SIUC Transportation Education Center (TEC). Planning processes for the TEC are now underway and construction is expected to begin within 18 to 24 months. The SIUC TEC, which will house the university’s nationally-renown aviation and automotive programs, will be the only facility of its kind in the world upon completion.

Faculty Member Receives FAA Award

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has presented the Flight Standards Service “Good Friend” Award to Dr. Charles (Charley) Rodriguez, faculty member in SIUC’s Department of Aviation Technologies (AvTech) for his contributions to the FAA in the area of aviation accident investigations.

The award, presented on February 25th at ceremonies in Springfield, IL, is presented to non-FAA Flight Standards personnel who have in some significant way promoted, enhanced or supported the FAA’s mission.

Quoting from an FAA letter addressed to Dr. Rodriguez: “Your responsiveness, willingness, professionalism, and dedication to the Springfield Flight Standards District Office have contributed substantially to the success of the FAA mission.”

As an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Springfield Safety program, the FAA asked Dr. Rodriguez to investigate the December 11, 2003 accident involving a small aircraft. The Cessna was en route to the Carbondale/Murphysboro Airport when the engine malfunctioned forcing the pilot to land in an agricultural field.

Students to Extern At Rockwell Collins

Aviation Technology, Avionics students Jonathon Martinson and Peter (Sam) Vercillo were selected to attend an externship at the Rockwell-Collins Avionics Department in Cedar Rapids during spring break, March 8th through March 10th.

Arrangements were made with the help of SIUC avionics instructor Dennis Hannon through Jim Fisher of Rockwell Collins, also a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee for Aviation Technologies, and his associate, Nicole Stiffer.

Jonathon and Sam are expected to be involved in various phases of avionics equipment development at Collins and may have the opportunity to shadow one or more of the developmental engineers there. Externships give students excellent opportunities to observe first hand and in some cases, participate in the workings of real-world career related development and manufacturing processes performed in industry. These events also permit the students to look into their futures and help them choose a career path, as well as the firm or firms by which they’d prefer to be employed.

New Test Equipment

The Aviation Technology Department was pleased to receive new avionics testing equipment for both communications and navigation systems use in fiscal year 2003. A large part of the Aviation Technology, Avionics Specialty curriculum consists of training in both the understanding and practical usage of avionics systems testing equipment. This past year, the department received test sets for weather radar systems, transponder/DME systems and communications systems. On the COM/NAV side, an IFR NAV 401L Marker, G/S, LOC, COM, Ramp and Bench Test Set was acquired as well as a Michel NC 2210 Hand Held COM/NAV Tester. For Transponder/DME testing, a new IFR ATC 601A2 Transponder/DME Test Set as well as a Michel 3300 Hand Held Transponder Test Set was acquired. Additionally, a Mobiltech aviation headset/mic/headphone tester was placed in to service. For weather radar system testing, an IFR 300 test set was received. Most of these devices are capable of portable as well as bench testing applications increasing their versatility and providing the students with valuable experience in both situations.

This test equipment will not only serve the students enrolled in the avionics specialty, but also those who take the intersession flight line maintenance core courses for the aviation technology degree. As the avionics program strives to keep current with state-of-the-art equipment, it is hoped that as funds become available, upgraded signal generators and oscilloscopes, which are used for a number of both avionics specialty and aviation technology core courses, can be obtained.

Helicopter Equipment Donated

Helicopter equipment valued at approximately $14,000 has been donated to the Aviation Technologies Department by Boundary Layer Research of Everett, WA.

The equipment, which is a cutting-edge aerodynamics package known as a stake kit, reduces the amount of parasitic power lost to the tail rotor during hover and heavy lift operations, according to Aviation Technologies Department Chair Mike Most .
“The kit, which will be installed on an SIUC Bell 205 helicopter trainer with the assistance of students in the Aviation Technologies Department,” Most said, “also improves stability, handling and efficiency.”

The SIUC Department of Aviation Technologies operates the only authorized Bell Training Program in the United States located at a university.

“Aviation programs at SIUC – in the Department of Aviation Technologies and the Department of Aviation Management and Flight – are among the finest in the nation,” said CASA Interim Dean Paul D. Sarvela, “which results in the kinds of support the programs receive from firms such as Bell Helicopter and Boundary Layer Research.”

SIUC aviation programs are primarily housed between Carbondale and Murphysboro at the Southern Illinois Airport, the future home of the $40 million SIUC Transportation Education Center (TEC). Planning processes for the TEC are now underway and construction is expected to begin within 18 to 24 months. The SIUC TEC, which will house the university’s nationally-renown aviation and automotive programs, will be the only facility of its kind in the world upon completion.