The Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association (MSPA) Fly-In & Pilot Safety Seminar was held September 19-20, 2025, at Madden’s on Gull Lake, just outside of Brainerd, Minn. The annual event featured a Poker Run, evening entertainment, top-notch speakers including Joe Birkemeyer, President of MSPA; Ryan Gaug, Director of the Minnesota Office of Aeronautics; Steve Guetter and Amy Gesch of Wipaire; Ari Shafer of the Federal Aviation Administration; Bob Timm of Seaplane Services at Surfside Seaplane Base in Lino Lakes, Minn., on aircraft maintenance; Charles Scott of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on invasive species; Steve McCaughey of the Seaplane Pilots Association on safe seaplane operations; and Kyle Lewis of the AOPA Air Safety Institute on VFR into IMC avoidance. Troy Siekas of the Federal Aviation Administration presented Master Pilot Awards.
Events included an accuracy landing contest, social hour, and
banquet featuring Retired Col. CJ Sturckow. The Grand Prize Drawing was sponsored by Wipaire and Lake & Air. “Night Golf” was an added activity this year.
Sponsors included the Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics, Madden’s On Gull Lake, Midwest Flyer Magazine, AOPA, NorthPoint Aviation, Park Rapids Aviation, Wipaire, Seaplane Pilots Association, Mobile Transponder Certification, Minnesota Pilots Association, Airloan.com, Aircorps Aviation, and AirTrek North.
Coordinating this year’s seminar was the University of Minnesota AirTAP.
