Membership Includes:

• Full voting rights at membership meetings.
• Eligibility to serve as a SDPA officer.
• Annual subscription to bi-monthly "SDPA News" newsletter – the ONLY statewide, general aviation newsletter in South Dakota.
• Meetings around the state to discuss aviation issues in South Dakota.
• SDPA patch for your cap or jacket (heat-activated glue backing).
• SDPA decal for display.
• SDPA member merchandise.
• SDPA sponsored aviation safety seminars.
• Eligibility to nominate worthy people for the Becker-Hansen Memorial Scholarship.

New Pilots get One-Year Free Membership

New Pilot Membership Application

The SDPA is promoting general aviation and camaraderie among pilots and aviation enthusiasts in South Dakota by giving a one-year FREE membership to NEW PILOTS who are residents in SD. By NEW pilot we mean that they have passed their check ride for private, glider, sport, recreational or balloon certificates (but NOT for a new rating such as instrument or advanced certificates such as commercial or ATP) within 12 months of submitting an application for a free membership. This free membership program was initiated on March 22, 2008, at the SDPA meeting in Pierre. All the new pilot has to do is complete a membership application and mail it to SDPA Treasurer. We have mailed "new pilot" applications to the designated pilot examiners in South Dakota to give to new pilots passing their check ride. However, if you know of a new pilot who is a resident of SD and took their check ride outside of SD, i.e., in a surrounding state like IA, MN, ND, WY, or NE, please let us know and we will mail them an application.

Contact Dale Knuth at 605-366-5862 or email to dale.knuth@gmail.com

New Mechanics get One-Year Free Membership

New Mechanic Membership Application

The SDPA is promoting general aviation and camaraderie among mechanics in South Dakota by giving a one-year FREE membership to NEW MECHANICS who are residents in SD. By NEW mechanic we mean that they have passed their practical test for the A&P (airframe & powerplant) test within 12 months of submitting an application for a free membership. This free membership program was initiated on November 12, 2016, at the SDPA meeting in Mobridge. All the new mechanic has to do is complete a membership application and mail it to SDPA Treasurer. We have mailed "new mechanic" applications to the designated examiners in South Dakota to give to new mechanics passing their practical test. However, if you know of a new mechanic who is a resident of SD and took their test outside of SD, please let us know and we will mail them an application.

Contact Dale Knuth at 605-366-5862 or email to dale.knuth@gmail.com

LifeTime Membership

The SDPA approved a LifeTime membership at the SDPA meeting on June 8, 2013, in Winner, SD. After discussion and evaluation of lifetime membership dues and policies of other organizations, the SDPA voted to make the lifetime membership dues 15 times the annual rate ($375).

The following policy was adopted:

• Lifetime membership dues are $375, and are not refundable or proratable or transferable.
• The Lifetime member will be acknowledged in the Jan-Feb issue of the SDPA News annually.
• The Lifetime member will be contacted annually to confirm they have not moved and want to continue receiving the newsletter.
• The Lifetime member will receive a framed certificate acknowledging their Lifetime membership in SDPA.
• "Life" will be added to the member’s mailing label.
• Lifetime membership is for the life of the member or until the SDPA becomes inactive.
• Lifetime membership includes all the same benefits as a regular member, i.e., receive newsletter, participation in meetings and programs, etc.

LifeTime Members:

• Greg Alvine (Sioux Falls): February 2021
• Jacob Anderson (Hartford): June 2022
• Blair Arne (Carpenter): June 2022
• Dan Appel (Redfield): December 2018
• Jacob Appel (Redfield): February 2019
• Joshua Appel (Redfield): September 2022
• ATY Aviation, Inc (Watertown): March 2020
• Wade Bail (Buffalo): November 2020
• John Bailey (Sioux Falls): March 2020
• John Baumiller (Chancellor): April 2019
• Michael Beason (Rapid City): June 2020
• Rick Belsaas (Rapid City): May 2019
• Kerry Berg (Sioux Falls): February 2023
• Barry Bibler (Spearfish): September 2013
• Don Bice (Winner): May 2015
• George Bittner (Mitchell): December 2016
• Bob Booth (Ridgeview): July 2015
• Patrick Bootz (Lemmon): August 2018
• John Bormes (Aberdeen): May 2015
• Westin Brown (Arlington): September 2019
• Robert Burke (Pierre): February 2020
• Lonnie Burnham (Rapid City): September 2014
• Blake Burwell (Renner): October 2022
• Joel Calhoun (Whitney, NE): August 2021
• Scott Campbell (Watertown): April 2020
• Thomas Chaplin (Sioux Falls): March 2017
• Cody Christensen (Brookings): May 2015
• City of Wall (Wall): October 2021
• Ryan Cordell (Camp Crook): December 2021
• Jay Crossland (Rapid City): January 2022
• Dakota Flight Center (Mitchell): October 2017
• Rick Daugherty (Yankton): January 2016
• Kelly DeBerg (Sioux Falls): September 2022
• James Deranleau (Newell): November 2020
• Gary Dettman (Spearfish): April 2019
• Shannon Doe (Henderson, NV): September 2022
• Jeff Doom (Wagner): April 2021
• Scott Dorwart (Kimball): February 2017
• Linda Ehrenfelt (Pierre): March 2017
• Mark Eitreim (Lennox): Aril 2021
• Jason Erickson (Brandon): March 2017
• Elliott Filler (Volga): June 2017
• Clyde Fredrickson (Britton): December 2017
• Rick Foss (Lemmon): December 2018
• Dave Gilbert (Madison): January 2019
• Carter Gilk (Sioux Falls): March 2023
• Craig Goodrich (Rapid City): August 2016
• Richard Grorud (Milbank): November 2022
• James Gulson (Sioux Falls): November 2015
• Matthew Guthmiller (Aberdeen): August 2019
• Steve Hamilton (Yankton): Honorary LifeTime Membership voted by the SDPA officers, September 2013 – For Dedicated & Outstanding Service 1993-2013.
• Ty Hanson (Aberdeen): September 2019
• Dave Hentges (Canby, MN): November 2015
• Richard Hermann (St. Onge): March 2022
• Darrell Hillestad (Aberdeen): June 2020
• Frank Hines (Huron): November 2019
• Terry Hinn (Hot Springs): December 2022
• Jacob Hoffner (Yankton): January 2016
• Paul Houck (Gettysburg): August 2017
• Tessa Howard (Winner): January 2016
• Kristi Ivey (Livingston, MT): August 2015
• Ray Jilek (Spearfish): August 2015
• Kurt Johnson (Sioux Falls): August 2015
• Rolf Johnson (Mina): September 2017
• Tom Johnson (Spearfish): July 2019
• Todd Kinser (Custer): June 2022
• Dean Kirkeby (Clark): October 2015
• Michael Klarenbeek (Gregory): July 2015
• Dennis Knuckles (Custer): June 2017
• Dale Knuth (Hartford): October 2019
• Jon Kolba (Crooks): December 2015
• Jake Kraft (Timber Lake): July 2015
• Christopher Lang (Rapid City): December 2021
• Bryant Larson (Brandon): June 2019
• James Lindquist (Hettinger, ND): December 2020
• Dave Luers (Pierre): December 2016
• Trent Lutter (Hoven): July 2016
• Ryan Maher (Isabel): October 2017
• Allan Martens (Hartford): October 2021
• Donald McDaniel (Lantry): April 2015
• Kim McLaury (Elk Point): October 2015
• Dean Mehlhaff (Mina): February 2016
• Ronald Mielke (Sioux Falls): May 2019
• Charles Moe, Sr. (Rosebud): February 2020
• Marcus Molskness (Wentworth): August 2022
• Keith Morford (Valley Springs): January 2022
• Mark Mount (Platte): May 2015
• Jeff Muhlenkort (Beresford): Feb 2016
• John Murphy (Rapid City): September 2016
• Dennis Nash (Prairie City): June 2021
• John O’Connell (Custer): September 2019
• Eric Odenbach (Eureka): November 2015
• William Osman (Sioux Falls): April 2017
• Dale Patterson (Wall): January 2016
• Jim Peitz (Pierre): June 2019
• Ron Peterson (Mitchell): November 2016
• Bobbie Potts (Gettysburg): Honorary LifeTime Membership voted at the SDPA in Winner, SD, on June 8, 2013 – For Dedicated & Outstanding Service 1993-2013.
• Mary Carol Potts (Gettysburg): Honorary LifeTime Membership voted at the SDPA in Winner, SD, on June 8, 2013 – For Dedicated & Outstanding Service 1993-2013.
• Scott Ramsdell (Flandreau): July 2015
• Lynn Reimer (Sioux Falls): April 2019
• Dan Renner (Crooks): January 2023
• David Richardson (Brandon): February 2018
• Gerald Rieber (Watertown): April 2021
• Lynn Riedesel (Brookings): April 2017
• Brian Rippe (Yankton): September 2018
• Brian Robbennolt (Gettysburg): April 2015
• Jerrod Rolston (Wagner): February 2020
• Chris Rounds (Pierre): February 2018
• Donald Schaffer (Buena Park, CA): November 2022
• Verlyn Scheibe (Custer): March 2016
• Todd Schindler (Chamberlain): February 2021
• Todd Shannon (Mitchell): June 2015
• Sioux Falls Ballooning Association (Sioux Falls): May 2022
• Lyn Smeenk (Belle Fourche): February 2022
• Dustin Smith (Presho): April 2023
• Harvey Spieker (Clark): December 2015
• James Spies (Watertown): April 2016
• Murray Thompson (Pierre): July 2019
• John Umiker (Rapid City): September 2016
• Mark Van Den Hoek (Mitchell): June 2017
• Brian Van Liere (Brookings): December 2015
• Jeff Veire (Sioux Falls): December 2019
• Willem Visser (Harrold): August 2022
• Larry Weelborg (Custer): March 2019
• Aaron Weeldreyer (Bridgewater): June 2019
• Westjet Air Center (Rapid City): July 2022
• Jack Winter (Huron): March 2021
• Jay Winter (Huron): April 2023
• Brad Woerner (Yankton): June 2016
• Wade Wulf (Wright, WY): November 2014
• Mark Yonke (Yankton): September 2015
• Randy Yost (Hayes): February 2017
• Daniel Zandstra (Rapid City): January 2020

LifeTime Members "Gone West":

• George Jenter (Sturgis): June 2015. "Gone West" October 23, 2022
• Ted Miller (Spearfish): September 2014. "Gone West" September 11, 2022
• Grove Rathbun (Rapid City): April 2014. "Gone West" March 2, 2016
• Burdette "Ben" Thompson (Spearfish): Honorary LifeTime Membership voted by the SDPA officers, September 2014 – For Outstanding Scholarship Support. "Gone West" Feb 22, 2015
• Merle Vig (Mud Butte): Honorary LifeTime Membership voted at the SDPA meeting in Webster, SD, on April 9, 2016 – For Dedicated & Outstanding Service 1993-2016. "Gone West" August 14, 2018