The Award Ceremony is an electrifying moment of triumph, where exceptional aviators are rightfully honored for their unwavering dedication and remarkable skills. But SAFECON goes beyond just handing out trophies; it fosters an extraordinary sense of community among aspiring pilots from various universities.

Throughout the competition, participants bond over shared passions and challenges, forming connections that will last a lifetime. The supportive atmosphere nurtures a spirit of collaboration, where knowledge and experiences are exchanged freely, propelling the growth and development of each individual.

• SAFECON Championship: The Flight Competition

SAFECON is a crucible of growth, pushing contestants to test their limits, refine their techniques, and expand their horizons. The experiences gained during the events—whether it’s navigating a cross-country flight, executing precise landings, or coordinating a message drop—shape these young aviators into more skilled, confident, and resilient pilots.

Moreover, SAFECON provides a platform for participants to showcase their talent and passion to a broader audience. It is a gateway to potential career opportunities, as industry professionals and recruiters are often present to witness the rising stars of aviation.

Beyond the thrill of competition and the allure of awards, SAFECON instills a profound sense of responsibility and dedication to aviation safety. The emphasis on meticulous planning, precise execution, and teamwork engrains a safety-conscious mindset that stays with the participants throughout their careers.

SAFECON benefits its participants by nurturing a network of like-minded aviators, building character and confidence, and promoting a safety-first approach. These invaluable lessons extend far beyond the confines of the competition, becoming the foundation upon which their future achievements are built.

As we applaud the champions and revel in the camaraderie, SAFECON 2023 leaves an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all involved. 

The post SAFEECON Championship: More Than Awards appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Our first waypoint is the Navigation Event. This challenge sets the stage for a cross-country journey spanning between 70 nm and 120 nm over a three-to-five-leg course. Contestants are tasked with creating a meticulous flight plan, including estimations of en-route time for each leg, total elapsed time, and anticipated fuel consumption. The contestant with the least penalties takes home the accolades, epitomizing the key piloting skills of planning, time management, and fuel economy.

Next up, we taxi into the Short-field Landing Event. This contest is designed to gauge each pilot’s aircraft control finesse. After a standard traffic pattern departure, the goal is to touch down as close to the target line as possible, with the added restriction of being unable to increase power once it’s reduced. The pilot’s score is calculated from the distance in feet between the target line and where the wheels make their first contact with the runway. The pilot with the lowest cumulative total, including any technique penalties from two landings, wins.

Our journey continues with the Power Off Landing Event. This is a sibling to the Short-field Event but with an added twist. Here, the power must be cut to idle on the downwind leg once abeam the target line, testing the pilot’s ability to glide and maneuver the aircraft for the remainder of the traffic pattern and hopefully land precisely on the target line.

Finally, we dive into the thrilling Message Drop Event. Here, the objective is to hit a ground target with a message container released from 200 feet in the air. This event necessitates flawless coordination between the pilot and drop master, as they maneuver the aircraft to align the container drops with the target. The contestant achieving the lowest total distance from the two targets takes home the trophy.

So, prepare for a head-spinning journey into the realm of university-level aviation in “Episode 5: The Flight Competition.” The captivating world of SAFECON 2023 is unfolding, and we’re ecstatic to guide you through the thrilling twists and turns. Get set for Episode 6!

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In addition to helping collegiate aviators expand their flying skills, NIFA allows these pilots to further their careers by networking with industry officials and demonstrating their willingness and ability to go above and beyond the regular curriculum.

• READ MORE: Top Five Challenges of University Flight Students

The organization has grown over the decades, and now select members of NIFA attend the Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON). This year, SAFECON 2023 will be held in May in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

In May 2022, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott won the NIFA SAFECON national championship for the second consecutive year at the Ohio State University Airport (KOSU). The win marked the 14th time the school won the top title.

• READ MORE: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Captures 2022 NIFA SAFECON Championship

Following the SAFECON 2022-23 regional competition season, NIFA announced it is inviting the following colleges and universities to compete at the National SAFECON 2023:

Region 1

• United States Air Force Academy
• Utah State University
• Metro State University of Denver
• Aims Community College

Region 2

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott
• California Aeronautical University
• San Jose State University

Region 3

• Western Michigan University
• Ohio State University
• Kent State University

Region 4

• LeTourneau University
• Oklahoma State University 
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• Louisiana Tech University

Region 6

• University of North Dakota
• University of Nebraska – Omaha
• Minnesota State University – Mankato
• Kansas State University
• University of Central Missouri

Region 7

• Bridgewater State University
• United States Military Academy

Region 8

• Southern Illinois University
• Purdue University
• Lewis University

Region 9

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona
• Auburn University
• Polk State College

Region 10

• Liberty University
• Averett University
• United States Naval Academy

The post NIFA Unveils SAFECON 2023 Invitee List appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

A full list of events and winners is below:

SAFECON Championship

1. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
2. University of North Dakota
3. LeTourneau University-Longview

Flight Events Championship

1. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott 
2. University of North Dakota
3. LeTourneau University-Longview

Ground Events Championship

1. University of North Dakota
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Southern Illinois University

Judges Trophy

1. University of North Dakota
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Southern Illinois University

Loening Trophy

1. Auburn University

Men’s Achievement Award

1. Aric Anderson: Minnesota State University-Mankato
2. Eric Tivy: Auburn University
3. Mateo Argote: LeTourneau University-Longview

Women’s Achievement Award

1. Victoria Lorenzon: Kent State University
2. Claire Reader: Oklahoma State University
3. Maggie Hearn: Auburn University

Coach of the Year:

1. Scott Vlasek: University of Nebraska- Omaha

Competition Safety Award 

1. Auburn University 

Aircraft Preflight Inspection

1. Camden Deller: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Jebadiah Sussenbach: University of North Dakota
3. Devyn Thurman: Ohio State University

Aircraft Recognition

1. Rasheed Adamu: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Kenrick Vail: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota

Computer Accuracy

1. Jamie Gallagher: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Matthew Cleveland: University of North Dakota
3. Caroline Kelley: University of North Dakota 

CRM/LOFT

1. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
2. Ryan Fitzgerald: University of North Dakota
3. Ryan Leach: United States Air Force Academy

American Airlines Safety Award 

1. Auburn University
2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Liberty University

Red Baron Team Sportsmanship Award

1. Oklahoma State University

Top Pilot

1. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
2. Hayden Morse: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview

Top Scoring Participant 

1. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
2. Hayden Morse: Embry Riddle-Prescott
3. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview

Regional Top Pilot

Region 1: Dylan Beal: Metropolitan State University of Denver
Region 2: Douglas Niemela: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Region 3: Kyla Albrecht: Western Michigan University
Region 4: Simon Awcock: LeTourneau University-Longview
Region 5: Jebadiah Sussenbach: University of North Dakota
Region 6: Benjamin Morris: Southern Illinois University
Region 8: Janes Hanover: Embry-Riddle-Daytona
Region 9: Josh Engberg: Liberty University

Outstanding Team Member

1. Owen Brennan: University of Nebraska-Omaha 
2. Gabriel Witt: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Angelo Molina: Western Michigan University

Certified Flight Instructor

1. Victoria Lorenzon: Kent State University
2. Anna Scott: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Jason Walter: Metropolitan State University of Denver

Ground Trainer

1. Ryan Leach: United States Air Force Academy
2. Eleanor Brown: Ohio State University
3. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota

Instrument Simulated Flight

1. Joseph Mucklestone: United States Air Force Academy
2. Christopher Shields: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
3. Christian Mickan: St. Louis University

Message Drop

1. Carson Wells and Aaron Schwartz: University of North Dakota
2. George Biery and Ryan Leach: United States Air Force Academy
3. Shane Oatman and Giles Beebe: United States Air Force Academy

Power Off Landing

1. Hayden Morse: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview
3. Joe Taylor- University of North Dakota

Short Field Landing

1. Hayden Morris: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
2. Joe Taylor: University of North Dakota
3. Joseph Turner: LeTourneau University-Longview

Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation

1. Jebadiah Sussenbach: University of North Dakota
2. Mikayla Weiss: University of North Dakota
3. Matthew Arnovick: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

Traditional Navigation

1. Dominic Parenti and Noah Pattani: Ohio State University
2. Joe Taylor and Carson Wells: University of North Dakota
3. Ryan Leach and Caden Stine: United States Air Force Academy

Unlimited Navigation

1. Ryan Fitzgerald and Matthew Cleveland: University of North Dakota
2. Gabriel Witt and George Fiscu: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3. Max Langerud and Caroline Kelley: University of North Dakota

Twenty-eight university teams with almost 500 students competed in 12 events to test their aviation knowledge and skills at the event.

The 2022 NIFA SAFECON was the first in-person competition since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dale Gelter, assistant director of airport operations at the Ohio State University Airport, supports NIFA as a way for students to network with industry professionals and gain lasting friendships. 

“For Flight Team competitors, SAFECON is the event that challenges you at new airports and tests your piloting skills,” he said in a statement. “It’s also the place where you make lifelong friendships with other people in the aviation industry. It’s a privilege to have been involved as a student during college, a NIFA judge, and an administrator at a host airport.”

Brynne Barr, an Ohio State Flight Team member a freshman at Ohio State University, expressed their passion for NIFA.

“Flight Team has presented me with an incredible opportunity to refine my pilot skills, build meaningful relationships with my peers, and make connections with many experienced and passionate individuals in the aviation industry,” they said. “As a freshman, I am thrilled to return these next three years as a competitor, and after that as a coach and proud alumnus.”

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Top collegiate pilots will participate in a number of events to test their skills and knowledge in aviation, both on the ground and in flight. 

The Competition

During the week, 28 university teams made up of almost 500 students will compete in 12 events to test their knowledge and skill. Events will include aircraft recognition, navigation, and more. 

The schools competing in this year’s event are:

• Auburn University
• Bridgewater State University
• California Aeronautical University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
• Jacksonville University
• Kansas State University-Salina
• Kent State University
• LeTourneau University
• Lewis University
• Liberty University
• Louisiana Tech University
• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Minnesota State University-Mankato
• Oklahoma State University
• Polk State University
• Purdue University
• San Jose State University
• Southern Illinois University
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• St. Louis University-Parks College
• Ohio State University
• United States Air Force Academy
• University of Nebraska-Omaha
• University of North Dakota
• Utah State University
• Western Michigan University

To become a university team within NIFA, the school must be a college or university with an aviation degree track. 

The event will commence on Monday, May 9, and continue through May 14.

Event Schedule 

Scott van Ooyen, a standards check pilot for Southwest Airlines and one of the competition’s judges, says participation in NIFA gives students an upper hand in pursuing career opportunities after graduation. 

“The students involved with NIFA are unequivocally better prepared than their peers due to their dedication to perfecting their pilot knowledge and skills,” he said. “We, in the industry, recognize the time and effort required while competing on flight teams and actively pursue post-collegiate education.”  

Adam Stiffler, director of communications, says NIFA can bring value to students’ education. 

“It’s a chance for students to take collegiate-level education to the next level and practice outside the norm, network with industry professionals and other teams. It really comes down to practicing your skills and networking.”

During the event, industry professionals and airline recruiters will host booths, providing a perfect opportunity for networking. 

Participating groups and companies include: 

• The 99s
• ALPA
• American Airlines
• Aviation Supplies and Academics
• Cirrus Aircraft
• Delta Air Lines
• Endeavor Air
• Envoy Air, Inc.
• Flight Safety
• FLYING Magazine
• Foreflight
• Frasca
• King Schools
• LabCorp
• NAFI
• National Air Transportation Association
• Net Jets
• Piper Aircraft
• Republic Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Sporty’s Pilot Shop
• Talon Systems
• Textron Aircraft
• UPS

This is the 12th year Ohio State has hosted the SAFECON Championship. To become a host, student representatives vote based on a number of factors like facilities, airport conditions, and weather. Until recently, only university airports were permitted to be used for the competition, but now, non-university facilities can host the event. 

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This commitment will coin the NIFA championship “The SAFECON National Championship Powered by Flightsafety.” 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Both NIFA and FlightSafety have a long history of supporting aviation,” Nate Speiser, executive vice president of sales and marketing at FlightSafety said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to supporting students’ passion for aviation through this partnership, and to further promoting the many exciting career paths available.”

In addition to naming rights, FSI has also pledged a financial commitment to support NIFA’s mission, advance the competitions, and expand the event to include aviation maintenance students. 

“Our mission is to do whatever we can to support collegiate aviators and help prepare them for careers in aviation,” NIFA executive director Taylor Newman said. “FlightSafety’s support of this mission takes it to a whole new level and helps shed even more light on NIFA. It’s just a great match for both of us.”

More than 80 colleges and universities compete in NIFA events, both regionally and nationally, every year.

The post FlightSafety International Makes Investment in National Intercollegiate Flying Association appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) kicked off the next round of its Safecon events in region 8 on Tuesday. The competition is being held at Terre Haute International Airport (KHUF) in Terre Haute, Indiana.

NIFA serves as a forum for competitive and non-competitive collegiate aviators. The goal is to help them expand their studies through events, networking, and competitions.

The finals competition for 2021 was held virtually in June, with the Embry-Riddle Golden Eagles-Prescott securing the win.

Event Types

The competition features 11 exercises:

Navigation: A cross-country flight over a three-to-five-leg course between 70 and 120 nautical miles. Each contestant submits a flight plan before takeoff, which includes estimated time en route for each leg, total elapsed time and fuel consumption.

Short-Field Landing: This tests the pilot’s skill at maneuvering and landing the airplane. After taking off and flying a normal traffic pattern, the objective is to land as close to, if not on, the target line.

Power-Off Landing: Similar to the Short-Field Event, except that the power must be reduced to and remain at idle on the downwind leg above the target line. The approach is made essentially by gliding for the remainder of the traffic pattern to touchdown, preferably on the target line.

Message Drop: The objective here is to hit a target on the ground with a message container dropped from an airplane at 200 feet above the ground.

Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation Event (SCAN): A written exam with problems that reference a simulated cross-country flight over a given route.

Ground Trainer: This tests the competency and skill of the contestant’s ability to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) in a flight-training device.

Aircraft Recognition: Slides of aircraft are shown on a screen for three seconds. Competitors then have 15 seconds to identify the aircraft’s manufacturer, model number, and common name.

Computer Accuracy: Participants solve mathematical flight planning computations using a manually operated flight computer.

Preflight Inspection: An aircraft is “bugged” with at least 30 unairworthy discrepancies. Contestants are given 15 minutes to preflight the aircraft and find as many of the discrepancies as possible.

IFR Simulator: Competitors are required to demonstrate instrument flight rules (IFR) proficiency and precision by flying a given route in a simulator.

Certified Flight Instructor: The event starts with the CFI preparing a predetermined subject. If weather and time permits, the CFI then teaches the lesson in flight.

The post NIFA Kicks Off Next Round of Safecon Events appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The pandemic forced the 2021 NIFA SAFECON (National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference) Championship to be held virtually this year without the flying segments. After completion of the online events, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Golden Eagles Flight Team from its Prescott, Arizona, campus won the event, making them 13-time national SAFECON champions and the winningest collegiate flight team of the past 25 years.

During the virtual championship between teams from 28 universities, ERAU flight students competed in Aircraft Recognition, Computer Accuracy, SCAN (Flight Planning), Preflight Inspection, and Ground Trainer competitions. All competitors took tests at their schools, with NIFA judges watching via Zoom calls. ERAU’s team had 35 members this past year, with 10 of those being freshmen brought on to the team in late 2020. “NIFA SAFECON is to collegiate aviation what the Super Bowl is to the NFL or the Stanley Cup is to the NHL,” ERAU said.

NIFA exists as a forum for collegiate aviators to expand their studies and further their careers by participating in competitive and non-competitive events, networking with industry and peers, and applying themselves to push beyond their ordinary curriculum. The organization can trace its roots back to a group of students at Columbia University that formed a flying club in 1919. Their first competition was held on May 7, 1920, and Yale University took first place, assisted by Juan Trippe, future founder of Pan American Airways, flying a war-surplus Curtis JN-4 Jenny.

According to NIFA, Popular Aviation magazine said of the organization, “A National intercollegiate aviation association was organized at Washington, DC in December to put competitive flying activities between colleges in a class with football, baseball, and other major sports. Delegates from most of the leading universities were present.”

“I think the biggest thing I’m proud of in the team is the level of perseverance and the many obstacles that we had to overcome in the last 10 months,” said Shaun Shephard, the ERAU Golden Eagles Flight Team’s head coach. “There were numerous times where we didn’t know what was going to come in the next week, our regionals were pushed until February, we had an extended winter break, and we had a time of shut down in early fall semester. All of our meetings and practices were socially distanced, and we had very little time that the team could come together, so we were always being taken out of our comfort zone.”

In each of the timed virtual events, students were presented with a series of questions that were augmented by Powerpoint presentations prepared by NIFA. Anyone who has ever taken an FAA written exam would easily recognize the kinds of navigation, performance, weight and balance, and other questions the student competitors had to answer. In the Aircraft Recognition category, students were shown photos of various airplane makes and models via a Powerpoint slide deck and given three seconds to view each slide and fifteen to thirty seconds to name the correct manufacturer, model number, and common name.

“I have been reminding the team about what that word team really means is ‘Together Everyone Achieves More,’” Shephard added. “We were successful in nationals not because computer accuracy swept the top five spots or aircraft identification took five of the top six spots, but because everybody continued to push each member of the team to be the best they could when it mattered. We will enjoy this 13th championship, but we are already looking forward to next year to complete a repeat championship.”

ERAU-Prescott won the Judges Trophy with 1,832.5 total points. The University of North Dakota can in a close second, with 1,822 points, and the Southern Illinois University team came in third, with 1,702 points. The next NIFA SAFECON is planned for 2022.

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Following the trend of many upcoming aviation events, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) has cancelled SAFECON 2020, the national flight competition that was scheduled to take place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from May 18 to 23.

The competition would have marked the 100th anniversary of NIFA’s annual collegiate flight competitions, and for the first time in the organization’s history, it was to be hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association at their convention facilities and museum at Wittman Regional Airport.

The annual event brings together more than 500 competitors from over 30 schools from across the country, where they compete in precision landings, navigation, flight planning, preflight inspection, and other events based on safety, knowledge, and professionalism.

Facing the options of continuing, postponing, or canceling the event, member schools voted for cancelation. Though restrictions directly related to the COVID-19 virus might be lifted in time for the event, schools reasoned that their current inability to practice for the event would raise concerns about the question of acceptable preparedness for competition. Recognizing the extraordinary circumstances, the EAA has agreed to uphold the offer to host SAFECON 2021 at their facilities next year.

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