Ohio State hosts national flight safety conference

COLUMBUS – Future commercial pilots from around the nation will test their skills in Columbus as the Ohio State University Airport hosts a national college flight safety conference. The 2002 National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (NIFA SAFECON) features competitions in landing, navigation and flight simulation among top student aviators from 30 schools.

The 53rd SAFECON will be held from May 14-18. Students in Ohio State’s Department of Aviation make up one of the teams that will participate in the contest, which offers a look at what educational institutions are doing to safeguard the U.S. aviation system.

To compete in the national NIFA SAFECON, teams are invited based on their performance in one of 10 regional contests.
Pilots will compete in flying and ground-based events including two precision-landing events, cross country navigation, spot landings, and other events designed to evaluate contestants’ knowledge. Up to 400 students are expected to attend.

Among the competing teams are the returning national champions from the University of North Dakota, The Air Force Academy, The United States Naval Academy, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Western Michigan University, University of Illinois, Ohio University and The Ohio State University.

In addition to competitions, industry exhibitors will display the latest technology, and airline and aviation companies will recruit future employees.

The competitions take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily beginning Tuesday (5/14) at the Ohio State University Airport, 2160 W. Case Road. Each team will fly at least one aircraft to the event. Aircraft will be in place—neatly lined up on the ramp—by Sunday evening, May 12.

Among the events that media may wish to cover:
· Power-Off Landing Event (landing without power), 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16. West Ramp
· Short-field Landing Event (landing on a short runway), 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday, May 17, West Ramp
· Message Drop Event (students will try to air-drop a balsa wood box onto a target), 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 18. West Ramp.

Ohio State’s Aviation Program is part of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation. It is considered a leader in the areas of human factors research, flight education and high technology in the classroom. Aviation at Ohio State includes three bachelor’s degree programs, research on real aviation problems and a major general aviation airport facility. College credit courses in aviation have been offered since 1945, and since then more than 26,000 students have enrolled in Ohio State’s aviation classroom and flight laboratory courses.

WHAT:Aviation teams from 30 colleges and universities will compete in the
53rd NIFA SAFECON

WHEN: Beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 16-18.

WHERE: The Ohio State University Airport, 2160 West Case Road.

WHY: SAFECON offers a look at what educational institutions are doing to encourage and foster safety in aviation while providing an arena for collegiate aviation competition.

Because of FAA regulations, media must be briefed by airport officials before going on or near the runway to cover flight events. Media MUST contact Grant Hundley at 614-746-2150 (cell phone)to arrange a greeting and briefing.
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