NIFA SAFECON Championship Begins Monday

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. 

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:

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.

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: 

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.