SAFECON National Championship: ‘March Madness of Aviation’

FLYING launches the first of its six part series documenting one of the most intense annual competitions in collegiate aviation.

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Key Takeaways:

  • The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) encourages excellence among collegiate aviators through competition, providing valuable networking, learning, and community opportunities for those pursuing aviation careers.
  • NIFA's annual Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) is a national championship where top teams test their skills in flying, navigation, knowledge, and mathematical computation.
  • The 2023 SAFECON national championship was held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and documented by *FLYING* magazine in a multi-episode series.
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For more than a century, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) has inspired collegiate aviators to strive for excellence through competition. If you have ever participated in a NIFA event, you know the value of this competitive series goes well beyond the test of one’s skills. Its gatherings are an invaluable opportunity to network, learn, and be part of a community that will pay dividends for those who may choose to pursue a career in aviation.

Each year, the best of the best NIFA member teams advance to compete in the annual Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) National Championship, putting their skills to the test  in a number of categories that include flying, navigation, knowledge and mathematical computation. The annual event, which has been called the “March Madness” of aviation, was held this year in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. FLYING was there to capture the excitement and bring the inspiring stories of competitors and volunteers to light.

Watch and be inspired as we bring you “Episode 1: What is NIFA SAFECON?”, the first in our six-part series documenting SAFECON 2023, and look for a new episode every week through the end of July.

FLYING Staff

FLYING Magazine is a one-stop resource for everything aviation, including news, training, aircraft, gear, careers, photos, videos, and more.

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