Students stand in front of an ExpressJet ERJ 145 that they had an opportunity to tour during the event.

Nearly 400 collegiate aviators landed at The Ohio State University in early May for the 2017 National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON). This annual event brought together collegiate aviation teams from 27 colleges and universities around the United States to compete in flight, ground, individual, and team events. With clear skies and brisk temperatures, students tested their knowledge and skills in landing, navigation, computer accuracy, preflight inspection, aircraft recognition, and other areas.

ALPA, a longtime sponsor of NIFA SAFECON, was also an active participant engaging with students, faculty, and industry. “Safety and professionalism are key to our profession,” said F/O Mark Haley (United), ALPA’s Education Committee chairman. “NIFA SAFECON plays an integral role in building excellence through competition, enabling ALPA to continue cultivating a ‘safety first’ mentality in the next generation of aviators and help bridge the gap between the classroom and the flight deck.”

Through its efforts at NIFA, other industry events, and in classrooms across the United Stated and Canada, ALPA’s Education Committee is working to advance one of the Association’s strategic goals—securing the future of the piloting profession.

Mentoring the next generation

At the competition, Education Committee volunteers were on hand to promote aviation safety and instill professionalism in collegiate aviators. Capts. Fred Kopec (Delta) and Roland Vera (Mesa) talked with students throughout the event about their experiences on the flight deck and held a forum to answer questions about the industry. In addition, a special Facebook Live event was held to further connect with students at the event and aspiring aviators worldwide. “With ALPA’s Education Committee as well as ALPA ACE Clubs on various college campuses, we’re teaching students how to go about fast-tracking themselves to become airline pilots,” said Kopec. Lewis University student T.J. Roth emphasized the importance of ALPA’s professional development and mentoring program as “an irreplaceable asset” in helping him prepare for NIFA SAFECON and his career as an airline pilot.

Aircraft fly-in and tour

This year, students had an opportunity to tour an ExpressJet ERJ 145 as part of a special fly-in by Capt. Paul Ryder (ExpressJet), ALPA’s national resource coordinator, and F/O Karen Lacy (ExpressJet), an ALPA executive vice president. “It’s incumbent on us to reach out, mentor [aspiring pilots], promote the profession, and encourage them to continue down the path to become airline pilots,” said Ryder. “And it’s great to have a relationship with an airline like ExpressJet that supports outreach and promoting the profession by allowing us to do this.”

Awarding excellence

Also at the event, ALPA presented individual scholarship awards to the highest-performing students. Taking home the National Top Pilot Award was Nicholas Moore from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott, Ariz. The 10 Regional Top Pilots, in order of region, were Robert Lindgren from Westminster College; Rachel Hutzell from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott; John Tomchak from The Ohio State University; Brandon O’Neil from Central Texas College; Ross Bergum from Minnesota State University–Mankato; Chris Messing from Kansas State University Polytechnic; Justin Krasinski from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Bradley Smith from Southern Illinois University; Peter Wolbart from Auburn University; and Logan Wicks from Guilford Technical Community College. The full competition results are available at nifa.aero.

Working under ALPA’s Professional Development Group umbrella, the Education Committee promotes the piloting profession, mentors aspiring aviators, and prepares future generations of pilots to join the ranks of ALPA members. For more information or to get involved, contact Education@alpa.org.