NEWS Flight Team Places 10th in National Competition Jacksonville University’s Flight Team placed 10th at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s (NIFA) Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) held in Columbus, Ohio in May. More than 80 universities with aviation programs participated in regional NIFA SAFECON competitions and only the top three teams in each region moved on to compete in Nationals. JU’s Flight Team beat the Air Force Academy as well as other well-known schools such as the Florida Institute of Technology, Ohio University and St. Louis University. “Among the many trophies JU won, our team earned the prestigious Collegiate Aviation Progress Award given to the school that has made the greatest improvements in the nation,” said Juan Merkt, director of JU’s aeronautics program. “JU moved from 20th place overall last year to 10th, so this is an impressive accomplishment.” JU also placed 10th overall in Flight Events and eighth in Ground Events. “I’ve personally attended the event and to say that the competition
Knoblauch (left) and Jeffers (right) holding the Progress and Outstanding Team Member Awards, with team member Ross Delash.
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Knoblauch holds the Dr. Harold S. Wood Award for Excellence.
is fierce would be an understatement,” said Gary Beck, president and chief executive officer of Delta Connection Academy. “These accomplishments are a testimony to the focus and drive of JU’s students. DCA is very proud to be part of the JU Aeronautics Program and we feel confident that this is only the start of many more such awards and achievements.” In addition to team awards, team members won numerous individual trophies. Brent Knoblauch (above with the award) earned the Dr. Harold S. Wood Award for Excellence, presented to the student who has demonstrated outstanding performance in academics and service. Ashish Naran earned first place in the Flight Instructor event. Naran and team captain, Jeffrey Wolf, won fifth place in the Crew Resource Management/LOFT event. Jonathan Seletyn captured sixth place in the IFR Simulated Flight event and
Michael Eisenhardt placed sixth in the Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation event. Other events JU students placed among the top ten competitors included Ground Trainer (seventh – Seletyn), Power Off Landing (eighth – Nicholas Sorkki), and Message Drop (ninth – drop master Jamil Jeffers and pilot Kevin Sawyer and 10th – drop master Brian Rendini and pilot Kevin Burmaster). Jeffers was voted by his peers as Outstanding Team Member of the JU Flight Team. The team was led by advisors Professor Jeff Harrison and Dr. Rhett Yates. “The JU Team is very thankful to its supporters and sponsors Michael McKenny, John Clark of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, and the Delta Connection Academy,” said Merkt. “This feat would not have been possible without their support.”