EVENTS
As part of the National Intercollegiate Flying Assocation, we compete in two competitions per year. Our regional competition is in the fall semester and our national competition is in the spring semester. There are a total of 12 events to compete in. More information can be found on NIFA's website and down below.
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HOW WE COMPETE
Each contestant receives an individual score determined by their placement in their respective event. This score contributes to the team score as a whole, determining team placement. The top 3 schools from the regional competition move onto the national competition where the teams once again compete against eachother for overall placement. We also compete for a safety award that is based on our diligent use of safety policies and procedures.
FLIGHT EVENTS
SHORT FIELD LANDINGS
Fly a perfect traffic pattern and land on a target line. Once the pilot reduces the power, they cannot increase it again. The flight is scored off the precise pattern and the distance away from the landing line. The further away the more points you get. The person with the least amount of points wins.
POWER OFF LANDINGS
Similar to the short field landing but you must reduce power to idle on the downwind leg when abeam the threshold. You get a 3 second burst of power on the base leg to use if necessary. The approach is made with power off to landing on the target line.
MESSAGE DROP
A pilot and drop master fly at 200 feet above the ground and try to drop a message container as close as possible to a target on the ground.
NAVIGATION
Consists of a cross-country flight to 6 different checkpoints. These are typically small landmarks such as road intersections or water towers. The pilot has 30 minutes to manually calculate a navigation log to these points along with their fuel burn and total time enroute. The pilot then flies that route with their safety pilot and is graded based on finding all the checkpoints and the accuracy of the flight plan. There are two categories: traditional (no GPS/autopilot) and unlimited (GPS and autopilot allowed).
GROUND EVENTS
GROUND TRAINER
Done in a flight simulator, this event tests the competitor's IFR skills by having them fly a predetermined pattern. The goal is to accurately maintain the required altitudes, headings, airspeeds, and timings all without being able to see outside.
ACID (AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION)
Pictures of any part of any aircraft are shown on a screen for three seconds. Competitors then have fifteen seconds to identify the aircraft’s manufacturer, model number, and common name, if any.
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Learn more through this video
COMPUTER ACCURACY
Competitors use the E6B, a pilot's analog flight computer, to solve math problems about flight planning. You will be asked about time, speed, distance, wind corrections, fuel requirements, and unit conversions. This is great practice for private pilot training.
Learn more through this video
SIMULATED COMPREHENSIVE AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION
SCAN is a written test with questions about a simulated cross-country flight. You will get a test booklet, chart supplement sheet, and a sectional given to you for the route. You are required to cross country plan, calculate weight and balance, aircraft performance, answer questions about the safety of the flight, weather interpretations, and fuel consumption.
Learn more through this video
CFI
Certified Flight Instructors take part in a teaching competition. The event starts with the CFI preparing a predetermined subject. If weather and time permits, the CFI then teaches the lesson in flight.
PREFLIGHT
An aircraft is "bugged" with at least 30 discrepancies. Contestants are given fifteen minutes to inspect the aircraft and accurately call out as many of these discrepancies as possible.