CNCC flight team soars at NIFA competition

RANGELY I The Colorado Northwestern Community College flight team competed in the NIFA Regional SAFECON 2010, finishing in third place overall in the school category. That ranking brings with it an invitation to the National SAFECON 2011, which will be held in May at the Ohio State University.
The team tied for second in the School Flight Events Ranking category, but top individual honors went to Marcus Kindall of Meeker with first place in the Top Pilot Award and a tie for first in the Top Scoring Male Contestant, as well as tying for first in the overall Top Scoring Contestant.
Jennesee Forster of Walden, the only woman on the CNCC flight team, scored first place in the Top Scoring Female Contestant, eighth in the Top Pilot Award scoring, 17th out of over 70 contenders in the Top Scoring Contest, and finished ninth in the Short Field Approach and Landing Ranking category.
“Again, we have proven how special a program we have here in Rangely,” said aviation technology program director Jason Herkimer.
“This win is as much a victory for the town of Rangely and CNCC as it is for this program and the members of this team.”
The CNCC team competes against five other Colorado colleges in District 1, which include the United States Air Force Academy, Metro State College of Denver, Rocky Mountain College Aims Community College and Westminster College. Approximately 100 team members competed.
Other standout rankings for the CNCC flight team include:
Navigation Ranking
Fourth — Pilot Marcus Kindall and Observer James Segrest
Fifth — Pilot Jennesee Forster and Observer Tylor Yates of Greeley
Sixth — Pilot Ryan Stuhlmiller of Cope and Observer Eric Lawhead of Brighton
Power-Off Landing Ranking
Third — Marcus Kindall
Fifth — Eric Lawhead
Message Drop Ranking
Second — Drop Master Cordero Valdez and Pilot Ryan Stuhlmiller
Seventh — Drop Master Kody Luke and Pilot Tyson Letlow
Ninth — Drop Master Casey Davis and Pilot Eric Lawhead
Computer Accuracy Ranking
Eighth — Marcus Kindall
Ground Trainer Ranking
Seventh — Marcus Kindall
Ninth — Tyson Letlow
Crew Resource Mgmt/Line Oriented Flight Training Ranking
Third — Pilot Marcus Yates and Co-Pilot Tylor Yates
IFR Simulated Flight Ranking
First — Marcus Kindall
Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation (SCAN) Ranking
Ninth — Marcus Kindall
Aircraft Preflight Inspection Ranking
Second — Torbyn Cabral of Vernal, Utah
Third — Cordero Valdez
The schools under the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) compete in both Regional and National Safety and Flight Evaluation Conferences (SAFECON’s) or airmeets. Currently, there are 12 events total consisting of four flying and eight ground events. The teams that accumulate the highest number of total points are champions of that SAFECON. The Regional SAFE-CON’s are generally held in the fall of each year, with the regions being determined by geographical placement. The scores from the regional conference determine, which 30 teams are invited to the national competition. The National SAFECON’s are held each spring. The winner of the national competition is awarded the national championship for the year.