RANGELY | Colorado Northwestern Community College’s (CNCC) Flight Team will participate in the upcoming National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Region 1 SAFECON competition from Oct. 14-18 at Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Fort Collins, Colorado. They will compete against other two- and four-year school flight programs, including Rocky Mountain College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
The National Intercollegiate Flying Association has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s, when the first competition was held at Mitchel Field on the Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York. Participants at that time included schools such as Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. A permanent organization was not formed until 1928, when the National Intercollegiate Flying Club was founded. It was renamed in 1948 to what is known today as the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA).
Since then, the NIFA competition has provided a platform for collegiate aviators to demonstrate proficiency in navigation, safety, and airmanship. It also fosters camaraderie and professional growth among the participants while giving students opportunities to connect with potential employers.
“The competitions our flight team attends are like a track meet for pilots. It gives students a chance to demonstrate what they’ve learned while engaging with and learning from fellow competitors,” said Nathan Hardin, Aviation Technology Program director.
Known for its dedication and excellence in aviation, the CNCC Flight Team has been preparing rigorously for this competition. They have a commendable track record in the NIFA competition with notable performances dating back to 1993. The team first earned an invitation to the National SAFECON competition in 2010 when they placed third overall in their regional competition. In 2013, they qualified for the national event again, showcasing their consistent performances. Since then, the Flight Team has continued to perform well in regional competitions, most notably earning a second-place finish behind the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2018.
“I love leading our competitive flight team and all the amazing opportunities it has afforded my fellow competitors and me. NIFA has helped mold all of us into the pilots we are today, and I’m grateful for the organization and the opportunity to represent the CNCC community,” said Daycen Rohrer, CNCC Flight Team captain.
The Flight Team holds various fundraising events throughout the year to help pay for their competition expenses, including doughnut sales, golf tournaments, pancake breakfasts, and discovery flights.
For more information about the CNCC Aviation Program or the NIFA team, visit cncc.edu or contact Nathan Hardin at [email protected] or 970-675-3291.
