OHIO STATE TO HOST REGIONAL FLIGHT SAFETY CONFERENCE

   COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Airport will host a regional college flight safety conference Oct. 19-23, which will feature competitions in landing, navigation and flight simulation among student aviators from seven schools.

   The 1999 National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (NIFA SAFECON) is a regional event in which 14 Ohio State student aviators will compete. Up to 200 students, coaches, judges, staff and parents are expected to attend. The competition takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily beginning Monday (10/19) at Don Scott Field in northwest Columbus, 2160 W. Case Road.

   Other schools attending this year are the University of Cincinnati, Kent State University and Ohio University in Ohio, Andrews College and Western Michigan University in Michigan, and Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh.

   Teams compete in flying and ground-based events; the top two teams will move on to compete with 28 other flight teams during a national conference in the spring.

   Flying competitions include two precision landing events, cross-country navigation and a coaches/judges landing event. Ground competitions include simulator flying, an aircraft preflight competition, two tests on air regulations, use of a manual flight computer and an aircraft identification presentation. Contestants also will be interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration representative and will give presentations on how their flight programs promote safety.

   “We’re grateful to the judges of this competition, who are former NIFA competitors willing to volunteer their time to ensure contestants have a fair and safe competition,” said Gerald Chubb, director of flight education at Ohio State and associate professor of aerospace engineering, applied mechanics and aviation. Most judges are current airline, regional and corporate pilots or area aviation industry representatives.

   In addition, Martha Lunken of the FAA’s Cincinnati Flight Standards District Office will serve as the event’s safety officer. “Her presence is an example of the importance we place on safety and the kind of cooperation we are getting from the federal officials in this state,” Chubb said.

   Exhibitors and recruiters for aviation companies based in Columbus, Cleveland and Dayton also will attend the conference and display their aircraft.

   The competition concludes with an awards banquet Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Fawcett Center.

   Ohio State’s Aviation Section is part of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics and Aviation. It is considered a leader in the areas of human factors research, flight education and high technology in the classroom. Aviation at Ohio State includes three bachelor’s degree programs, research on real aviation problems and a major general aviation airport facility. College credit courses in aviation have been offered since 1945, and since then more than 26,000 students have enrolled in Ohio State’s aviation classroom and flight laboratory courses.

Contact: Gerald Chubb, Flight Education, (614) 292-5665

Note to news directors: Contact Gerald Chubb or chief judge Rachel Estepp of Executive Jet Aviation Inc., (614) 239-2997, to arrange for television coverage of the competitions. Camera crews must be briefed by the airport tower and judging staffs.