The Ohio State flight team is trying to remain one of the top collegiate aviation programs, as it prepares for national competition at Western Michigan University in April.The competition, conducted by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, places top teams from around the country through a combination of ground and flight events in which students are judged on their performance, said Glenn McConnell, director of
flight education.OSU qualified for the nationals by placing second to the host team Western Michigan at the flying association’s Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference regional competition in October.Approximately 25 teams are selected each year from 11 regional competitions throughout the country, McConnell said.This year’s team will be led by Paul Azzola, who received the Top Pilot award at the regional competition.’Paul combines the best of what we are looking for to produce,’ McConnell said. ‘He not only possesses high pilot skills and knowledge but also holds a grade point average of 3.85.’The flight team traditionally places well at the national competition. The team has finished in the top five for the past 10 years, including five second place finishes and a first place finish in 1988.The flying association was developed in 1929 as a competition for outstanding collegiate aviation programs and has evolved into a leading factor for deciding the elite aviation students, McConnell said.Students are judged on several different aspects of flight and preparation including a 150-mile flight course in which pilots must preplan fuel amount along with arrival time. Students also answer questions on regulations and conversions in two written t
ests.Students also participate in a preflight event in which they must recognize discrepancies on the aircraft that could cause malfunctions, McConnell said.Each event contains 125 to 150 participants, but only the top 10 finishers receive points.In order to receive a spot on the competition team, members must pass qualification practices which are judged by the flight team coaching staff.The team is comprised of 12 to 15 students who participate in one or more events, McConnell said.’Competing on the team allows students an opportunity to really enhance their pilot skills and gives them a sense of what it is like to compete under pressure,’ McConnell said. ‘It gives many industry representatives who are present at the flying associat
ion’s competition a chance to see who is the cream of the crop.’
