WEFT SAFECON/Region IX Results

November 4, 2002

Auburn, Ala. -- The Auburn University War Eagle Flying Team played host to the National
Intercollegiate Flying Association's (NIFA) Region IX Safety And Flight Evaluation Conference
(SAFECON) during the week of October 27-November 2, 2002. Events began with teams arriving
as early as Sunday, then practiceing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Competition began
Wednesday evening with the Simulated Comprehensive Air Navigation (SCAN) test. Thursday
mornings’ start of the Flying Events, was delayed due to an 800 ft. ceiling in the Auburn area. Navigation checkpoints were chosen to the north and west of the Auburn airport where judges set
up vinyl letters on the ground for the pilot and navigator to take note of as they passed overhead.
The judges noted the airplanes fly-over time. Auburn's Michael Kulbacki placed first in the event.
Thursday also held the Preflight event. Competitors had a maximum of 15 minutes to find up to 30
discrepancies with the "bugged" airplane. Thursday evenings’ Ground Events included the Computer
Accuracy (manual E-6B) and Aircraft Recognition tests. Friday began bright and early at the airport
with the highly anticipated, and most competitive, events spot landings. Power-off landings were
first up due to the calmer conditions of early morning. Power-off contestants are required to pull
power to idle speed abeam their touchdown point on the runway. The “box” is the same for both
landing events; the total length is 300 ft. with the target line 100 ft. beyond the approach end.
Short field landings followed shortly after the lunch break. For the Short field event, contestants
are only required to make a power reduction abeam the touchdown point. Once the pilot has
reduced power, he or she may not add it back without penalty. The Friday Night Event was a
barbeque catered by Byron’s and held in the tent at the airport, it was much colder and windier
than had been anticipated. Everyone enjoyed their barbeque and then headed for a warmer spot.
Saturday morning was a little more laid back with the Message Drop event. This is mostly a
just-for-fun event to simulate dropping a message to someone in distress in a remote area. Due
to a glitch with programming the pattern into the Frasca simulators on campus, the Ground
Trainer event was delayed until Saturday afternoon. Contestants are given a copy of the pattern
they are to “fly” after practice, but before the event, to study. The Awards Banquet was held at
St. Michael’s Catholic Church due to numerous other conferences in town that night. Embry-
Riddle Aeronautical University took top honors with first place over-all. Florida Institute of
Technology received the second place trophy and Auburn came in third. These top three teams
will receive an invitation to the National SAFECON hosted by the University of North Dakota
in Grand Forks, May 14-21, 2003.

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association can be found on the internet at:
http://www.nifa.ws

The War Eagle Flying Team site can be accessed at:
http://www.business.auburn.edu/weft

Overall, top 10 and individual Auburn
results from each event:

Key:
AU=Auburn University
ERAU=Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
FIT=Florida Institute of Technology
JAX=Jacksonville University (FL)
MDCC=Miami-Dade Community College

Overall Ranking - Points
1. ERAU - 280
2. FIT - 142
3. AU - 96
4. JAX - 91
5. MDCC - 51

Overall Ground events
1. ERAU
2. FIT
3. AU
4. JAX
5. MDCC

Overall Flying events
1. ERAU
2. FIT
3. JAX
4. AU
5. MDCC

Overall Top Pilot
1. ERAU
2. FIT
3. AU-Michael Kulbacki

----GROUND EVENTS----

Computer Accuracy (E-6B)
1. ERAU
2. ERAU
3. ERAU
4. ERAU
5. ERAU
6. FIT
7. AU-Chris Boyd
8. FIT
9. FIT
10. FIT
17. AU-Justin Howell
19. AU-Jared Hodge
23. AU-Brian Miller
23. AU-Johnny Sherrill

Aircraft Recognition
1. FIT
2. ERAU
3. AU-Mike Overstreet
4. FIT
5. ERAU
6. FIT
7. ERAU
8. AU-Stephen Campbell
9. ERAU
10. ERAU
11. AU-Cole Wagner
13. AU-Jared Hodge
18. AU-Kevin Sweeney

Ground Trainer (Sim)
1. ERAU
2. ERAU
3. MDCC
4. AU-Michael Kulbacki
5. MDCC
6. AU-Cherie Sturges
7. JAX
8. FIT
9. FIT
10. JAX

SCAN
1. FIT
2. ERAU
3. JAX
4. ERAU
5. ERAU
6. FIT
7. FIT
8. AU-Chris Boyd
9. AU-Cherie Sturges
10. FIT
12. AU-Michael Kulbacki
19. AU-Nigel John
24. AU-Justin Bussjager

Preflight
1. ERAU
2. ERAU
3. JAX
4. FIT
5. FIT
6. AU-Michael Kulbacki
7. JAX
8. MDCC
9. MDCC
10. AU-Cherie Sturges

----FLYING EVENTS----

Navigation
1. AU-Michael Kulbacki
2. ERAU
3. FIT
4. MDCC
5. ERAU
6. AU-Chris Boyd
7. JAX
8. MDCC
9. FIT
10. ERAU
13. DQ

Short Field Landing
1. ERAU
2. ERAU
3. ERAU
4. FIT
ERAU (tie)
6. JAX
7. FIT
8. FIT
9. AU-Cherie Sturges
10. FIT
16. AU-Stephen Campbell
22. AU-Morris Bramlett
24. AU-Michael Kulbacki
25. DQ

Power Off Landing
1. JAX
2. ERAU
3. FIT
4. ERAU
5. ERAU
6. JAX
7. MDCC
8. MDCC
9. FIT
10. FIT
14. AU-Jonathan Coker
20. AU-Cole Wagner
22. AU-Cherie Sturges
24. DQ
25. DQ

Message Drop
1. JAX
2. AU-Ryan Moran
3. AU-Kevin Sweeney
4. JAX
5. ERAU
6. AU-Justin Howell
7. MDCC
8. ERAU
9. AU-Brian Miller
10. JAX
25. DQ