The Florida Tech Flight Team is soaring after a strong showing at this month’s regional SAFECON competition in La Grange, Georgia. The team placed third overall – the same placement that earned them a bid to nationals last season. They’re setting their sights on another competitive run as they await the announcement of the National SAFECON 2026 qualifiers.
Florida Tech competes in SAFECON’s ninth region, which includes Florida, Georgia and Alabama and schools such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Jacksonville University, Auburn University, Polk State College and Guilford Technical Community College.
In last season’s national competition, the Florida Tech team and its members placed in the top 20 in several events, including 14th in the Certified Flight Instructor event, 15th in Unlimited Navigation and 16th in Crew Resource Management.
Here is the full list of events and placements for Florida Tech’s flight team:
Team Events
SAFECON Championship, 3rd place
Florida Tech
Judges Trophy, 3rd place
Florida Tech
Flight Events Championship, 3rd place
Florida Tech
Ground Events Championship, 3rd place
Florida Tech
Individual Events
Short Field Landing
1st place: Jameson Pike
2nd place: Brian Williams
7th place: Avery Karasinski
Power Off Landing
5th place: Michael Rovida
Unlimited Navigation
4th place: Brian Williams and Braden Kearney
5th place: Riley Haley and Avery Karasinski
7th place: Rebecca Berris and Gillian Moisao
Message Drop
7th place: Gillian Moisao and Avery Karasinski
10th place: Ian Bowen and Jameson Pike
Aviation Maintenance Technician Test
1st place: Michael Lachut
Aircraft Recognition
10th place: Brian Williams
Preflight Inspection
2nd place: Ian Bowen
4th place: Rohit Nair
Ground Trainer
3rd place: Devin Andrade
4th place: Michael Rovida
6th place: Taylor Jackson
Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation
6th place: Braden Kearney
Computer Accuracy
7th place: Braden Kearney
8th place: Rohit Nair
