The Florida Tech Flight Team competed in the National SAFECON Championships in the spring at Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois, and the results show a team and a program ascending after an extended hiatus.
Comprised of officers Brian Williams (captain), Gillian Moisao (first officer), Avery Karasinski (treasurer), James Pike (safety officer) and Devin Andrade (secretary) and additional members Ethan Brobst and Victor Levonenko, and guided by College of Aeronautics Professor Emerita Donna Wilt as coach and Florida Tech Aviation’s Karl Blumfelder as advisor, the Flight Team at SAFECON posted its second consecutive year of higher points totals since the team returned to the national event in 2024 after a Covid pause.
Team members said it was a memorable combination of challenging events and impactful learning. “You really get to take your abilities, hone them and show them on the big stage,” Andrade said.
“I was able to hold myself to a higher standard and push myself to get better,” Karasinski said. Moisao added, “Competition gave me the best moments and the greatest opportunities.”
The ranking based on Judges Points for the team has gone from 29th the first year back to 25th in 2025 to 16th this year. SAFECON points are following a similar trajectory.
“In just three years the team has shown amazing progress and blown through all the targets that they set for themselves,” said Interim Dean Rian Mehta.
Annually drawing 30 or more teams from around the country, SAFECON is an aviation performance and safety competition built around flight events such as Unlimited Navigation and Instrument Simulated Flight and ground events such as Crew Resource Management and Ground Trainer.
“The flight team gave me an opportunity to develop not only as a pilot but also as a leader to help others succeed,” said Williams, the team captain.
