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.
**************
Here is the full list of events and placements for Florida Tech’s flight team:
Individual Events
Aircraft Preflight Inspection:
Devin Andrade, 30th Place
Rohit Nair, 32nd Place
Aircraft Recognition:
Brian Williams, 35th Place
Devin Andrade, 45th Place
Rohit Nair, 49th Place
Jameson Pike, 65th Place
Aaron Bethel, 83rd Place
Computer Accuracy:
Rohit Nair, 45th Place
Braden Kearney, 54th Place
Michael Lachut, 64th Place
Jassim Mohydin, 86th Place
Jameson Pike, 124th Place
Ground Trainer:
Braden Kearney, 36th Place
Jassim Mohydin, 58th Place
Devin Andrade, 61st Place
Instrument Simulated Flight:
Braden Kearney, 9th Place
Outstanding Team Member:
Brian Williams
Power-Off Landing:
Devin Andrade, 19th Place
Avery Karasinski, 55th Place
Michael Lachut, 75th Place
Aaron Bethel, 77th Place
Brian Williams, 116th Place
Short-Field Landing:
Brian Williams, 70th Place
Devin Andrade, 81st Place
Jameson Pike, 88th Place
Avery Karasinski, 109th Place
Braden Kearney, 125th Place
Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation:
Braden Kearney, 81st Place
Riley Haley, 87th Place
Ethan Brobst, 104th Place
Avery Karasinski, 110th Place
Rohit Nair, 144th Place
Top Scoring:
Braden Kearney, 92nd Place
Devin Andrade, 132nd Place
Team Events
CRM/LOFT:
Jameson Pike and Brian Williams, 22nd Place
Message Drop:
Gillian Moisao and Brian Williams, 42nd Place
Victor Levonenko and Jameson Pike, 56th Place
Jassim Mohydin and Gillian Moisao, 82nd Place
Ethan Brobst and Riley Haley, 92nd Place
Unlimited Navigation:
Riley Haley and Ethan Brobst, 44th Place
Brian Williams and Braden Kearney, 50th Place
Gillian Moisao and Avery Karasinski, 53rd Place
Flight Events Championship:
Florida Tech, 24th Place
Ground Events Championship:
Florida Tech, 22nd Place
Judges Trophy:
Florida Tech, 16th Place
SAFECON Championship:
Florida Tech, 24th Place
