Regional Flight Safety Event Needs Judges

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Florida Tech’s Falcons flight team will compete with other collegiate flight teams from the Southern United States at Melbourne
International Airport on Nov. 7-10. They will participate in the annual Region IX National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Safety and Flight
Evaluation Conference. School pilots will fly near the airport as they compete in precision landing competitions and other flying and ground events.

Donna Wilt, associate professor of aeronautics and Falcons adviser, requests as many as 30 volunteers to be judges and help with logistical and
administrative support. Volunteers must commit to a minimum of a half day. No experience or prior involvement with aviation is necessary.
“The volunteers fill a valuable role in motivating and guiding these aspiring college-level pilots,” said Wilt. To volunteer, contact Region IX Chief
Judge, Vicki Sherman, at (386) 822-1500.

The NIFA is an organization of colleges and universities who are either directly involved in one of the many forms of aviation education or who have a
student group on campus with aviation interests. Their primary activity is to conduct regional and national safety and flight evaluation conferences.

Aviation-related undergraduate degrees in the Florida Tech College of Aeronautics currently include seven bachelor of science degrees. Three of the
bachelor’s degrees have a flight option. The university also offers three aviation-related master’s degrees and a doctoral degree in science education with
a concentration in aeronautics.