Florida Tech Flight Team Wins Safety Award Again

MELBOURNE, Fla.—Florida Tech’s Precision Flight Team, the Falcons, won the coveted National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s Safety Award again at the regional Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) hosted recently by Jacksonville University. The team is also the current holder of the American Airlines National Safety Award, given to the flight team who demonstrates the highest standards of safety in their intercollegiate flight team program.

Competing against six other college teams from Florida, Georgia and Alabama, the Falcons won second place overall in the region, to earn a position at the national competition to be held at Indiana State University in May 2010.

The Safety Officer for the Falcons in Jacksonville was Matt Wentz, a graduating senior and flight instructor at F.I.T. Aviation’s Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research. David Calendar was the top Florida Tech pilot this year, based upon his total scores in a variety of flight events. Connor Shea and Tony Ferendo earned high scores in the Ground Trainer simulator event.

Andy Greco, who is the Falcon’s captain and a senior majoring in aeronautical engineering said, “We are really looking forward to our trip to Indiana, to defend our National Safety Award again.”