Again this year, ASA traveled to the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON Championship competition for aviation performance and safety. To qualify for nationals, teams compete at regional Safety and Flight Evaluation Conferences (SAFECONs) throughout the fall to earn an invitation. Each May, this one-of-a-kind competition brings the brightest and best in collegiate aviation together to compete in a range of events to test vital aviation competencies. Sometimes called the “March Madness” of aviation, SAFECON includes both flight competitions, such as power-off and short-field approach and landing, message drop, and navigation events, and ground competitions like preflight inspection, aircraft recognition, crew resource management (CRM), and flight simulation.
SAFECON 2025 was filled with high-octane weather—tornado warnings, hail, and winds—but that didn’t stop the incredible competition and close finishes. Congratulations go to Embry-Riddle’s Golden Eagles Flight Team on claiming their 16th National Championship at NIFA SAFECON 2025. Hats off to the University of North Dakota for securing second place and to Southern Illinois University for rounding out the podium in third. ASA also has a special shoutout for Kaden Robinson from the University of North Dakota who took first place in the ASA-sponsored Computer Accuracy Event—an impressive achievement!
And of course, no SAFECON would be complete without the ASA Friday night barbecue and raffle, capped off by the ever-popular coaches’ putt-off. Congratulations to Coach Nick Olnhausen, who sank three 10-foot putts to win a $600 ASA gift card for the Western Michigan University flight team.
Get involved with NIFA and SAFECON in your region, so you can be with us in the room where it happens next year!
