On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the War Eagle Flying Team represented Auburn in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference, SAFECON, Region IX competition.
The top three in the event were invited to the national championship.
Flight events were held at the Auburn University Regional Airport.
Students competed in events, including precision landing, navigation and ground events.
There were a total of nine events, including four flying events and five ground events.
Though teams were judged for the precision and accuracy of their maneuvers, the competition was ultimately based on safety precautions the teams took.
"Aviation safety is huge, so this competition really emphasizes a team's ability to be safe and conduct safe operations, so the events themselves are built around precision and accuracy within your flying," said Blake Schuette, junior in marketing and management and captain of the War Eagle Flying Team.
When asked about the dangers of flying, Schuette compared it to the dangers of driving a car.
"If you keep common sense and safety in mind you're going to be okay," Schuette said.
Schuette felt confident about the team's upcoming performance.
"We're a really well-rounded team," Schuette said. "We have experience levels of all ranges."
Schuette said the flying events were the team's strong suit.
The team's weakest area has been the ground event, though Schuette said she believed the team had improved during the past year in this event.
"We have two coaches now, one to help us with our flight events and one to help us with our ground events," Schuette said. "They've been absolutely instrumental in helping us and allowing us to grow."
John Lawler, chief judge of the competition, coordinated the safety of the flight, the running of the competition and put the event schedules together.
Lawler, who has been a NIFA judge for 15 years, said he looked forward to the upcoming events.
"Every competition is unique, but every competition is the same," Lawler said. "There are the same things you have to do, but the uniqueness comes from the young people that come."
Lawler said the competition will give the participants an extra level of professionalism and an opportunity to handle stress while flying effectively.
At the opening ceremony, Oct. 29, Timothy Boosinger, Auburn's provost and vice president of academic affairs, wished the competitors luck and expressed his support for the War Eagle Flying Team.
The War Eagle Flying Team was awarded first place in the Flying Event Team Champions, Regional Safety Award and Regional Sportsmanship Award.
The War Eagle Flying Team placed second in the Region IX Championship Award.
The team also placed third in the Ground Event Team Champions Award.
Schuette earned second place for the Top Pilot Award.
The War Eagle Flying Team has a prestigious history as the second-oldest university aviation program in the U.S.
In recent years, the War Eagle Flying Team gained recognition at the SAFECON competition by earning the National Safety Award in the Columbus, Ohio SAFECON competition and placing 16th overall.
"Auburn generates great pilots," Schuette said. "There's no doubt about that."
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