Westminster Aviation Students Fly High at Regionals this Week 

October 3, 2007 

The Nation’s Best Collegiate Aviation Program’s Flying Team Competes in Colorado 

Vying for another chance at a top regional seat, 12 pilots from Westminster College’s Student Flight Team will compete at the Region 1 Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) at the Rangely Airport in Colorado Oct. 3 - 6, 2007.

As the 2007 Loening Trophy recipient for the best all-around collegiate program in the nation, Westminster’s student flight team is hoping to again be selected as one of the top two teams in the annual National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Regionals and advance to the Nationals in April.

This week’s competition will include teams from Colorado Northwestern Community College, Aims Community College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Rocky Mountain College, United States Air Force Academy, Utah State University and Westminster College. During the competition, students will compete in a variety of flying and ground events such as landings, flight planning, and aircraft recognition.

“Our pilots work very hard all year long to prepare for these competitions,” said Michael Kraus, Director of Flight Operations. “Their performance speaks volumes about the quality of their flight training and of their personal dedication.”

The Westminster College Flight Team is made up of flight students and instructors who devote many of their Saturdays to practicing for the NIFA regionals. Participation in NIFA promotes professionalism, exacting standards, and friendly competition among student pilots. It also provides scholarship opportunities and recognition for the top flight students.
For more information on Westminster’s Aviation Program, visit: www.westminstercollege.edu/aviation or NIFA and www.nifa.us.
Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enrich the college experience.