Flying high: K-State Salina flight team lands in top 10 at national competition

Salina, Kan. (May 23, 2012) - There's no place like home for Kansas State University Salina's Flight Team, which earned a seventh place finish in a national flight competition that the campus hosted.

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association's National Safety And Flight Evaluation Conference, or SAFECON, and competition was May 14-19 at the Salina Municipal Airport. Twenty-eight teams from schools across the country participated.

The Kansas State University Salina team won an invitation to the national competition by placing second in the association's Region VI competition in October 2011.

The competition consists of 13 events, with members of the Kansas State University Salina Flight Team earning 10 individual placements in the top 20 in nine events: Certified Flight Instructor, Computer Accuracy, Ground Trainer, IFR Simulated Flight, Men's Achievement Award, Power-off Landing, Short-field Landing and Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation. The team placed fifth overall in the flying events.

K-State is an elite Top 5 aviation university. Located on the Salina campus adjacent to a 12,000-foot runway, the program has a modern fleet of more than 40 learning aircraft and more Master Certified Flight Instructors than any other college or university in the country. K-State Salina offers affordable degrees in aircraft maintenance, professional pilot, technology management and engineering technology. Certificate programs are available in air traffic control, airframe and powerplant, airport management, avionics maintenance technology and unmanned aerial systems. More information on K-State aviation programs is available at www.salina.k-state.edu/aviation.

The Salina Airport Authority has developed the premier airport and industrial center in the Midwest. The board of directors and staff are proactive in providing the citizens of Salina, Saline County and North Central Kansas with a center that support business and industry, which, in turn, provides jobs and payroll that benefit the region.

The Salina Airport Authority is home to the Salina Municipal Airport, the Salina Aviation Service Center and the Salina Airport Industrial Center.