DURANT – Southeastern Oklahoma State University will host the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competition October 7-12.

Southeastern is in Region VI, along with Kansas State University at Salina, Oklahoma State University, Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, St. Louis University-Parks College, the University of Central Missouri, the University of Nebraska-Omaha and the University of Oklahoma.

The competition includes flying events and ground events. All flying events and Aircraft Preflight Inspection will be held at Eaker Field; the remaining ground events will be held on the Southeastern campus.

Flying Events are Power Off Landing, Short Field Approach and Landing, Navigation, Message Drop, IFR Precision Flight, IFR Simulated Flight, and CRM/LOFT (Crew Resource Management/Line Oriented Flight Training).

Ground Events include Computer Accuracy, Ground Trainer, Aircraft Preflight Inspection, Aircraft Recognition, Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation (SCAN), and Electronic Flight Computer.

Regional competitions are held in the fall with nationals in the spring.

Southeastern will have 13 students participating in the competition.

Dr. David Conway is director of the Southeastern Aviation Sciences Institute, while faculty members George Jacox and Kyle Thomas serve as flight team advisor and regional flight competition coordinator, respectively. Amanda Steele is the student president of the event.

On Friday, Oct. 12, the NIFA Region VI awards banquet will be held at 6 p.m. in the Choctaw Resort Conference Center ballroom. Guest speaker will be James Hanny, first aviation graduate from Southeastern (’68) and a Distinguished Alumnus of the University. Hanny is also a former president of the Southeastern Alumni Association.