The Falcon Flight Team, representing Bowling Green State University's nationally ranked aviation program, will showcase its skills on the ground and in the air at an upcoming national competition featuring the nation's top collegiate pilots.
The BGSU Falcon Flight Team qualified for the National Intercollegiate Flight Association (NIFA) Safety Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) competition following the fall regional competition. This will be the team's first appearance at the national level since 1997.
BGSU will compete in 10 ground and air events May 13-18 in Janesville, Wisconsin, along with 31 teams from across the country. The Falcon Flight Team is a student group consisting of approximately 25 students. Many pursue specializations in flight technology and operations in the BGSU School of Aviation's Aviation Studies degree program.
“I am so proud of our team’s growth this year and their commitment to practicing and fine-tuning their skills and knowledge to perform at the highest level,” said Catherine, BG Flight Center Principal Flight Instructor.・Mr. Smith (1998, 2008) said. She is a professor in the Department of Aviation. “This is a proud moment for BGSU and our flight school.”
Ranked No. 4 in the nation by FLYING magazine, BGSU's aviation program is one of the largest in Ohio and the United States, and BGSU is one of the few universities in the country with an on-campus airport.
Seven new aircraft and three new flight simulators were added to the BGSU fleet in 2023, strengthening the university's commitment to training students with the latest technology.
In response to workforce needs, BGSU has partnered with Republic Airlines, one of the nation's largest regional airlines, to provide students with a faster path to a career in aviation.
In addition to placing in six events at the regional competition, the Falcon Flight team won the NIFA Safety Award for the sixth time since 1997. Smith, the team's advisor, said the honor exemplifies the university's commitment to putting safety first.
“Students have to communicate how they envision safety and how they live and breathe that culture,” Smith said. “Safety is our top priority at BGSU, and it is clear that our students are taking what we teach and putting it into practice in their flight training and academics.”
Recent graduate Ben Dodge ’24 competed in five events at regionals and placed third, and said he is excited for the team to showcase their skills on the national stage.
“I’m so excited to be competing at nationals,” Dodge said. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to see a higher level of competition. It will help us hone our skills and hone our abilities in the aircraft and on the ground, making us better pilots.”
Cori King, a sophomore at BGSU and a member of the Falcon Flight team, will also compete in several events at the national competition. King said her growth since she enrolled in the BGSU aviation program has been transformational.
“When I first came to BGSU and joined the flight team, I had very little knowledge of airplanes and did not have a private pilot's license,” she said. “Right now, I'm a member of this team competing in a national championship. It seems surreal, but our team has worked harder than I've ever seen. I am very happy that my efforts have paid off.”