Mt. SAC Flying Team captures Sportsmanship Trophy at National SAFECON Airmeet

The Mt. SAC Flying Team brought home the prestigious Sportsmanship Trophy,  earned first place in the Message Drop event, and ninth place in Instrument Flight at this year's NIFA SAFECON.  Three hundred and five competitors from twenty-eight colleges and universities competed in the week long "Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) from May 13-19, 2012. Kansas State University hosted the airmeet at their home airport in Salina Kansas.

Among two year colleges competing at the airmeet Mt. SAC ranked second with Central Texas College taking first place. The overall National Championship Team was from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University located in Prescott, AZ.

The Team Sportsmanship Award is presented to the team displaying the most sportsmanship-like conduct and behavior throughout the week of competition. Rick Palkovic (Glendora), the team captain, said "We're so proud of winning this award because the other teams that voted for us saw something special in us this week... it says something about who we are as a team and as a college."

Pilot Samantha O'Brien (West Covina) and dropmaster Eric Holcomb (Rancho Cucamonga) tied for 1st place in the nation in the Message Drop Event. 

Rick Palkovic (Glendora) placed 6th in the Certified Flight Instructor Event (CFI) and 9th in the Instrument Flight Event (IFR). Competitors in the CFI event demonstrate expertise in teaching an aviation topic relevant to flight training. And, in the IFR event competitors demonstrate precision in instrument flight that includes clearances, holding patterns, and instrument approaches.

NOTICE for 2010/2011 Returning Students,

Changes in graduation requirements (airt 42)

Beginning Fall 2011 the course AIRT 42 (Air Traffic Control Environment) has been split into two courses - AIRT 42A and
AIRT 42B. This is a significant improvement in the curriculum but the change will affect current students in the program in the following way...

1. New students must take both AIRT 42A and AIRT 42B in order to graduate
2. Students who started before Fall 2011 have a choice of how to meet the graduation requirements:
   • If you've taken the old course, AIRT 42, and you are claiming the older catalog rights then you are good to go...
     do not take AIRT 42A or AIRT 42B
   • If you have not taken AIRT 42 then you can choose EITHER AIRT 42A or AIRT 42B
     • Upon completion of one of those two classes you then sign a Variance Form with the Aeronautics Department (see Robert Rogus, Dept Co-Chair)

Note: see the new recommended sequence of courses on the links on the right...