NIFA Cancels May SAFECON Event

Following the trend of many upcoming aviation events, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) has cancelled SAFECON 2020, the national flight competition that was scheduled to take place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from May 18 to 23.

The competition would have marked the 100th anniversary of NIFA’s annual collegiate flight competitions, and for the first time in the organization’s history, it was to be hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association at their convention facilities and museum at Wittman Regional Airport.

The annual event brings together more than 500 competitors from over 30 schools from across the country, where they compete in precision landings, navigation, flight planning, preflight inspection, and other events based on safety, knowledge, and professionalism.

Facing the options of continuing, postponing, or canceling the event, member schools voted for cancelation. Though restrictions directly related to the COVID-19 virus might be lifted in time for the event, schools reasoned that their current inability to practice for the event would raise concerns about the question of acceptable preparedness for competition. Recognizing the extraordinary circumstances, the EAA has agreed to uphold the offer to host SAFECON 2021 at their facilities next year.