SAFECON Region VI Competition in St. Louis: Message Drop and Pre-Flight Events

By Carmelo Turdo

St. Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology is proud to host SAFECON Region VI competition this week at St. Louis Downtown Airport.  The week-long event is sponsored by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) to encourage college student aviators to interact with fellow students at other institutions while sharpening their flying skills and aviation knowledge.  Today's activities included the Message Drop Event and Pre-Flight Event, again held at St. Louis Downtown Airport. 

It was another early start Thursday for the young pilots as they gathered for the Message Drop Event.  Throughout the morning, 3-4 aircraft flying in nine heats approached two targets on the ground near Runway 12L/30R.  As the aircraft passed overhead at about 200 feet, the Drop Master tossed a message box with a streamer attached toward the target.  A few came close to the target, though most were a hundred feet or more away when they landed.  It was a very challenging event, and The Aero Experience was there for the morning briefing, the weighing of the message boxes and on station near the second target to catch the action.  As can be seen in this sequence, some of the message boxes landed in the marshy area near a running stream to the north of the runway. 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second scheduled activity on Thursday was the Pre-Flight Event.  Three contestants per college were given fifteen minutes each (in separate sessions) to find as many safety discrepancies on an aircraft as possible.  The aircraft used was one of the St. Louis University Flying Billikens Diamond DA20 Eclipse trainers seen flying daily over the airport.  Featured here are the representatives from Oklahoma State University and Parks College of St. Louis University during their sessions.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to exceptional weather and great teamwork from all of the colleges and event staff, the SAFECON Region VI 2015 official events were completed a day early.  Tomorrow evening will be the awards banquet at the St. Louis University academic campus.  The Aero Experience will be there and report the results this weekend! 

The Aero Experience thanks Parks College of St. Louis University, NIFA staff, The St. Louis University Flying Billikens, and the visiting teams for being extremely helpful and for making The Aero Experience feel welcome during their competition this week.  We also thank the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum for hosting Wednesday evening's open house and Fly-In featuring Trans States Airlines.  More comprehensive coverage of the week's activities will be featured in our wrap-up feature story coming soon!  

SAFECON Region VI Competition in St. Louis: Precision Landings and Museum Open House

By Carmelo Turdo

St. Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology is proud to host SAFECON Region VI competition this week at St. Louis Downtown Airport.  The week-long event is sponsored by the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) to encourage college student aviators to interact with fellow students at other institutions while sharpening their flying skills and aviation knowledge.  Today's activities included the Power Off Landing Event, Short-Field Landing Event, and an evening social event held at the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum.

 

The Day began with another spectacular sunrise at St. Louis Downtown Airport, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Competitors from the St. Louis University Flying Billikens and the visiting college teams assembled early Wednesday morning to prepare for the precision landing events.  The first, the Power Off Landing Event, tested the pilot's ability to fly an approach to land on the target line with the engine at idle power from the downwind entry into the pattern.  Next came the Short-Field Landing Event, which like the previous event, tested the pilot's ability to land on the target line using some engine power, though it can not be increased during the approach.  Both events use a target area marked 100 feet before and 200 feet after the target line, and pilots are graded as to where the right wheel touches and remains on the runway in relation to the target line.  Nine heats of 3-4 aircraft flew for each event throughout the day: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday evening, the collegiate teams and other guests visited the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum and aircraft on static display nearby.  Trans States Airlines brought in an Embraer ERJ-145LR from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, and the flying team members enjoyed touring the aircraft and discussed career opportunities with Trans States Airlines.  Also on display were Beech T-34 and Nanchang CJ-6 warbirds, Robinson R44 helicopter, a powered parachute, and Garmin-equipped Cirrus SR22.  The museum exhibits were well received, especially the restored F-4 Phantom II cockpit and the Lockheed Jetstar.  Here are some scenes from a great evening with our friends in aviation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Aero Experience will continue our coverage of the SAFECON Region VI Competition Thursday as the teams compete in the Message Drop Event and Preflight Event.