BGSU Falcon Flight Team earns third consecutive trip to nationals

Six-day SAFECON competition will challenge students in flying, navigation, safety and simulation events

By Branden Ferguson

The Bowling Green State University Falcon Flight Team is heading back to the national stage, earning a spot at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association competition for the third consecutive year.

Team members will travel to Moline, Illinois, for the 2026 NIFA National SAFECON, a six-day competition that brings together some of the top collegiate aviators in the country. More than 500 competitors from 30 colleges will test their precision, decision-making and technical knowledge across a range of demanding events.

"We had our highest overall score as a team at the regional competition, and we aim to repeat that success in Moline," said Catherine Smith, director of the BGSU School of Aviation. "Our team has worked so hard in these past few semesters to improve our ground knowledge and flying abilities. With six seniors on this year's team who have dedicated so much time outside of the classroom preparing for this event, they are dedicated to making this final competition their best."

From May 18-23, 16 BGSU students selected to compete will take on challenges that mirror real-world aviation scenarios, providing them with a unique opportunity to showcase their skills at a national level. Making it to nationals is an exciting opportunity for all students, but for four members of the Falcon Flight Team, this will be their third consecutive appearance at nationals.

During the competition, more than a dozen events will test students' knowledge and skills, including the ability to calculate flight plans, conduct precise takeoff and landing, communicate effectively and inspect planes prior to takeoff to avoid unairworthy discrepancies, among other skills.

The Falcon Flight Team is a student organization composed of undergraduate students who train year-round to compete. Open to aviation and non-aviation majors, many members pursue specializations in flight technology and operations or aviation management and operations in the School of Aviation.

Students in flight technology and operations are trained for careers as professional pilots, while those in aviation management and operations prepare for roles in aviation business, consulting and facility management.

The Bowling Green State University aviation program is one of the largest in the United States and remains among the few universities in the country with an airport on campus, giving students direct access to the hands-on experience that translates into success in high-pressure competitions like SAFECON.