The National Intercollegiate Flying Association

Introduction

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) is a nonprofit educational association of institutions of higher education in the United States. NIFA works to enhance and improve aviation education in the United States by promoting intercollegiate flight competitions and assisting in bringing together aviation students and professionals from the aviation industry. Their website is www.nifa.us.

Mission

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association was formed for the purposes of developing and advancing aviation education; to promote, encourage and foster safety in aviation; to promote and foster communications and cooperation between aviation students, educators, educational institutions and the aviation industry; and to provide an arena for collegiate aviation competition.

The Organization

NIFA was formed in 1919 as the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. In 1971 the organization was legally incorporated in the State of Illinois. In 1975 it received its 501(c)4 tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service. And in 1998 it received 501(c)3 tax exemption status. The management team consists of the following positions. All positions are filled by volunteers who hold other full-time employment positions or who are full-time students.

Executive Director
Legal Counsel
The NIFA Council: Area Representatives and Members-at-Large who serve as Board of Directors
Student Officers
Faculty Advisors
Board of Senior Advisors
Support Staff

Director of Conference
Director of Corporate Development
Director of Corporate Relations
Director of Technology

 

An executive committee is comprised of selected members from the Council and the group of student officers, the host school faculty advisor and the executive director. This committee is responsible for decisions pertaining to the operation of the annual national competition. The Executive Director's office is responsible for day-to-day operations of the NIFA. The three standing committees of the organization are:

 

Executive
Judges
Planning

Services

NIFA provides a variety of services to its member institutions including the scheduling and coordination of the following:

Regional Competitions
Annual National Competition and Conference (SAFECON)
Recruitment and Training of Judges
Liability Insurance at Events
Distribution of Award Medallions
Composition and Dissemination of Rule Books and Examinations
Official Website: www.nifa.us

The Ninety-Nines Involvement

For many years the Ninety-Nines, Inc. has been a valued contributor to the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. Financial contributions have helped sponsor the Women's Achievement Award and Top Scoring Woman Pilot Award which are presented at the national SAFECON held each year. Ninety-Nines make up most of the judges at regional and national NIFA competitions. Yet, many of our members do not know much about NIFA or how they may become involved. Ninety-Nines now serving on the NIFA Council are currently Jody McCarrell, Diane Bartels and Carolyn Carpp. Many other Ninety-Nines have competed in NIFA over the years as well as serving as Judges.

Organization History

NIFA's history began in December of 1919 when the Intercollegiate Flying Association was formed. At its first competition there were eleven member institutions: Harvard, Princeton, Rutgers, Columbia, Williams, Wesleyan, Yale, Cornell, Leheigh, University of Pittsburg and University of Pennsylvania. In 1934, delegates from twenty-three colleges and universities met and changed the name to the National Intercollegiate Flying Clubs. Within six months, membership had risen to fifty flying clubs from across the nation. Competitions were suspended in 1941 for the duration of World War II. In 1948, representatives from NIFC's member schools met and changed the name of NIFC to NIFA (National Intercollegiate Flying Association). During the peace that followed WWII and the ensuing economic growth and improvements in the air transportation industry, college aviation clubs and programs enjoyed a surge in interest. NIFA was a beneficiary of this increased interest. At its peak, there were two hundred and fifty college flying teams in the U.S. and over 9,000 student participants. Prior to 1972, NIFA held only one competition annually. With the increase in the number of teams attending the single annual competitions becoming overwhelming, the country was divided into geographic regions and qualifying competitions for the national championship were established. This system of regional qualifying competitions and a national championship has been used exclusively since 1972.

Competition Events

The flying events are Power-Off Landings, Short Field Landings, Navigation, Message Drop, IFR Precision Flight and IFR Simulated Flight. The ground events are SCAN (Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation), Computer Accuracy, Electronic Flight Computer, Aircraft Recognition, Pre-flight Inspection and Ground Trainer (simulator). Other events at SAFECON are: Loening Trophy, Men's Achievement Award, Women's Achievement Award, Collegiate Aviation Progress Award, Safety Award, Coach of the Year Award, Team Sportsman Award, Competition Safety Award, Top Two-Year School Award, Flying Events Team Champions Award, Ground Events Team Champions Award, Judges Trophy, Top Pilot Award, Top Woman Scorer Award, Top Male Scorer Award and Outstanding Team Member Award.

NIFA Regional Boundaries

Current Information

The 2008 NATIONAL SAFECON was held May 3 to May 10, 2008 at Middle Tennessee State University, School of Aerospace, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Ground Events were on the MTSU Campus at Murfreesboro and Smyrna with the Flight Events at the Smyrna Airport (MQY).

The 2009 Competition will be May 18-23, in St. Louis, Missouri hosted by Parks College which is a division of St. Louis University.

Contacts

Prof. Gary Hemphill, NIFA Executive Director
PO Box 15081
Monroe, LA 71207
318-325-6156

Carolyn Carpp, NIFA Council
and 99s NIFA Co-Chairman
14401 NE 30th Pl #24B
Bellevue, WA 98007
425-861-9949

Lois Erickson, 99s NIFA Co-Chairman
3577 Bridger Drive
Redding, CA 96002
530-221-6958