Embry-Riddle Flight Team Wins National Championship

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Embry-Riddle's Golden Eagles Flight Team Wins National Championship

Prescott, Ariz., May 28, 2003 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Golden Eagles Flight Team took first place at the NIFA SAFECON (National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference) National Competition held May 17-21 in Grand Forks, N.D.

Previously, the Golden Eagles were NIFA SAFECON National Champions in 1999, 1997, and 1993.

In this year's competition against 25 other university teams, the Golden Eagles racked up 178 points, setting a new record for the most points earned at a NIFA SAFECON National Competition. Following the Golden Eagles in the ranking were the University of North Dakota in second place, Western Michigan University in third place, Southern Illinois University in fourth place, and Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach, Fla., campus in fifth place.

Nineteen Golden Eagles traveled to Grand Forks to compete. The group earned five first-place team trophies, including the National Championship Trophy; the Flying Events Team Championship Trophy; and the Judges Trophy, Ground Events Team Championship Trophy, and American Airlines Safety Award, all for the second year in a row.

"I'm very proud of every team member for stepping up to this awesome challenge and winning the National Championship," said team coach Jared Testa. "Every team member knew the competition was going to be fierce, but they stepped up, put in 110 precent, and came home on top."

The team uses Cessna 150s for the landing events and Cessna 172s for the navigation events.

Members of the Golden Eagles who placed particularly well in the competition were Bill Beckelman and Geraldine Fritsch.

Beckelman, a senior Aeronautical Science and Aerospace Engineering major from Arivaca, Ariz., earned fifth place or better in five events, including first place in the Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation competition and second place in both the Power Off Landings and Short Field Landings competitions. He also earned the Top Scoring Male Competitor Award and the overall Top Pilot Award. Beckelman is the first Golden Eagle to earn the Top Pilot award at a NIFA SAFECON National Competition.

Geraldine Fritsch, a senior Aerospace Engineering major from Vienna, Austria, was awarded the Candi Kubeck Award for Top Scoring Female Competitor.

"The team's work ethic and professionalism help to define Embry-Riddle and its flight program. Winning the NIFA National Competition is a reflection of the aptitude, dedication, and passion for aviation that our students have," said Sean Jeralds, chair of the Flight Training Dept. at Embry-Riddle's Prescott campus.

Embry-Riddle, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, meets the needs of students and industry through its educational, training, research, and consulting activities. Embry-Riddle educates more than 25,000 students annually through the master's level at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., at more than 130 teaching centers in the United States and Europe, and through distance learning.