Pilots confident about national qualifying chances

The ULM Flight Team will compete in the annual National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Regional Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON).

The competition takes place Oct. 25 – 29 at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss.

The Region IV SAFECON consists of five air events and five ground events. The top three schools move on to compete at the national level. ULM finished fourth in last year’s regional competition.

Yun Hwangbo, captain of the team, is confident in his team’s ability.

“On a scale 1-10, my confidence level in our team is an eight,” Hwangbo said. “Our goal is to finish at least third and make it to Nationals.”

Brandy Lisonbee, member of the flight team, is also confident but acknowledged that the team is going into the event somewhat undermanned. “We only have eight members and two aren’t even aviation majors,” Lisonbee said. But we all have worked hard and will perform to the best of our abilities,” Lisonbee said.

The ULM Flight team does not have a coach, but David King, associate professor of aviation, is their faculty advisor. King just joined ULM’s aviation program this year, but he brings over 30 years of experience as a flight instructor.

“I get them the things they need and get them where they need to go,” King said. “I know we have a good team, and Yun Hwangbo is a capable leader.”

The ULM flight team will try to qualify for the National competition for the first time since qualifying four years ago.