Averett University hosted the 2024 Region X SAFECON Flight Competition at the Danville Regional Airport on October 23 -26. The regional competition judged students from Liberty University, the United States Naval Academy, Elizabeth City State University, Hampton University and Averett University. Roughly 10 different competitions tested students’ knowledge about numerous in-air and on-ground subjects such as short field landings, power-off landings, simulator events, preflight events and aircraft recognition.

Averett’s flight team, nicknamed the Flying Cougars, is comprised of 27 members from Averett’s Department of Aeronautics. The team secured four first-place finishes, eight top-three finishes and 23 top-ten finishes. They also were awarded the Competition Safety Award, second place for the Judges Trophy Award and tied for second in the overall SAFECON Championship.

David Crabb, Jackson Dobbs, Andrew Williams and Collin Stevens placed first in their respective divisions of Aircraft Preflight Inspection, Aircraft Recognition, Short Field Landing and Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation. Gabby Lang was recognized as the Outstanding Team Member from the Flying Cougars.

Other noteworthy regional finishes include, but are not limited to:

• Aircraft Preflight Inspection
  • 1^st David Crabb
  • 3^rd Theo Dickinson
  • 4^th Parker Lenz
  • 6^th Chris Becerra
  • 7^th Eric Hamlett
• Aircraft Recognition
  • 1^st Jackson Dobbs
• Ground Trainer
  • 10^th Parker Lenz
• Power-Off Landing
  • 4^th Andrew Williams
  • 6^th Daniel Starr
  • 7^th JD Yande
  • 8^th Theo Dickinson
• Short Field Landing
  • 1^st Andrew Williams
  • 2^nd Daniel Starr
  • 7^th Theo Dickinson
• Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation
  • 1^st Collin Stevens
  • 7^th Chris Brotherton (tie)
• Top Pilot
  • 3^rd Andrew Williams
  • 4^th Daniel Starr
  • 10^th Eric Hamlett
• Unlimited Navigation
  • 3^rd Eric Hamlett
    • Shane Brown as Safety Observer
  • 4^th Daniel Starr
    • Gabby Lang as Safety Observer
  • 5^th Andrew Williams
    • Parker Lenz as Safety Observer
  • 9^th Matthew Ulishney
    • David Crabb as Safety Observer

The Cougars are now preparing for their national competition in May of 2025 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.