Sky Broncos
The WMU Precision Flight Team originally started as part of the Western Michigan University Sky Broncos Flying Club. With roots dating back to the 1940's, the flight team and flying club have worked to promote collegiate aviation activities and aviation safety. In recent years, the activities and successes of the flight team have prospered while the activities of the Sky Bronco's Flying Club have dropped off, leading to the flying club's termination.
Today, the Sky Broncos Flight Team represents Western Michigan University's College of Aviation by competing in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's (NIFA) collegiate flight competition. These competitions, called SAFECON's (Safety and Flight Evaluation Conferences), are held at both regional and national levels. 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 Sky Broncos Flight Team relishes in a rich history of regional and national competitive success. The Sky Broncos captured the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's Region III Title in October 2007, with strong performances in all of the competition's 10 events. WMU flight teams have placed among the top four in the nation for seventeen consecutive years.
"We are so proud of our team," says Captain Dave Powell, Dean. "There is no other collegiate program that matches our seventeen-year record, and we've done it with much less in terms of human and fiscal resources. Not only that, but nine of the fifteen-member team are first year competitors. This just underscores the superb talent of our students and instructors.
Tryout Information
Come see what the Sky Broncos are all about, and join the record-setting flight team. We are here every Saturday and Sunday during the semester. All WMU students are welcome; you do not have to be a pilot or in the College of Aviation. We are looking for some highly motivated and dedicated team players interested in supporting a winning team. If this sounds like you we can teach you the skills required to compete in one of three ground events. Try all three or pick the one you like best (examples of tests are linked below). Please bring a flight computer, plotter, and calculator if you have them (we have everything you need).
Contact any of the following for more information:
- James H. Whittles, Coach (616) 886-2091
- Jennifer Jakubiec, Assistant Coach (248) 767-1787
- Ben Lauer, Captain (989) 464-8967
- Jared Neterer, Captain (269) 903-1273
- Tyler Rice, Event Captain (321) 480-4114
- Kevin Kotewa, Event Captain (810) 543-3417
Tryout Events
- Manual Flight Computer (E6-b)
- Contestants work against the clock to solve mathematical flight planning computations using a manually operated flight computer. The exam includes problems on time, speed, distance, wind correction, fuel requirements and conversion factors. Good test taking skills, math, and logic will help you here.
- Simulated Comprehensive Aerial Navigation
- Simulated cross-country flight with questions regarding aircraft performance calculations, flight planning, and regulations from FAR part 61, 91 and the AIM relative to private pilot knowledge only. Electronic flight computers allowed. Again logic helps but knowing what the question asks for is the key.
- Aircraft Recognition
- Images of aircraft are shown on a screen for three seconds. Competitors then have fifteen seconds to identify the aircraft manufacturer, and model number, and common name if any. Left brain people fit well here. Do you doodle?
Ground Events
Aircraft Recognition
Images of aircraft are shown on a screen for three seconds. Competitors then have fifteen seconds to identify the aircraft's manufacturer, model number, and common name if any.
Computer Accuracy
Contestants work against the clock to solve mathematical flight planning computations using a manually operated flight computer (E-6B). The exam includes problems on time, speed, distance, wind correction, fuel requirements, and conversion factors.
Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation
The SCAN event is a written exam with problems that reference a simulated cross-country flight over a given route. Included in the flight planning are questions on weight and balance, aircraft performance, Federal Aviation Regulations, aeronautical charts, weather interpretations, and fuel computations.
Aircraft Preflight Inspection
An Aircraft is "bugged" with at least 30 unairworthy discrepancies. Contestants are given fifteen minutes to preflight the aircraft and find as many of the discrepancies as possible.
Ground Trainer
This event is designed to test the contestant's competency and skill in a flight-training device. Flying a pre-determined pattern, the competitor must show proficiency in maintaining altitude, heading, and airspeed.
CRM Event
This event is designed to evaluate how well a flight crew works together. A two-person crew, a pilot flying and a pilot not flying, is assigned a cross-country flight in a flight training device. Contestants are judged on their ability to work together in a cockpit environment, as well as their ability to handle in-flight emergencies.
IFR Simulated Flight
This event evaluates how well a pilot flies a simulated instrument flight. During this event, the contestant flies a flight training device over a predetermined instrument route. Instrument pilot skills along with application of instrument knowledge and procedures are evaluated.
Flight Events
Navigation
The Navigation Event consists of a cross-country flight over a three to five leg course between 70 to 120 nautical miles. Each contestant submits a flight plan before takeoff, which includes estimated time en-route for each leg, total elapse time and fuel consumption. The contestant with the lowest penalty points wins.
Short Field Landing
The objective of the Short-Field Event is to test the pilot's skill at maneuvering and manipulating the aircraft. After taking off and flying a normal traffic pattern, the objective is to land as close as possible to, if not on, the target line. Once the pilot reduces the power, he or she cannot increase it again. The pilot's score is the distance in feet from where the aircraft's wheels initially touch the runway to the target line. The lowest cumulative score from two landings, plus technique penalty points, if any, wins.
Power Off Precision Landing
Similar in concept to the Short-Field Event, only the power must be reduced on the downwind leg and remain at idle abeam the target line. The approach is made by gliding for the remainder of the traffic pattern to touch down, preferably on the target line. The pilot's score is the distance in feet from where the aircraft's wheels initially touch the runway to the target line. The lowest cumulative score from two landings, plus technique penalty points, if any, wins.
Message Drop
The objective of the Message Drop Event is to hit a target on the ground with a message container, dropped from an aircraft in cruise configuration and at an altitude of 200 feet. A team effort is necessary by both the pilot and dropmaster to maneuver the airplane so each container will hit the target. The contestant with the lowest total distance from the target for both containers is the winner.