Sky Broncos nab safety credentials
April 23, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- The 15 members of Western Michigan University's Sky Broncos precision flight team recently took time out from training to defend their national title in May to answer a challenge of a different kind--a safety challenge from their coaches.
As a result, an FAA official from Willow Run airport in Wayne County will be at WMU's College of Aviation facilities at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, to award special certificates and wings to members of the team for their completion of the FAA's Pilot Proficiency Awards Program. The ceremony will be held in Room 1207 of the Aviation Education Center, which is part of WMU's facilities at Battle Creek's W.K. Kellogg Airport.
At Assistant Coach Steve Tkachuk's urging, the entire team tackled the awards program, a safety initiative that requires attendance at an FAA seminar plus completion of three hours of safety training that covers general aviation issues, traffic patterns and instrument procedures. All 15 team members and their three coaches took part in the initiative, and the 17 participants who were eligible for the awards successfully completed the requirements.
The Sky Broncos, the reigning national champions of collegiate aviation, are in training for the May 17-21 National Intercollegiate Flying Association's 2003 competition, which will be held at the University of North Dakota.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu