The University of Nebraska at Omaha Flying Mavs concluded a standout season with an impressive performance at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON competition in Moline, Illinois, finishing 8th overall out of 32 collegiate flight teams from across the nation.
The national competition marked the culmination of nearly a year of preparation for the Flying Mavs, who dedicated countless hours throughout the academic year to training in both flight and ground events. Competing against some of the top collegiate aviation programs in the country, UNO students delivered multiple top finishes, national championships, and individual honors.
Over the last year, the Flying Mavs also incorporated NeuroTrainer into their training routines as part of the team’s preparation for competition. Using virtual reality cognitive training technology, students completed regular sessions focused on improving reaction time, situational awareness, focus, and decision-making skills that directly translate to aviation performance.
The integration of NeuroTrainer became another tool the team used to prepare for the high-pressure environment of NIFA SAFECON competition. Flight Team members utilized the system consistently throughout the season, including during travel and competition preparation, as part of the program’s continued focus on innovation and performance development.
The addition of NeuroTrainer was made possible through support from the Barbara Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, which helped provide the technology and resources needed to expand cognitive performance training opportunities for students in the Aviation Institute.
One of the team’s biggest accomplishments came in IFR (Instrument Simulated Flight), where Thomas Reid captured 1st place and earned the title of national champion. The Flying Mavs also secured another national championship in Traditional Navigation, with Cullen Leitner serving as pilot and Will Skradski as safety observer, earning 1st place overall.
UNO continued its strong performance in navigation events as Thomas Reid and Alex Duman earned 2nd place in Unlimited Navigation. In the CRM/LOFT competition, Tyler Thieman, serving as Pilot Flying, and Trevor Denker, serving as Pilot Monitoring, finished 3rd nationally.
Additional individual event results included:
- Aircraft Preflight: Tyler Thieman — 7th place; Alex Duman — 18th place
- Computer Accuracy: Tyler Thieman — 13th place; Alex Duman — 18th place
- Ground Trainer: Thomas Reid — 11th place
- Short Field Landing: Tyler Thieman — 9th place
The Flying Mavs also earned recognition in the overall Top Pilot standings, with Thomas Reid placing 10th nationally and Tyler Thieman finishing 12th overall among competitors.
“We are extremely proud of the team and how much time and effort we all put in to make our performance possible,” said Thomas Reid. “Every person played a role in making us better as a group, leading to an exciting and memorable competition.”
Head Coach Skip Bailey also reflected on the team’s season and growth throughout the year.
“Watching this team grow throughout the year has been incredibly rewarding,” Bailey said. “Their dedication, professionalism, and work ethic showed in every practice and every competition. I couldn’t be more proud of the way they represented the university on the national stage. They supported each other through every challenge and truly competed as a team.”
The team also credited the support of its sponsors and community partners throughout the season. Through the Aviation Institutes partnership with Jet Linx, the team was able to raise a majority of its funding through support connected to two of the Institute’s major fundraising events, the Golf Classic and Wear Black Give Back.
The strong finish at nationals highlights the continued growth and success of the UNO Flying Mavs program, as well as the dedication and professionalism of its student competitors. Through months of preparation, teamwork, and flight training, the team represented UNO on a national stage while continuing the program’s tradition of excellence in collegiate aviation competition.
The Flying Mavs will now begin preparing for the 2027 NIFA SAFECON National Competition, which will be held May 10–14 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
