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UNO Flight Team Competes in National SAFECON Event

  • published: 2025/05/21
The Flying Mavs pose with awards after the competition.

The Flying Mavs, competed in the 2025 National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) National Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha Flight Team, the Flying Mavs, competed in the 2025 National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) National Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) the week of May 12, 2025. The event was held in Oshkosh, WI, and it was the Mavericks' 16th consecutive year qualifying for the national competition.

This year, 30 teams from around the country qualified for the SAFECON, including five schools from Region VI, the Mavericks' home region (University of Nebraska Omaha, University of North Dakota, Minnesota State University – Mankato, St. Louis University-Parks College, and Kansas State University Salina). Over 450 students competed in the SAFECON, and the overall top school for the 2025 SAFECON was Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott.

The Mavericks, a tightly knit team, had 10 students earn travel spots. Captains Tyler Thiemann and Trevor Denker led the 2025 National SAFCEON team for UNO. It included Landon Scott, Cullen Leitner, William Skradski, Chloe Schrick, Thomas Ried, Cullen Grell, Alex Duman, and Shoichi Yasui. Head Coach and Advisor Skip Bailey, Associate Coach Alison Adams, and Assistant Coach Hunter Pehrson guided the team with their expertise and support.

Director of the Aviation Institute, Scott Vlasek commented, "I could not be prouder of our Flying Mavs and the outstanding way they represented the University of Nebraska at Omaha at the 2025 NIFA SAFECON National Championship. Competing against the best collegiate aviators in the country, our team demonstrated exceptional skill, professionalism, and resilience throughout the week. Their achievements, both individually and collectively, are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and strong team culture that defines the UNO Flight Team. Coach Skip Bailey’s recognition as National Coach of the Year is incredibly well-deserved and reflects the impact of his leadership on our students. This year’s performance continues our long tradition of excellence and sets the stage for even greater success in the years ahead."

Several members of the UNO Flight Team earned high marks at several events. Captain Tyler Thieman placed 14th out of 60 in the Aircraft Preflight Inspection and 9th out of 30 competitors in the Instrument Simulated Flight event. Captain Trevor Denker placed 15th along with Thomas Reid in the Message Drop event, and Thieman and Denker placed 4th out of 26 in the Crew Resource Management (CRM) event. Connor Grell was named Outstanding Team Member for UNO for 2025. The week's best performance was by Thomas Reid, who placed 18th in the Ground Trainer and 2nd in the Unlimited navigation Event with Safety Pilot Alex Duman. This earned Thomas an 8th-place finish in the Top Pilot scoring and 20th in Top Scoring Contestants.

The evening was capped off with Coach Skip Bailey being selected as the NIFA National Coach of the Year. Skip is the third UNO coach to win the National Coach of the Year Award. Scott Vlasek in 2014 and 2022, and Ryan Guthridge in 2018.

Coach Bailey said, “I am honored and very humbled to be named National Coach of the Year, but more importantly I am extremely proud of the way our team competed this year at SAFECON. We are a young team, and we had some very challenging weather conditions all week. Our team handled themselves safely and professionally and still competed at the highest level, challenging the top teams in the country. We will build on this finish and continue to maintain the high standards we expect of ourselves next year.”

SAFECON Championship

  1. Embry Riddle Aero. Uni. – Prescott
  2. University of North Dakota
  3. Southern Illinois University
  4. The Ohio State University
  5. Western Michigan University
  6. Embry Riddel Aero. Uni. – Daytona
  7. United States Air Force Academy
  8. Oklahoma State University
  9. Kent State University
  10. Purdue University
  11. LeTourneau University
  12. Kansas State University – Salina
  13. University of Nebraska at Omaha

For more information on the UNO Flying Mavs, please contact Mr. Skip Bailey at lbaileyjr@unomaha.edu or 402-554-6722. A complete list of results from the 2024 SAFECON can be found on the NIFA website at https://www.nifa.aero/national-safecon