NIFA 2020 Competition Canceled, SAFECON 2021 Set for Oshkosh

April 2, 2020 - The National Intercollegiate Flying Association will have its next champions determined in Oshkosh, even though the forced shutdown of most universities this spring because of COVID-19 dashed hopes for the 2020 competition.

NIFA voted last week to bring its SAFECON 2021 competition to Oshkosh, using EAA facilities and Wittman Regional Airport as its base of operations. The competition involves many of the nation's top collegiate flight teams.

"In addition to various national and local limitations, schools have implemented travel restrictions, limited the congregation of groups, and/or team members have returned home," NIFA said in a statement announcing this year's cancellation and the 2021 Oshkosh site. "During this time, most teams are unable to conduct practices. This, along with spool-up time once restrictions are lifted, leads to the question of acceptable preparedness for competition."

NIFA bylaws state the competition must be held between April 1 and June 1, making a postponement into summer 2020 impossible.