AviCom 2023
Sponsored by:
Aviation Supplies & Academics | AviNation USA | Charleston Southern University | Lift Academy | Lowcountry Aerospace Academy | National Intercollegiate Flying Association | Triple Tree Aerodrome
AviCom 2023 Official Results
Team Simulated Flight
1st - Philip Simmons High School
2nd - Pickens County Career and Technology Center
3rd - St. Joseph’s Catholic High School
Individual Aviation Knowledge Test
1st - Dennis Morozov, James F. Byrnes High School
2nd - Cason Wells, Academy for the Arts, Sciences, and Technology
3rd (tie) - Sam Sablotsk, Philip Simmons High School
3rd (tie) - Ethan McCleary, Academic Magnet High School
Individual Aircraft Recognition Test
1st - Anderson Spina, Philip Simmons High School
2nd - Braxton Anglesey, Battery Creek High School
3rd - Cason Wells, Academy for the Arts, Sciences, and Technology
Individual Best Combined Average Score
Andersen Spina, Philip Simmons High School
Images
Sponsors
Special thanks to our top sponsor!
Triple Tree Aerodrome
Sponsor of the Grand Prize. Sponsor of the traveling trophy, school trophy, and flight experience for the winning team of the simulated flight competition. Provided financial assistance for transporting teams in the Upstate to Patriots Point.
Visit: https://tta.aero/
Sponsor of testing materials and prizes for the Simulated Flight Competition and the Airman Knowledge Test.
Charleston Southern University
Lunch Sponsor and Discussion Panel Member
Breakfast Sponsor and Discussion Panel Member
National Intercollegiate Flying Association
Sponsor of testing materials and prizes for the Aircraft Recognition Test.
Dinner Sponsor
Greenville Tech Charter High School
providing scholarships for worthy students.
providing refreshments.
providing media coverage.
Other Participating Organizations.
Trident Technical College represented the aircraft maintenance and manufacturing pathway in the panel discussion.
Air National Guard represented the military pathway in the panel discussion.
Federal Aviation Administration will be represented government pathways in the panel discussion.
First Officer, Christopher Will, represented American Airlines in the panel discussion.
These organizations have donated swag: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Gleim, and University of South Carolina.
Basic Info
Who: South Carolina high school students in aviation and aerospace programs.
What: Individuals and teams of students will compete for trophies and prizes.
When: February 1st, 2023. Students will arrive on January 31st for the overnight experience.
Where: Patriots Point Flight Academy on board the USS Yorktown.
Why: To achieve the mission learning objectives.
Mission Objectives
The mission is for students to demonstrate their aviation knowledge and skills through competition aligned with the following standards:
Academic Standards
Analyze the performance characteristics of a given aircraft to operate at peak efficiency for specific atmospheric conditions (Science and Engineering Standard HS-ETS1-1).
Plan a cross-country flight, optimizing fuel efficiency based on the trade-offs between flying at different altitudes, while staying in compliance with regulations (Science and Engineering Standard HS-ETS1-6).
Use computer simulation to model a planned cross-country flight, flying according to standard operating procedures and interacting with changing conditions ( Science and Engineering Standard HS-ETS1-4).
Obtain, interpret, and apply information from official sources, including aviation maps, aircraft performance charts, airport diagrams, and weather reports (English Language Arts Standard RST.11-12.4).
Airman Certification Standards
PA.I.C - Weather Information
PA.I.E - National Airspace
PA.I.F - Performance and Limitations
PA.I.G - Operation of Systems
PA.II.D - Taxiing
PA.III.B - Traffic Patterns
PA.VI.A - Pilotage and Dead Reckoning
Competition Details
Students will compete in teams and individually. Teams will compete in a simulated flight. Individually, students will be tested on airman knowledge and aircraft identification.
Simulated Flight Mission Completion Criteria
The exact details of the mission will be revealed after arriving onboard the Yorktown. The aircraft type, departure airport, arrival airport, and weather outlook will be briefed the night before the competition. Competitors are expected to be able plan a VFR flight and use a flight simulator to execute their plan. Competitor will be evaluated on the time and fuel required to complete the flight, minus any demerits for violating regulations and standard procedures. Competitors are expected to be able to use a flight simulator to:
Taxi to the correct runway based on wind conditions.
Hold short of the runway until cleared for takeoff.
On departure, climb above 3000’ AGL to an appropriate VFR cruising altitude and hold altitude (+/-200’) until no more than 10 miles from the arrival airport unless an altitude change is required to maintain VFR or to avoid airspace restrictions.
Navigate by pilotage and dead reckoning.
Clear all obstacles by 1000’ and clear wilderness areas by 2000’.
Do not enter any controlled airspace without authorization (teams are authorized for their departure airport airspace, their arrival airport, and all Class E airspace).
Do not violate airspace speed or cloud clearance limits.
Do not exceed a bank angle of 45 degrees or a pitch angle of 15 degrees.
Do not exceed a decent rate of more than 1000 per minute.
Land on the correct runway based on wind conditions.
Stay on paved surfaces.
Taxi to the ramp.
Park in a parking space and set the parking brake.
Airman Knowledge
Multiple-choice test aligned with the mission learning objectives. The test will have a time limit.
Aircraft Identification
Students will identify twenty (20) aircraft. For each aircraft to be identified, an image of one aircraft will be shown for a few seconds and then several seconds will be allowed to select answers from multiple choices.
Rules
Student participants may be certified as Student Pilots but students must not have yet received primary pilot certification.
Individuals can not take the airman knowledge and aircraft identification test without being on a team that competes in the simulated flight.
Space is limited to ten (10) teams.
For the simulated flight competition, arriving first does not mean you win. Scoring will be based on a combination of time and fuel used minus demerits for violating mission completion criteria.
The airman knowledge and aircraft identification tests will be curved.
After the mission briefing, and before the simulated flight, students are to develop their flight plans only with the other students on their team. Teachers, coaches, instructors, and parents are not to help students with the flight plans.
Prizes and Trophies
Grand Prize: $1,000 Flight Training Scholarship and Trophy, sponsored by Triple Tree Aerodrome, awarded to the individual who has the best combined score in the flight simulation, airman knowledge, and aircraft identification.
Team Prizes for the Simulated Flight Competition
Co-sponsored by Aviation Supplies and Academics (ASA)
1st place $750 Gift card to purchase from ASA’s website
2nd place $500 Gift card to purchase from ASA’s website
3rd place $250 Gift card to purchase from ASA’s website
Co-sponsored by Triple Tree Aerodrome
1st Place School Trophy, Traveling Trophy, and Flight Experience.
Individual Prizes for the Airman Knowledge Competition
Sponsored by Aviation Supplies and Academics (ASA)
1st place for the student in the Airmen Knowledge event – Private Pilot Virtual Test Prep (ASA’s Private Ground School), ASA Backpack, E6B-COLOR
2nd place for the student in the Airmen Knowledge event - Private Pilot Virtual Test Prep (ASA’s Private Ground School), CX-3
3rd Place for the student in the Airmen Knowledge event - Private Pilot Virtual Test Prep (ASA’s Private Ground School)
Individual Prizes for the Aircraft Identification Competition
1st place for the student in the Aircraft Identification event – $200 Gift Card
2nd place for the student in the Aircraft Identification event - $100 Gift Card
3rd place for the student in the Aircraft Identification event - $50 Gift Card
Accommodations
Students and teachers will be staying onboard the USS Yorktown, which is the centerpiece of Patriots Point Navel and Maritime Museum. See the "Operation Overnight" web page for more information about what is included, what to pack, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Off-ship Accommodations
Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina is a very nice facility within walking distance of the Yorktown. Late January and early February are the off-season and rooms are typically available at reasonable rates.
Schedule
Arrival Instructions
Students and teachers must arrive on Tuesday on time to check-in before orientation which begins at 4:00pm. Sponsors and guests are not expected until Wednesday.
Display your Parking Pass upon arrival (only required on Tuesday for those staying overnight).
Address: 40 Patriots Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Cars Main Entrance Map Pin Location 1
The gate house attendant will have a list of participants.
Buses Drive past the Main Entrance. At the roundabout, take the first right, and then right again,
following signs to Patriots Point Employee and Bus Parking. Map Pin Location 2
Text Event Director on arrival (864) 735-3702
Check-in
Everyone will check-in and pick up event ID at either onshore, prior to walking down the pier, or at the Information Booth just inside the main entrance to the ship.
All participants must turn-in a signed Patriots Point Media Waiver.
All participants will receive AviCom ID with lanyard.
All students will receive an AviCom t-shirt.
Orientation
4 p.m. - Patriots Point Camping staff will provide orientation and expectations for the overnight experience.
Dinner
5 p.m. Pizza Night! All meals and snacks are served in the CPO Mess Hall below the main deck.
Evening Sessions
Teams, including teachers/coaches, and AviCom Crew will be split into Alpha Group and Bravo Group.
Alpha Group Activity Order
Simulated flight briefing (Flight Academy classroom), Teams will receive Flight Planning Kits
Simulator familiarization (Flight Academy sim lab)
Aircraft exhibit (main deck)
history presentation (Flight Academy classroom).
Bravo Group Activity Order
Aircraft exhibit (main deck)
history presentation (Flight Academy classroom)
Simulated flight briefing (Flight Academy classroom), Teams will receive Flight Planning Kits
Simulator familiarization (Flight Academy sim lab)
Flight Planning
AviCom Crew will meet to review competition logistics (CPO Mess Hall, then Flight Academy classroom).
Teams will use this time to plan their flight (any available location).
Lights Out - 11:00 pm
Reveille - 6:30 am
Teams must pack up belongings and leave them on their bunk.
Breakfast
7 a.m. Chick-fil-a
Teams will surrender all communication devices to their teacher/coach.
Morning Sessions
Alpha Group
8:00 am - Report to Flight Academy for simulated flight sequencing.
Teams will surrender flight planning supplies and as they leave the sim lab.
10:30 am - Report to CPO Mess for Airman Knowledge Test
11:30 am - Report to Flight Academy for Aircraft Recognition
Bravo Group
8:00 am - Report to CPO Mess Hall for Airman Knowledge Test.
9:00 am - Report to Flight Academy for Aircraft Recognition Test.
9:30 am - Stay in Flight Academy for simulated flight sequencing.
Teams will surrender flight planning supplies and as they leave the sim lab.
Teachers/Coaches
8:00 am - Professional Development with Patriots Point Staff. Meet at the Information Booth.
10’ish Snack Break
Professional Development (continued) and then photo opportunities.
Sponsors and Guests
Check-in at Information Booth
Browse the museum exhibits
Limited access to Flight Academy - Check with the following people for access.
Event Chief Mate - Craig Martin
Event Steward - Jean Shew
Take lots of pictures..
Lunch
12:00 - Sandwich Trays. All are invited to lunch.
Communication devices returned to students.
Panel Discussion
All gather in the main theater at 1:00 pm
Panel Members
Discussion Leader: Bryan Haffey, Dean of Academics at St. Josephs Catholic School, Certified Flight Instructor, FAASTeam Representative
James (Jim) Borgaard, Lead Recruiter at LIFT Academy, in Indianapolis, Indiana
Technical Sergeant Mark J. Gregory, Production Recruiter for the South Carolina Air National Guard stationed at McEntire Joint National Guard Base
James (Lanny) Cline, Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration based in Columbia, South Carolina
George Greene, Associate Dean of Manufacturing & Maintenance at Trident Technical College located in the South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center, located in North Charleston.
Lloyd Richardson, Chair of the Department of Aeronautics at Charleston Southern University.
Christopher (CJ) Will, First Officer for American Airlines.
Awards Ceremony
Robb Williams, Executive Director of Triple Tree Aerodrome, will present the awards.
Closing Remarks
Doug Adomaits, Aviation Educator at Greenville Technical Charter High School, will give closing remarks.
“There can only be one first time.”