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Amanda Charlton, Emily Hause, Emma Hughes and Regine Rose Acosta took first place in the inaugural Air Race Classic Air Derby.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A team of Western Michigan University aviation students and recent alumni is flying high after winning a cross-country race involving 85 teams of female aviators. Emma Hughes, Emily Hause, Regine Rose Acosta and Amanda Charlton took first place in the inaugural .

"To see that our team's hard work this year not only allowed us to grow closer as teammates and to have fun participating in the Derby but to bring back to Western the title ... is an indescribable feeling. It is a great honor and a memory that I will forever cherish," says Hughes, a senior from Kiel, Wisconsin, studying aviation flight science and aviation maintenance technology.

Typically a five-day event, ARC organizers chose a one day derby-style twist on the race this year and allowed teams to choose their own routes to mitigate COVID-19 spread. Teams put their flight-planning and precision-flying skills to the test, challenged to map a route that incorporated five legs totaling more than 325 nautical miles and estimate how long it would take to fly, incorporating weather, wind, terrain and airplane performance into their calculations. Then, they hit the skies.

"My favorite part of the derby was touching down in the birthplace of aviation—Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (in Dayton, Ohio)," says Acosta, who graduated with a degree in aviation flight science in 2020 and currently works as a certified flight instructor for the College of Aviation.

Once all teams completed their routes, organizers analyzed calculations and found Western's team most accurately predicted its route, finishing within 1.02% of its expected time. are available online.

"I think it really goes to show how much planning ahead and practicing (for the competition) really paid off, but I think it also does a great job of representing Western as a great school for aviation," says Charlton, a junior from Spring Branch, Texas, studying aviation flight science and management and operations. "Not only do we have a program that has one of the highest populations of female aviators, we have a fantastic program that trains pilots to be the most precise and accurate they can be, regardless of whether it is a competition or not."

"Western's program has been extremely beneficial in helping me reach my career goals," adds Hause, who graduated in May with a double major in aviation flight science and aviation management and operations. She's currently working as a certified flight instructor 51������ with aspirations of working for a regional airline before advancing to the cockpit of a major airline such as Delta or United. "(Western) does a great job of preparing you for what it will be like as a professional pilot, as well as giving ... students opportunities to network or do internships."

In addition to honing their skills as pilots, these Broncos also found a deeper sense of purpose being involved in both the program 51������ and the ARC Air Derby.

"My favorite part of the derby was how it has allowed me to take part in something that is bigger than myself,” says Hughes, who served as pilot and team captain for the competition. “Not only to participate with women from all around the world to help encourage future women aviators, but to represent Western in the best possible way with this amazing team was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." 

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