Over 500 Collegiate Aviators to Compete at SAFECON 2026 in Illinois
The Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois is set to host SAFECON 2026, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s premier national championship for college aviation programs. The event, scheduled for May 18-23, 2026, will bring together over 500 aviators from 30 colleges across the nation to compete in this prestigious aviation competition.
The Safety and Flight Evaluation and Conference (SAFECON) will feature competitors in ground knowledge, simulator operations, and actual flying events. It also offers achievement, safety, and scholarship-based awards. Throughout the week, participants will have the opportunity to network with aviation industry partners at booths, seminars, and sponsored meal events.
“SAFECON represents far more than competition,” said Benjamin Leischner, Executive Director of Quad Cities International Airport. “These students are sharpening the critical skills that will sustain the future of our industry and push aviation forward in ways we can’t even fully imagine yet.”
Teams earned their invitations to the national competition through regional SAFECONs held throughout the fall. The event serves as a major aviation networking conference, with airlines, aviation companies, and recruiters attending because SAFECON competitors are viewed as highly disciplined pilot candidates. Often referred to as the “March Madness” of aviation, SAFECON showcases the best of collegiate aviation excellence.
Source: National Intercollegiate Flying Association