Hundreds of collegiate aviators arrived at the Quad Cities International Airport for a national championship event that generated more than $2 million in direct economic impact for the region.
The Quad Cities earned national recognition for hosting the 2026 National Intercollegiate Flying Association SAFECON, according to the Quad Cities Business Journal. Sports Destination Management named the event a 2026 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism.
- The national championship event brought over $2 million in direct economic impact to the Quad Cities visitor economy.
- Events like SAFECON test student skills in flight direction, simulator proficiency, and landing exercises.
- Regional collaboration between local airports and tourism boards secured the recognition.
Held from May 18 to 23 at the Quad Cities International Airport, the competition brought educators, industry partners, and hundreds of student aviators to the area. The event is a premier national aviation competition designed to test students’ flight skills, ground knowledge, simulator proficiency, and aviation safety practices.
Competition segments included flight direction challenges, simulator flights, message-drop accuracy, approach-and-landing exercises, and written knowledge tests. The tournament showcases young pilots and prepares them for future careers in the field.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors and professional team, we are thrilled to receive this recognition and are grateful to Sports Destination Management,” said Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, as reported by the Quad Cities Business Journal.
Herrell noted that hosting SAFECON delivered for the regional visitor economy and demonstrated the power of tourism’s impact. The event was hosted in partnership by the Quad Cities International Airport and Visit Quad Cities.
“NIFA is proud to partner with local organizations and communities to create a safe, fun environment for our competitions,” said Andrew Ross, executive director of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, according to the Quad Cities Business Journal.
Ross added that local partners allowed NIFA to host one of the largest events in its 94-year history. The event brought the nation’s top collegiate aviation competitors together for a week of flights, ground competitions, education, networking, and industry engagement.
| Event Metric | Reported Data |
|---|---|
| Direct Economic Impact | Exceeded $2 million |
| Event Dates | May 18 to 23, 2026 |
| Primary Host Location | Quad Cities International Airport |
| Organization History | 94-year history (NIFA) |
“Hosting SAFECON was a tremendous opportunity to showcase the Quad Cities and our region’s thriving aviation community on a national stage,” Benjamin Leischner, chief executive officer of the Quad Cities International Airport, told the Quad Cities Business Journal.
Leischner stated that bringing hundreds of collegiate aviators and their aircraft to MLI required a substantial amount of coordination and collaboration. Visit Quad Cities continues to attract group business and sporting events to the region to support local businesses and contribute to the region’s quality of life.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
