SIU Carbondale’s Flying Salukis Win 10th National Aviation Championship
Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Flying Salukis have won their 10th national collegiate aviation championship at SAFECON, outperforming 500 aviators from 30 universities.
A Decade of Dominance in the Cockpit
Southern Illinois University Carbondale has secured its 10th national championship in collegiate aviation, capping what the university's leadership called a legacy of excellence that spans generations.
SIU Chancellor Austin Lane announced the victory on Tuesday, praising the student aviators who earned the title at the nation's premier collegiate aviation competition.
"This achievement reflects the talent, dedication, and teamwork of our student aviators, faculty, coaches, and alum who help make our Aviation at Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the nation's best," Lane said.
The Competition That Decided the Title
The Flying Salukis earned the championship at the National Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference, better known as SAFECON. The event drew more than 500 aviators from over 30 colleges and universities to the Quad Cities airport.
SAFECON is considered the top collegiate aviation championship in the United States, according to WSIU. Student pilots competed across multiple categories, including:
- Flight skills
- Ground knowledge
- Simulator proficiency
- Aviation safety
The Flying Salukis outperformed the field to claim the national title.
Local Recognition
State Representative Paul Jacobs from Pomona publicly congratulated the team for their accomplishments, according to WSIU.
Lane closed his announcement with a message to the SIU community.
"Congratulations to our Flying Salukis on an extraordinary accomplishment," Lane said. "Saluki pride is flying high!"