International Aviation Snow Symposium

2026 Agenda

 

Friday, April 24, 2026
Attendees, Students, Exhibitors & Sponsors, please note:  We open registration on Friday for those who arrive early or who are attending educational courses over the weekend.  Please know there is no requirement to check in on Friday.  Our Pre-Conference Education extends into Saturday & Sunday and our registration desk will be open both days.  Our Snow Symposium officially kicks off with our Ice Breaker Reception on Sunday at 5:00pm.  Registration will be open each day through Tuesday afternoon.

 

Pre-Conference Registration
Lobby of Convention Center
12:00pm-7:00pm

Time

 Session Title Location Speaker / Moderator
12:00pm - 5:00pm Registration Available for
Snow School Attendees
Name Badge Pick-Up		 BCC Lobby -
1:00pm - 5:00pm Advanced Mechanics Course Exhibit Level - North Instructor:
Bob Gardner
Kevin Gaddis

 

 

Saturday, April 25, 2026

 

Pre-Conference Registration
Lobby of Convention Center
7:00am-5:00pm
Time Session Title

 Location Speaker / Moderator
7:00am-5:00pm ASOS Class Registration/
Snow Academy Registration		 Lobby of Convention Ctr

-
 7:00am-8:00am Breakfast
(Breakfast for class attendees,
instructors & facilitators)
  Ballroom

- 
8:00am-4:30pm Basic ASOS 101A

Instructor:
John Ostrom
8:00am-4:30pm Advanced ASOS 101B

Instructor:
James Nilo
8:00am-4:30pm Basic Snow Academy
Classroom 1
 101D

Instructors:
Jim Moorhead, C.M.
Gary Gleichman
8:00am-4:30pm Basic Snow Academy
Classroom 2
 101E Instructors:
Brad Becker
Mike Carlson
8:00am-4:30pm Basic Snow Academy
Classroom 3		 101F Instructors:
Rich Brannon
Matt Gowat
8:00am-4:30pm Advanced Snow Academy
Please note:  It is a pre-requisite for
the Advanced Snow Academy to have
graduated from the Basic Snow Academy first		 106A & 106D Instructor:
Matt Gabbert
Ashley Thorsen, A.A.E.
8:00am-4:30pm Airport Snow Equipment Mechanic Training

 101H

Mechanics Course
Instructors:
Bob Gardner
Kevin Gaddis
8:00am - 4:30pm

Advanced Snow Equipment Mechanics Training

 Exhibit Level - North Instructor:
Bob Gardner
Kevin Gaddis
8:00am-4:30pm

Air Force Snow & Ice Control
Management Course

 106C Lead Instructor:
P. Benny Benedyk
Before 11:30am

2026 Class Photos
To be taken within individual classrooms

 Classrooms  
 12:00pm-1:00pm  Lunch
(Lunch for class attendees,
instructors & facilitators)		 Ballroom   -
5:00pm-6:00pm Snow Symposium Committee Meeting Ballroom  Jim Moorhead, C.M.

 

 

Sunday, April 26, 2026

 

Pre-Conference Registration
Lobby of Convention Center
7:00am-5:00pm
Time Session Title

 Location Speaker / Moderator
7:00am-8:00am Breakfast
(Breakfast for class attendees,
instructors & facilitators)		 Ballroom -
12:00pm - 5:00pm Exhibitor Registration Lobby of Convention Ctr -
8:00am-4:30pm Basic ASOS 101A Instructor:
John Ostrom
8:00am-4:30pm Advanced ASOS 101B Instructor: 
James Nilo
 8:00am-4:30pm

Basic Snow Academy
Classroom 1

 101D Instructors:
Jim Moorhead, C.M.
Gary Gleichman
8:00am-4:30pm

Basic Snow Academy
Classroom 2

 101E Instructors:
Brad Becker
Mike Carlson
8:00am-4:30pm

Basic Snow Academy
Classroom 3

 101F Instructors:
Rich Brannon
Matt Gowat
8:00am-4:30pm

Advanced Snow Academy
Please note:  It is a pre-requisite for the
Advanced Snow Academy to have graduated
from the Basic Snow Academy first

 106A & 106D Instructor:
Matt Gabbert
Ashley Thorsen, A.A.E.
8:00am-4:30pm

Air Force Snow & Ice Control
Management Course

106C

Lead Instructor:
P. Benny Benedyk 
8:00am-4:30pm

Airport Snow Equipment
Mechanic Training

101H

Mechanics Course
Instructors:
Bob Gardner
Kevin Gaddis
8:00am - 4:30pm

Advanced Snow Equipment Mechanic Training

Exhibit Level - North

 Instructors:
Bob Gardner
Kevin Gaddis
12:00pm-1:00pm

Moderators & Ambassadors Luncheon
(Lunch for conference ambassadors
& moderators only)

109

  -
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Lunch
(Lunch for class attendees,
instructors & facilitators)

Ballroom

  -

First Timer Orientation
Are you a first time attendee at the Snow Symposium?  Join us on Sunday at
3:00pm in the ballroom as the SnoPo Committee provides a conference
overview, what not to miss and answers any questions you may have!
Main Ballroom

~Pre-Conference Education Courses End~

International Aviation Snow Symposium Begins!
with our Ice Breaker with Exhibitors from 5:00pm - 8:00pm in the Exhibit Hall

Please note:  The International Aviation Snow Symposium Registration is separate from our pre-conference education courses.  Click Here to register for the Snow Symposium which begins on Sunday evening with our Ice Breaker Reception
5:00pm-8:00pm

Ice Breaker with
Exhibitors

Exhibit Hall

 -

Join Us for the SnoPo Wing Challenge
at our Ice Breaker & Cheer on your Winner!!

 

 

Monday, April 27, 2026

 

Snow Symposium Registration Opens
Lobby of Convention Center
7:00am-4:00pm
Time Session Title

 Location Speaker / Moderator
7:00am-8:00am

Breakfast

 

Ballroom

-
8:00am - 12:00pm

Advanced Snow Equipment Mechanics Course

 Exhibit Level - North

Instructor:
Bob Gardner
Kevin Gaddis
8:00am - 4:00pm

Advanced Snow Academy Final Exam

 106A & 106D

Instructor:
Matt Gabbert
Ashley Thorsen, A.A.E.
 8:15am-9:00am

 Opening Remarks

 Ballroom

Anthem Singer:
Christian Kramer
Opening Remarks:
Sean Hammer, A.A.E.
Jim Moorhead, C.M.
Russ Stark
9:00am-10:00am General Session I
Balchen Post Awards

 

  Ballroom

Moderator
Jim Moorhead, C.M.
Speakers
Tim Haizlip
Alex Gertsen

2026 NEC Scholarship & Grant Winners!
Join us in the Exhibit Hall at 10:00am in front of the Grand Prize Display for a photo with our Leadership!
 10:00am-5:00pm

Exhibit Area Open

Exhibit Hall

  -
10:00am-11:00am

Coffee with Exhibitors

 Exhibit Hall - 
11:00am-12:30pm

General Session II
Hall of Fame Introduction
with Legacy Snow Fighters

 Ballroom  Speaker:
Gary Gleichman

Moderator:
Todd Rushing
12:30pm-2:00pm

Lunch with Exhibitors

 Exhibit Hall   
2:00pm-3:00pm

Track 1:
Small Hub Operations
& Maintenance

101B

Speakers:
Matt Humphreys
Roanoke Regional
Airport Commission 
Brad Becker
MBS International
Airport
2:00pm-3:00pm 

Track 2:
Medium & Large Hub Operations
and Maintenance

 101C

Speakers:
Matt Gabbert
Jim Moorhead, C.M.
Richard Brannan
Mike Carlson
2:00pm-3:00pm

Track 3:
GA Airport Operations
& Maintenance

 101F

Speakers:
Justin Lamb
2:00pm-3:00pm

Track 4:
Balchen Post Award Process

 101G

Speaker:
Tim Haizlip
Alex Gertsen
3:00-4:30pm

Ice Cream Social with Exhibitors

 Exhibit Hall

-
4:15pm Drawings with Exhibitors Exhibit Hall

-

 


Tuesday, April 28, 2026

 

Snow Symposium Registration
Lobby of Convention Center
7:00am-4:00pm
Time Session Title

 Location Speaker / Moderator
7:00am-8:00am

Breakfast with Exhibitors

 

Exhibit Hall

-
8:00am-10:00am 

 Military Breakout Session
AF CE Vehicle/Snow Control 
Program Manager

 

 106B

Speaker:
P. Benny Benedyk
8:00am-9:15am

General Session III:
FAA Winter Safety & AC Update

 Ballroom

Speakers:
Caroline Bonynge

Moderator:
TBA
 9:15am-10:00am

Coffee with Exhibitors 

 Exhibit Hall

 -  
10:00am-11:00am 

Track 1:
FAA Advisory Circular Requirements 

  101B

Speakers:
Caroline Bonynge

Moderator:
TBA
 10:00am-11:00am

Track 2:
Cooperative Contracts for Purchasing Solutions

 

  101C

Speakers:
Todd Rushing

Moderator:
TBA
10:00am-11:00am 

 Track 3:
ACRP Project 04-37 Aviation Safety Culture

 101F

  Speaker:
TBA

Moderator:
TBA

10:00am-11:00am

Track 4:
Airport Winter Ops Requirements

101G

Speaker:
TBA

10:00am-11:00am

SAE-Airport Snow & Ice Control Equipment
G-15

 

106C

 Speaker:
Kevin Gaddis

11:00am-1:00pm

Corporate Appreciation Lunch
 & Keynote Speaker

Ballroom

  Moderator:
Matt Gabbert
Jim Moorhead, C.M.
Ashley Thorson, A.A.E.

1:15pm-2:15pm

General Session IV:
Roundtable Discussion with FAA and Airport Leaders

Ballroom

Speakers:
TBA
Moderator:
Ashley Thorson, A.A.E.

2:00pm-4:00pm

Military Breakout Session

106B

Speaker:
P. Benny Benedyk

2:15pm-4:00pm

Final Visit with Exhibitors
Grand Prize Giveaway
*Must be present to win!*

Exhibit Hall

-

4:00pm-4:15pm

Snow Plow Rodeo Driver Meeting

106A

Instructors:
Tim Haizlip
Candace Spillers-Wood
Gary Gleichman
Matt Humphreys

4:15pm

Exhibitor Breakdown

Exhibit Hall

 Todd Rushing

4:15pm-9:00pm

Niagara Falls USA/Canada Self-Guided Tour
Meet us at the main entrance of the BCC, bus boarding begins at 4:15pm!
Departure at 4:30pm

PLEASE NOTE:  Those signing up for the Canada
tour should anticipate 1-2 miles of walking while on the tour

 Departure:
BCC

Return:
Hyatt 

Tour Contacts:
US Tour
TBA
CA Tour
TBA

4:30pm

Buses depart from the BCC at 4:30pm for Tours
Reminder to those taking the Canada Tour to bring your Passport!

*Return trip will be to the Hyatt*

 Buffalo
Convention
Center Lobby 		  

 

 

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

 

Time Session Title

 Location Speaker / Moderator
7:30am-9:30am

Breakfast

Ballroom

-
Attention All Rodeo Drivers!
Those who have signed on to be a driver in our 2025 SnoPo Rodeo should plan to gather in the lobby of the convention center to take the first bus over to the airport at 8:00am!  Those who miss the bus may lose their ability to participate.
8:30am Rodeo Transportation
Buses will begin looping between the BCC &
Buffalo International Airport every half hour through 4:00pm		 Busses will board
outside of Convention
Center		 - 
9:30am-4:00pm

Snow Plow Rodeo & BBQ

 BUF Airport - 
4:00pm-8:00pm

SnoPo Closing Celebration
NEW FOR 2026!

 Big Ditch Brewing
55 East Huron St.
Buffalo, NY 14203




Click Here To Register!

 

 

 

Questions?

[email protected] | (518) 313-1141