The Competition presented by Snap-on brings today’s top maintenance technicians and tomorrow’s rising stars to the MRO Americas convention this month in Orlando.
By Steve Staedler
Nearly 90 aviation maintenance teams from around the world will converge in Orlando next week (April 21-23, 2026) for The Competition presented by Snap-on, the premier aviation skills contest that’s held annually at the MRO Americas convention.
The event attracts heavy hitters such as United Airlines, Air Canada, Southwest Airlines and several other organisations across the aviation industry, all competing to see who’s best in the business.
On paper, these major airlines may seem to have the upper hand, but one team from Texarkana, Texas, believes it has what it takes to compete with the industry giants.
Brandon Sanders, director of aviation at Texarkana College, said: “We believe fundamentally that competition drives excellence. Our students are learning, and when you put them up next to techs from United or Southwest, that experience is going to help them get better. Not to mention, they get to see more seasoned technicians at work. It’s going to be a great environment for our students.”
Named after the city located in eastern Texas right along the Arkansas border, Texarkana College is a first-time entrant into The Competition. Its A&P Part 147 programme merges both classroom and online learning for its 50 students – a number that continues to grow.
“We want to keep elevating our programme, and being at The Competition is a great way to do that,” Sanders said. “This is our first time there… I think we’ll hold our own and do well.”
The Olympics of aircraft maintenance
Entering its 13th year, The Competition has been described as “the Olympics for the aviation maintenance industry”, as it provides a venue for professional AMTs and students to come together in friendly competition, test their skills against each other and give a loud shout-out to their presence in the industry.
The event is coordinated by the Aerospace Maintenance Council (AMC), a non-profit organisation that recognises and celebrates aviation maintenance technicians and raises awareness of the knowledge and skill required to maintain safe, airworthy aircraft. The Council also hosts a skills competition at the VERTICON trade show in March.
John Goglia, AMC president and former National Transportation Safety Board member, said: “The Competition tests the skills required for both basic and very detailed performance-based tasks. There are also events that require techs to use their minds. In aviation, it’s not just mechanical dexterity that gets you through the day, you must also use your head and think. That’s what aviation maintenance is all about, using your hands and head to come to a solution.”
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Participating teams compete in six divisions: Commercial Aviation, General Aviation, Space, Military, MRO/OEM and School, which attracts teams from the country’s top A&P schools.
Events include a wide range of skills that technicians face every day on the job, including airframe damage inspection, composite repair, engine fan blade removal, fuel tank entry precautions and others.
Each event has a 15-minute time limit, resulting in exciting, fast-paced action and great drama for spectators to watch.
All teams in Orlando will be chasing the top prize in aviation maintenance: The William F ‘Bill’ O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance. Presented by Snap-on, the O’Brien Award is a travelling 5-foot trophy bestowed to the team with the best overall score. In addition to the trophy, teams will also be vying for tools and equipment prizes. Last year, Southwest Airlines Team Herb captured the O’Brien Award for a second straight year.
The Competition/Snap-on partnership
Contributing to the continued success of The Competition is its longstanding partnership with Snap-on, a company that strongly believes in encouraging professional development of AMTs and student technicians.
Bill Willetts, vice president of Snap-on Industrial and AMC board member, said: “The Competition and Snap-on share the values of teamwork, dedication and professionalism embodied by all aircraft technicians. Together with The Competition, we have helped shine a spotlight on the critical role technicians perform every day while also advocating career paths in aviation and all skilled trades.
“The Competition at VERTICON last month was a great success, and I know the event next week at MRO Americas will be just as terrific for participating teams and the aviation maintenance industry as a whole.”
As the presenting sponsor for both events, Snap-on donates more than $150,000 in tools and equipment prizes to top finishers annually.
Additionally, more than 50 other companies, educational institutions, community organisers and countless individual volunteers contribute time, resources, prizes and airline miles to make these two events a success.
Other top-tier sponsors include American Airlines, Pratt & Whitney, Southwest Airlines and RH Aero Systems.
Promoting Canadian aircraft maintenance and engineers (AMEs)
Air Canada has been a mainstay in The Competition, but this year Canada’s flagship airline is bumping up its presence by sending two teams of AMEs to Orlando.
Darryl Best, director of line maintenance in Toronto for Air Canada, said: “We want to highlight the work Air Canada’s AMEs do on the international level. Our teams are some of the best in the industry, and being at The Competition is a great way to promote ourselves and showcase the work we do every day to keep our aircraft flying safely.”
Air Canada’s twin teams are comprised of AMEs from bases throughout the airline’s network. Best said Air Canada is partnering with other aviation maintenance advocacy groups to continue growing the career field in Canada.
The airline is also collaborating with Centennial College’s two teams who are competing in Orlando. Centennial College, which has five campuses throughout the Toronto area, offers six aviation-focused areas of study within its aerospace and aviation program.
In addition to the collaboration, Air Canada has covered the students’ air travel to Orlando. Best said the AMEs and students get together to train throughout the year, which has brought apprenticeships, friendships, networking, and elevated our AMEs into industry leaders.
“They’re a great group for us to work with,” Best said of Centennial College students. “It’s a very rewarding experience for all of us.”
The collaboration with Air Canada is a valuable training opportunity for students by giving them a glimpse of what it takes to become a professional engineer.
“This partnership sparks students’ excitement about their future careers by exposing them to real-world maintenance tasks beyond the lab, while giving them the opportunity to engage with industry professionals and gain insight into life after graduation,” said Jessica Burns, professor, aircraft maintenance and coach of Centennial College’s two teams competing next week in Orlando. “At the same time, it serves as a live interview for the airline – showcasing top students who demonstrate not only strong technical ability, but also the essential soft skills needed to succeed in the industry.”
In addition to Air Canada, Porter Airlines is also providing free airfare to Orlando for a select number of students from Centennial College.
Admission to The Competition at MRO Americas is free with show registration credentials.
If you’re in Orlando, be sure to stop by and cheer on the contending men and women working to keep air travel safe and secure.
If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor for the 2027 Competitions at VERTICON or MRO Americas, or sponsoring a specific team, visit here.
Thanks to Steve Staedler for providing this story. Staedler is an account supervisor at LePoidevin Marketing, a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based business-to-business marketing firm that specialises in aviation tooling for the aerospace industry. Steve has been covering aeronautical maintenance for more than 18 years; is a former newspaper reporter and retired master sergeant from the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where he worked maintenance and public affairs. He can be reached at steve@lepoidevinmarketing.com.
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