For over a decade, The Competition Presented by Snap-on has served as a showcase for the knowledge, skills and integrity of the professionals working in the aviation maintenance industry. Every year sees its fair share of incredible stories, as teams compete to win titles in Commercial Aviation, General Aviation, Space, Military, MRO/OEM and School divisions, as well as the overall top prize, the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance.
This year promises to be just as inspiring, with 90 teams slated to compete across 27 skills challenges. The world will see them all compete and cross the finish line April 8-10 at the MRO Americas convention in Atlanta.
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. However, what they will not see is how this epic 3-day event is the culmination of months, if not years, of hard work from all involved.
AzulTec
Even if their fellow competitors somehow miss their vibrant teal t-shirts, the triumphant “AZUL” echoing throughout the exhibit hall catches everyone’s attention. Brazilian airline Azul has been sending competitors since the Competition returned in 2022, and they will be represented by two teams in Atlanta for the second year in a row.
The enthusiasm that AzulTec, which is the maintenance division of Azul, has come to be known for is also the team’s driving force outside of the Competition.
“Team spirit is important in our company’s culture, and it makes the difference at the end of the day, not just in the competition but in our daily routine as well,” said Regional Manager Luis Oliveira. “This team is going to the Competition to show the world how Brazilians work.”
Oliveira and AzulTec’s General Manager of Maintenance Alexandre Macena were first exposed to the Competition while employed at a different airline. They often saw the event as they frequented MRO Americas and were excited by the idea of bringing a team from Brazil. When they later pitched the idea to their employer, AzulTec, leadership was quick to support the idea.
AzulTec’s 2022 team marked the first appearance of a Latin American team at the event. This was a particularly impressive feat considering the cost of international travel and the screening required to select competitors from over 100 stations across Brazil. Building the team also had some unique steps involved, as members needed to know basic English in addition to their native Portuguese, and they needed to have a visa for travel to the United States.
Despite the challenges, the AzulTec team has won the Paul Cousins Award for the Top International Team two years in a row and sees the time and financial investment as a highly worthwhile endeavor.
“It takes eight years to be certified as a mechanic in Brazil, so technicians in this country are used to working hard and making sacrifices that ultimately pay off,” said Macena. “Our team has continued to improve, and other airlines from Latin America have seen what we’re doing and followed us to the Competition. We’re proud of our legacy, and we are looking forward to getting better and better.”
Air Force 60th AMW
Another group with a strong emphasis on team selection is the Air Force 60th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) based at Travis Air Force Base in California. This team, like many of the military groups coming to the Competition, represents a huge array of diverse talents and experiences.
“The military is an environment with a lot of different stories that you likely wouldn’t know unless you sit down and talk to people,” said Kyle Franklin, AC17 Production Superintendent. “Someone may be in their first year of service and new to a certain kind of aircraft, but that same person may have worked at a civilian airline for years and built up a wealth of expertise. You just never know.”
Finding the right combination of military and civilian experience is the challenge facing this first-time team. Using the task list from last year’s event, Franklin will begin by interviewing prospective competitors to find how they will meet each skills test’s demands. Those who move past the interview will compete in a maintenance event with the goal of determining who can best handle thinking on the fly.
“Out of the gate, we’re going to give them something they’re unfamiliar with and see if they can figure it out,” Franklin said. “We expect to see civilian equipment at this event that we don’t work with in the military sector, and the ability to adjust and problem solve is going to be critical for our team.”
While the difference between civilian and military aviation maintenance presents a competitive hurdle for military teams, it’s also one of the biggest draws for the team.
“We largely stay in our military box,” Franklin added. “And if we see something better that we can adopt, that’s something we need to go after. This will be a great opportunity for us to broaden our horizons and become even better as a unit once we get back to the base.”
Centennial College
Unsurprisingly, access to the latest information, techniques, equipment and more is also a draw for aviation maintenance schools.
Centennial College Professor Jessica Burns first experienced the Competition last year when she traveled to Chicago with her husband and his team from WestJet. At the event, she connected with several professionals and students, growing her contacts within the industry. In the months following the event, she has taken full advantage of that network of expertise, frequently posting questions on LinkedIn to learn from others in the industry and pass that knowledge along to her students.
In addition to leaving with a more robust social network, Burns came away from the event excited to bring a team from Centennial. As a former technician herself, Burns had been impressed with the level of talent from the student teams and the learning experience the event presented.
“What got me excited about the event was being in a room full of aircraft mechanics. There were teams from all over the world, professionals and students, but everyone was part of the same field,” said Burns. “During the awards, I was moved by the messages of being proud of our craft and putting safety first. That is the message I want to bring to my students.”
Bringing the first Canadian college team to the Competition was a difficult task, but Burns was up to the challenge. She put a message out to her trusty LinkedIn network explaining why the event was important to her students, and the industry quickly responded with sponsorships to make it possible for them.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) reached out right away and became a platinum sponsor with its significant donation. Porter Airlines also helped with a donation of five pairs of tickets that Centennial could auction off to cover expenses. Smart Aviation Maintenance Solutions and a variety of other sponsors provided the rest, and Centennial had everything needed to send a team to Atlanta.
The Story of the Competition
Like Centennial College, sponsorships from the aviation industry are a cornerstone of the Competition itself.
“We are so grateful to Snap-on and all of our sponsors for their continued support in this event,” said Ken MacTiernan, Chairman of the Competition. “Every year, we get a little bigger and offer more technicians and students the opportunity to participate in this event. We could not have sustained that growth without the support of our sponsors, and we are excited for what’s coming next.”
All teams in Chicago are 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 traveling 5-foot-tall trophy bestowed to the team with the best overall winning score. In addition to the trophy, teams will also be vying for tooling and equipment prizes. Last year, Southwest Airlines Team Herb captured the O’Brien Award.
Whether it’s bringing teams together from around the world or rallying a network of supporters to provide opportunities for young professionals, the Competition represents the collaborative spirit and uplifting nature of the aviation maintenance industry.
Admission to this one-of-a-kind event is free with MRO Americas credentials, offering attendees the chance to get a front row seat to the epic finale of each team’s story.
