By Katie Robertson
Every year during the MRO Americas convention, one event shines a spotlight on the best and the brightest in aviation maintenance.
The Competition Presented by Snap-on features 27 skills tests, including airframe damage inspection, composite repair, engine fan blade removal, fuel tank entry precautions, and others. Each team has just 15 minutes to complete the task, and their time and accuracy are scored against other competitors to find the best of the best. Teams compete to win individual events and 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. 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.
“Supporting this event is incredibly important to Snap-on, as it elevates a field with highly trained professionals, a massive impact on the safety of air travel, and not nearly enough public appreciation,” said Bill Willetts, Vice President, Snap-on Industrial.
Regardless of how they place, the event also offers a platform for the 90 teams to showcase their knowledge, skills and integrity. Admission to the event is free with MRO Americas credentials, offering the entire aviation industry the chance to see this incredible talent up close and personal.
Cherry Creek Schools
One group that is especially excited for the spotlight offered by The Competition is the team from the Cherry Creek School District in Denver. This team of high school students is ready to prove that they have what it takes to compete against groups with much more experience.
“I’ve run into some people in the industry who think that, even though our graduates are certified, they’re still too young or immature for the workforce,” said David Williamson, Aviation Pathway Lead in the district and the team’s coach. “I think events like this help to show that Cherry Creek students pull together, organize and work as a group. Their professionalism will be on full display at The Competition, and we want the industry to know that they can do it even at 18 or 19 years old.”
The Aviation Pathway is one of seven career preparation tracks available to students at the eight high schools in the Cherry Creek district. Through these pathways, students can explore different options as part of their school curriculum. In addition to confirming whether aviation maintenance is a great fit for them, students can earn their A&P license through their time in school and one additional year after high school graduation.
“We see a lot of career exploration. Some kids find it’s not for them, and they go on to study engineering, aviation business, or something like that. Some double down and get really excitedto finish their license and get out into the field. Either way, they have the chance to explore the possibility of a career in aviation maintenance and even become fully licensed for it without going into student debt,” Williamson said.
For those pursuing a career in aviation maintenance, The Competition offers a glimpse into the possibilities their futures hold and a chance to make an impactful first impression to potentialemployers and colleagues. Each competitor will be bringing their resume and an arsenal of skills that they are excited to display on the biggest stage in the industry.
Victory Lane Aviation
Another group with an impressive skillset to showcase is the Victory Lane Aviation team from North Carolina.
Flexibility is the name of the game during The Competition, as technicians have to learn and adapt quickly to tasks that they may not be familiar with. Luckily, flexibility is built into the culture of Victory Lane, where their specialty is anything that flies.
“America is the only country that says if you have an A&P license, you can work on any aircraft. We take full advantage of that while also upholding the highest quality standards,” said Ryan Shepherd, CEO of Victory Lane Aviation. “That’s why we’re pumped about The Competition,because it gives us the opportunity to showcase our team’s diverse expertise and see the diversity in the industry as well.”
As the name would imply, Victory Lane has been on the fast track to success in both the industry and The Competition. Since its founding only a few years ago, the company has doubled in both staff and revenue. The team from Victory Lane also took home the General Aviation title last year, in just their second appearance at The Competition.
In addition to his team’s strong showing, Shepherd is grateful for the recognition the event provides for the unsung heroes of the aviation industry.
“You can see other technicians supporting each other, but you can also see the support from many other people in our industry. That recognition, whether we place or not, from Snap-on and the other sponsors that put on this event shows that they are passionate and appreciative of what we do,” he said.
With the positive results the team has found in the past, Shepherd is unsurprisingly excited about the future of the event. He is looking forward to the networking opportunities in Atlanta to meet new potential customers or employees and the new challenges awaiting his team during The Competition.
He said, “They continue to add events and technology, so even if you’ve been in the industry for decades and competed multiple times, you’ll still see an event you’ve never done before. It’s not something that’s stuck in time; it keeps up with what our industry is producing and keeps the event exciting.”
See for Yourself
These two teams join the 88 others vying for the O’Brien Award, April 8-10, in Atlanta. Last year, Southwest Airlines Team Herb captured the O’Brien Award, and they will be back facing a new crop of challengers gunning for the title.
Check out this can’t-miss event and meet the stars of aviation maintenance at The Competition.
Katie Robertson is an account executive at LePoidevin Marketing, a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based business-to-business marketing firm that specializes in hand tool and storage solutions for the aerospace industries.