The Competition at VERTICON 2026, Presented by Snap-on


The 2026 Competition @ VERTICON, powered by Vertical Aviation International will take place on the VERTICON show floor. Three-member teams will compete in maintenance events intended to test skill and knowledge required of an aviation maintenance technician.

For more information on the show, exhibit hall hours, and programming, visit https://verticon.org.

The tentative schedule of events (subject to change as the event date nears) is as follows:

Monday, March 9

  • 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM: Attendee Registration, Convention Center

  • 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Competition Move-in (event sponsors and judges only)

  • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Judge Briefing (judges only)

  • 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Competitor Orientation (competitors, coaches, and judges only)

    Orientation is not mandatory for competitors, but it is strongly suggested that at least one team representative attend to pick up wrist bands and submit any necessary liability forms.

Tuesday, March 10

  • 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM: Attendee Registration, Convention Center
  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Competitor Walk-through 

    Competitors have the opportunity to get a close-up look at each event and ask further questions. If practical and as time allows, the event’s judge may offer tutorials.

  • 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM: The Competition

    The Competition consists of 15-minute stages where team members will compete in a group of events simultaneously. The start and end time for each stage and the team numbers assigned to each event will publish soon. STAGES WILL BEGIN ON TIME.

​Wednesday, March 11

  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: The Competition

  • 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Award Ceremony

  • 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Competition Break-down

The competition consists of 15-minute stages where teams will compete in a group of events simultaneously. The event schedule provides the start and end time for each stage, and the team numbers assigned to each event for each stage. Numbers within the table indicate team numbers (team numbers will be assigned by mid-February). EVENTS WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT THE DESIGNATED START TIME AND END AT THE DESIGNATED END TIME. TEAMS ARRIVING LATE WILL NOT RECEIVE DISPENSATION.

Credits Price
Commercial Airline Team
$1,000.00
General Aviation Team
$1,000.00
Military Team
FREE
MRO/OEM Team
$1,000.00
School Team
$500.00
Space Team
$1,000.00

Teams are responsible for assigning competitors to compete in each event. The number of competitors required, as well as instruction and judging criteria, will provided in the event criteria linked below. Competitors may contact judges directly with questions on a specific event. Competitors are encouraged to check back often for revisions (last revision date at the bottom of each page). 

1
Av-DEC® Antenna Gasket Installation
2
FedEx Express Safety Wiring
3
Moeller Aerospace Click-Loc® Challenge – We Won’t Back Off
4
MOHR Electrical Wire Harness Testing
5
Snap-on  Precision Torque Application
6
USA Borescopes Borescope Inspection 
7
Southwest Airlines  Thrust Reverser Troubleshooting
8
Aviation Technician Education Council and Choose Aerospace General Maintenance Challenge
9
Southwest Airlines Tire and Wheel Inspection 

1. Horizon Air - Team 1 Commercial Airline Team
2. Horizon Air - Team 2 Commercial Airline Team
3. U.S. Air Force - 58 AMXS Nightstalkers Military Team
4. U.S. Air Force - 58 AMXS Phantoms Military Team
5. United States Air Force - Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex - Team 1 Military Team
6. United States Air Force - Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex - Team 2 Military Team
7. United States Air Force - 60 MXG Military Team
8. United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk Military Team
9. Amplifi - Team 1 School Team
10. Amplifi - Team 2 School Team
11. Amplifi - Team 3 School Team
12. The OHC Aviators School Team
13. US Aviation Academy School Team
14. Rising Aviation High School School Team
15. Utah State University School Team
16. Idaho State University- Shecanics School Team
17. Idaho State University - College of Technology School Team
18. Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Chicago School Team
19. Putnam City Aviation Academy School Team
20. Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Atlanta School Team
21. San Diego Miramar College School Team
22. San Bernardino Valley College School Team
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For More Information:

Tarra Ruttman

Tarra Ruttman

Administrative Director, Aerospace Maintenance Council