Registration Lifts Off for The Competition Presented by Snap-on® 2026

Kenosha, Wis., September 5, 2025 – The Competition Presented by Snap-on is back for 2026, with registration officially opening October 1!

The Competition Presented by Snap-on, and hosted by the Aerospace Maintenance Council (www.amccompetition.com), gives teams of maintenance professionals, international military personnel and aviation maintenance students the chance to test their skills against those of their peers. The Competition includes challenges in areas such as avionics; safety wiring; fiber optics/flight control rigging; hydraulics; jet engine troubleshooting; workplace safety SMS; and other tasks. Teams have 15 minutes to accurately complete each task; competitors that finish their tasks up to safety standards in less than the allotted time receive higher scores with points deducted for any errors. 

The event runs concurrently with the MRO Americas convention, North America’s largest gathering of the aviation maintenance community. Both will take place April 20-23, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, and admission to The Competition is included with MRO Americas credentials.

For the second year, the Competition will also take place in conjunction with Vertical Aviation International’s VERTICON at the Georgia World Congress Center March 9-12, 2026. Utah State University won the inaugural Competition at VERTICON earlier this year. 

“We’re thrilled to be in the early stages of preparation for next year’s Competition,” said Ken MacTiernan, Council Vice President and Competition Chairman. “Every year we are blown away by the level of enthusiasm and talent that the competitors bring to the event, and we expect next year to be no exception.”

The team earning the overall best score takes home the grand prize in aviation maintenance – the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance. Presented by Snap-on, the coveted award signifies the highest standard of excellence in aviation maintenance. The O’Brien Award is a traveling trophy that debuted at the 2013 Competition at MRO Americas. The winning team receives the honor of displaying the trophy in their facility for a year. In 2025, the honor was awarded to Southwest Airlines-Team Herb for the second year in a row.

In addition to the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance, Snap-on provides all the tools and equipment used by the participants during The Competition and donates tool prizes to top finishers. 

This is the 13th year in a row Snap-on has served as the title sponsor for The Competition at MRO Americas and the first year as title sponsor for The Competition at VERTICON. 

“What The Competition stands for is something we deeply believe in, and that’s celebrating the critical nature of aviation careers,” said Bill Willetts, Vice President of Snap-on Industrial and Aerospace Maintenance Council board member. “Through our partnerships with technical education institutions and NC3, Snap-on plays an active role in promoting aviation careers and all skilled trades. This partnership with The Competition has moved the industry forward, and we will do our part to continue making it a success.”

Snap-on works closely with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) to promote and facilitate its technical education program to high schools and tech colleges. NC3 is a network of education providers and corporations that, together, embody passion for innovative career and technical education models to produce a sustainable, highly-skilled workforce.

Team registration opens Oct. 1 at https://www.amccompetition.com/competitions/amcc-2026-mro.

For more information about Snap-on, call 877.740.1900, or visit https://www.snapon.com/Aviation. For more information on The Competition, visit www.amccompetition.com.

Snap-on / AMC Media Contacts:               

Steve Staedler
262-754-9550
steve@lepoidevinmarketing.com
    
Tarra Ruttman
888-503-2914
team@amccompetition.com

About Snap-on Industrial
Snap-on Industrial is a division of Snap-on Incorporated, a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, diagnostics, equipment, software and service solutions for professional users. Products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as customers in industry, government, agriculture, aviation and natural resources. Products and services are sold through the company’s franchisee, company-direct, distribution and Web-based channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $4.7 billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

About Aerospace Maintenance Council
The Aerospace Maintenance Council is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the aviation maintenance profession. The council’s flagstone event, The Competition, recognizes and celebrates the aviation maintenance technician, and raises awareness of the knowledge and skill required to maintain safe, airworthy aircraft, worldwide.