The Competition at VERTICON: 2026 Results
Aviation maintenance students and professionals took to the VERTICON exhibit floor this week for The Competition, where 19 teams competed across nine hands-on maintenance events over a day and a half. Designed to mirror real-world aviation maintenance tasks, the challenges tested participants’ technical skills, precision, and teamwork.
Top Overall
Rising Aviation High School
Category Winners
Military Category
First Place: United States Army – 128th Aviation Brigade – Team Blackhawk
Commercial Category
First Place: Horizon Air – Team 1
School Category
First Place: Rising Aviation High School
Professionalism Awards
The Competition also recognizes the teamwork and professionalism that define the aviation maintenance community.
AMC Peer Team Award (determined by team vote): Team #19 Putnam City Aviation Academy
AMC Professionalism Award (determined by judge vote)
Professional: Hayden Libhart – Team #8 United States Army – 128th Aviation Brigade – Team Blackhawk
Student: Garret Moore – Team #14 Rising Aviation High School
Scholarship
The Competition also celebrated the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals through the Phoebe Omlie Scholarship, awarded annually to support students pursuing careers in aviation maintenance.
Provided by AMC ($1,000): Jacqueline Venters – Idaho State University
Event Awards
- Av-DEC Antenna Gasket Installation:
Top Professional Team: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk
Top School Team: Rising Aviation High School - FedEx Express Safety Wiring:
Top Professional Team: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk
Top School Team: Rising Aviation High School - Moeller Aerospace Click-Loc Challenge: We Won’t Back Off:
Top Professional Team: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk
Top School Team: Rising Aviation High School - MOHR Electrical Wire Harness Testing:
Top Professional Team: Horizon Air – Team 1
Top School Team: The Mischeifs - Snap-on Precision Torque Application:
Top Professional Team: Horizon Air – Team 1
Top School Team: Utah State University - USA Borescopes Borescope Inspection:
Top Professional Team: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk
Top School Team: Rising Aviation High School - Southwest Airlines Thrust Reverser Troubleshooting:
Top Professional Team: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk
Top School Team: Rising Aviation High School - Aviation Technician Education Council & Choose Aerospace General Maintenance Challenge:
Top Professional Team: Horizon Air – Team 1
Top School Team: Rising Aviation High School - Southwest Airlines Tire and Wheel Inspection:
Top Professional Team: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk
Top School Team: Rising Aviation High School
Congratulations to all teams who participated in this year’s Competition, and thank you to the sponsors, judges, and volunteers who helped make another successful event at VERTICON possible.
While teams celebrate their achievements at The Competition @ VERTICON, the council is finalizing preparations for The Competition at MRO Americas in Orlando next month. There's still time to get involved, e-mail tarra.ruttman@amccompetition.com to see how.
Don't miss out for 2027! Planning for next year's competition series is already underway, view the prospectus below to see how you can get involved.