Top Teams Rise at 2026 Competition
If last year’s Competition set the bar high, this year proved the momentum continues.
Top teams from across the aviation maintenance industry competed at the 2026 Competition, held during MRO Americas, demonstrating the technical skill, precision, and teamwork that define the profession.
In the School category, Tulsa Tech – Adult Students earned top honors, reshaping last year’s leaderboard where Tarrant County College took first. Universal Technical Institute – Houston and Tarrant County College rounded out this year’s top three, continuing a strong showing from programs that consistently prepare students for careers in aviation maintenance.
In the General Aviation category, Aircraft Engineers International repeated as the top team, while Victory Lane Aviation improved on last year’s performance, moving from third place to second.
The Commercial and MRO/OEM categories saw notable shifts at the top. FedEx Express claimed first place in both categories, with Team Indy leading Commercial and Team MEM topping MRO/OEM, signaling a strong showing across divisions. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines remained close behind, maintaining their consistent presence among top performers.
In the Military category, the United States Army 128th Aviation Brigade continued its dominance, with Team Chinook taking first and Team Blackhawk placing second, while the United States Air Force – 4th MXG rounded out the top three.
Across individual events, familiar names remained in the spotlight. Teams from FedEx Express, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and the United States Army consistently appeared at the top of the leaderboard, reinforcing the depth of talent across commercial, MRO/OEM, and military categories.
The Competition also recognized the professionalism and peer respect that define the industry. Embry-Riddle Team 1 earned top honors in the United’s John Goglia Competing with Professionalism Award, with Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy also recognized. Centennial College – Team 1 was selected by fellow competitors for the AMC Peer Team Award, while Tulsa Tech – Adult Students earned the AireXpert Dream Team Award through industry-wide voting. Individual honors went to Tiffany Gray of the United States Army – Team Chinook and Jeremy Janes of Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy, highlighting the leadership and character demonstrated across both professional and student teams.
While the results highlight top performers, the Competition’s broader impact continues to be the collaboration across the industry to support and develop the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians.
For more information about the 2026 Competition and opportunities to get involved in 2027:
Competition Awardees
Top Overall: Team 48 FedEx Express - Team MEM
Category Awards
Paul Cousins Award (top international team): Team 84 Air Canada - Team 2
General Aviation Category
• First Place: Team 71 Aircraft Engineers International
• Second Place: Team 55 Victory Lane Aviation
• Third Place: Team 69 Textron Aviation – Orlando
Military Category
• First Place: Team 67 United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Chinook
• Second Place: Team 66 United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk
• Third Place: Team 82 United States Air Force – 4th MXG
MRO/OEM Category
• First Place: Team 48 FedEx Express -Team MEM
• Second Place: Team 75 Southwest Airlines - Team Colleen
• Third Place: Team 76 American Airlines - Team Base
Commercial Category
• First Place: Team 72 FedEx Express -Team Indy
• Second Place: Team 63 Southwest Airlines - Team Herb
• Third Place: Team 78 United Airlines - Line
School Category
• First Place: Team 9 Tulsa Tech - Adult Students
• Second Place: Team 14 Universal Technical Institute - Houston
• Third Place: Team 47 Tarrant County College
Professionalism Awards
United's John Goglia Competing with Professionalism Award (cash awards, determined by judge vote):
• First Place: Team 86 Embry Riddle - Team 1
• Second Place: Team 7 Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy
AMC Peer Team Award (determined by team vote): Team 11: Centennial College – Team 1
AireXpert Dream Team Award (determined by online vote): Team 9: Tulsa Tech – Adult Students
AMC Professionalism Award (determined by judge vote)
• Professional: Tiffany Gray, US Army - Team Chinook
• Student: Jeremy Janes, Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy
Industry Scholarships
Test grants provided by Northrop Rice Foundation ($350):
• Callum Richman, AIM Phoenix
• Alexander Ruger, UTI Houston
• Shelby Nelson, Lane Community College
• Lei Huot, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Phoebe Omlie Scholarships
(more information on the award here)
Provided by AMC ($1,000): Barbara Rivas Quezada, San Bernardino Valley College
Provided by AA ($2,500 ea):
• Samantha Tijerina, Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy
• Jeremy Lynch, Vaughn College
• Jacqueline Wilson, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Andrew Cornell, Chennault Aviation Maintenance Academy
Provided by TechForce Foundation ($2,000): Clarissa Sanchez, Charlotte Technical College
Provided by Chix Fix ($1,200): Eliza DeBry, Idaho State University
Provided by Aviation Workforce Solutions ($2,000): Trevor Hill, Liberty University
Provided by Jsfirm.org ($1,500): Ivan Moon, Eastern New Mexico University
Provided by GE Aerospace ($2,000): Austin Parrish, Florida State College at Jacksonville
Event Awards (top professional and school team for each)
Event 1: American Airlines Logo Light Harness Troubleshooting
Team 72: FedEx Express - Team Indy (Commercial) Score: 587
Team 9: Tulsa Tech – Adult Students (School) Score: 323
Event 2: American Airlines APU Burner Can
Team 48: FedEx Express - Team MEM (MRO/OEM) Score: 488
Team 31: Tulsa Tech – Aerospace Academy (School) Score: 440
Event 3: Pratt & Whitney Fuel Nozzle Remove and Replace
Team 85: Embry-Riddle University – Team 2 (School) Score: 343
Team 88: Misfits (Commercial) Score: 307
Event 4: Southwest Airlines & Barfield Acoustic Ultrasound Troubleshooting
Team 76: American Airlines - Team Base (MRO/OEM) Score: 246
Team 47: Tarrant County College (School) Score: 157
Event 5: Southwest Airlines & RH Aero Systems Antiskid System Troubleshooting and Repair
Team 47: Tarrant County College (School) Score: 169
Team 89: Plan B (Commercial) Score: 159
Event 6: Southwest Airlines & Boeing Thrust Reverser Troubleshooting
Team 47: Tarrant County College (School) Score: 195
Team 76: American Airlines – Team Base (MRO/OEM) Score: 190
Event 7: W.L. Gore & Associates Leading Edge and Panel Sealing
Team 31: Tulsa Tech – Aerospace Academy (School) Score: 226
Team 72: FedEx Express - Team Indy (Commercial) Score: 191
Event 8: Eaton Rigid Tube Assembly Repair
Team 86: Embry-Riddle University - Team 1 (School) Score: 98
Team 48: FedEx Express - Team MEM (MRO/OEM) Score: 78
Event 9: Moeller Aerospace Click-Loc® Challenge We Won’t Back Off
Team 9: Tulsa Tech - Adult Students (School) Score: 240
Team 63: Southwest Airlines - Team Herb (Commercial) Score: 202
Event 10: 8Tree & Gulfstream Fastener Flushness Inspection
Team 84: Air Canada - Team 2 (Commercial) Score: 588
Team 14: Universal Technical Institute - Houston (School) Score: 450
Event 11: Snap-on Precision Torque Application
Team 47: Tarrant County College (School) Score: 76
Team 84: Air Canada - Team 2 (Commercial) Score: 69
Event 12: Daniels Manufacturing Corporation Tooling for Harness Assembly
Team 47: Tarrant County College (School) Score: 313
Team 63: Southwest Airlines - Team Herb (Commercial) Score: 266
Event 13: Av-DEC Antenna Gasket Installation
Team 47: Tarrant County College (School) Score: 254
Team 71: Aircraft Engineers International (General) Score: 171
Event 14: PPG Transparencies
Team 19: Middle Tennessee State University - Team 2 (School) Score: 372
Team 72: FedEx Express – Team Indy (Commercial) Score: 258
Event 15: PPG Wing Sealant
Team 72: FedEx Express – Team Indy (Commercial) Score: 488
Team 20: Pintails (School) Score: 486
Event 16: PPG Virtual Reality Paint Booth
Team 39: WSU Tech (School) Score: 326
Team 63: Southwest Airlines – Team Herb (Commercial) Score: 279
Event 17: MOHR Electrical Wire Harness Testing
Team 34: Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Kansas City (School) Score: 193
Team 78: United Airlines – Line (Commercial) Score: 180
Event 18: USA Borescopes Borescope Inspection
Team 48: FedEx Express – Team MEM (MRO/OEM) Score: 580
Team 14: Universal Technical Institute – Houston (School) Score: 450
Event 19: FedEx Safety Wiring
Team 19: Middle Tennessee State University – Team 2 (School) Score: 834
Team 88: Misfits (Commercial) Score: 600
Event 20: FedEx Avionics Extract Fan
Team 19: Middle Tennessee State University – Team 2 (School) Score: 790
Team 84: Air Canada – Team 2 (Commercial) Score: 683
Event 21: WiN MS AERO Fast Wiring Diagnostics
Team 84: Air Canada – Team 2 (Commercial) Score: 55
Team 11: Centennial College – Team 1 (School) Score: 28
Event 22: StandardAero Engine Fan Blade Removal
Team 63: Southwest Airlines – Team Herb (Commercial) Score: 13
Team 14: Universal Technical Institute – Houston (School) Score: 4
Event 23: Panasonic Avionics Corporation Inflight Entertainment Troubleshooting
Team 11: Centennial College – Team 1 (School) Score: 17
Team 52: United Airlines - Base (MRO/OEM) Score: 16
Event 24: Perfect Point E-Drill Fastener Removal
Team 9: Tulsa Tech – Adult Students (School) Score: 91
Team 67: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Chinook (Military) Score: 88
Event 25: Barfield Antenna Test
Team 9: Tulsa Tech – Adult Students (School) Score: 147
Team 48: FedEx Express – Team MEM (MRO/OEM) Score: 111
Event 26: Barfield Air Data Test
Team 87: Liberty University (School) Score: 660
Team 66: United States Army - 128th Aviation Brigade - Team Blackhawk (Military) Score: 570
Event 27: Alaska Airlines Cabin Seat Repair
Team 72: FedEx Express - Team Indy (Commercial) Score: 516
Team 35: South Seattle College (School) Score: 369
Event 28: United Airlines Render Safe
Team 63: Southwest Airlines - Team Herb (Commercial) Score: 325
Team 14: Universal Technical Institute - Houston (School) Score: 273
Event 29: United Airlines Fuel Tank Entry Precautions
Team 14: Universal Technical Institute - Houston (School) Score: 369
Team 52: United Airlines - Base (MRO/OEM) Score: 277