Top Aircraft Technicians Crowned Winners in First AMTSociety Maintenance Skills Competition

At the 2024 Aircraft Maintenance Summit during the Aviation Industry Expo, AMTSociety, an affinity group of aircraft maintenance professionals, announced the champions of its inaugural Maintenance Skills Competition.

The event gave licensed and student A&P mechanics, as well as U.S. military personnel, a chance to demonstrate both team and individual proficiency in real‑world tasks. Nine teams competed across 11 technical challenges, while three individual events tested hardware identification, safety wiring, and knowledge of aviation pioneer Charles E. Taylor.

Team honors went to Continental Airlines (Rene Hansen, Brian Hall, Frank Dudek, Nagy Mouhanna, coach Russell Petersen), followed by Aviation Institute of Maintenance Northwest (Paulina Gregory, Eric Johanson, Don Nugent, Stephen Ritter, coach Glori Berkel), and American Airlines (Phil Firmano, James Labrecque, Robinson Torres, Joseph Haczela, organizer Dave Hayden).

Individual winners were highlighted in the three events. Steven Orville of Redstone College in Los Angeles claimed the top spot after excelling in all segments.

Other participating teams included:

• American Eagle – Hirmiz Mikhael, Shad Dell, Carlos Rivera, David Quiroga, organizer Jose Galarza
• AMTSociety Tulsa Chapter – Zack Philips, Sydney Pittsinger, Zachary Van Ness, Dustin Wise, coach Dennis Hayes
• Redstone College – Manuel Moralas, Ernesto Contreras, Jesus Murillo, Paul Cselly, coach Bob Drake
• AIM Atlanta – Lawrence Howell, Steven Morphew, William Nickelson, Michael Ferenbaugh
• AIM Dallas – Joshua Smith, Paulo R. Salazar III, Mike Cassard, Lyndol Erwin, coach John Brecher
• AIM Southwest – Alexis Martinez, Jessie Hall, Ryan Donk, Clint Eyke, coach Glori Berkel

The competition’s team events, each sponsored by industry leaders, spanned windshield inspection, hardware identification, safety wiring, avionics/electrical, piston engine troubleshooting, Gulfstream IV wheel/brake work, APU combuster inspection, electrical troubleshooting, avionics troubleshooting, and composite repair.

Judges were drawn from both sponsoring companies and respected industry experts. Highlights include:

• Windshield – Perkins Aircraft Windows, judges Brendan McMahon, Stella Rodrigues, Austin Perkins
• Safety Wiring – Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, judges Joe Hawkins (team), Curtis Johnston (individual)
• Hardware – Embry‑Riddle, judges Max Henderson (team), Gary Goodpaster (individual)
• Avionics/Electrical – Spirit Avionics, judges Rick Ochs, Justin Hahn
• Piston Engine – Superior Air Parts, judges Bill Peterson, Bill Blackwood
• Gulfstream IV – Alberth Aviation, judges Rudy Alberth, Peter Zeeb (AMTSociety board chairman)
• APU – Dallas Airmotive, judge Jeff Clarke
• Charles E. Taylor Written Test – AMT, judges Aaron Klippel (team), Brian D. Richardson (individual)
• Electrical Troubleshooting – Duncan Aviation, judge Sean Davenport
• Avionics Troubleshooting – CAE SimuFlite, judge Jim Cameron
• Composite Panel Inspection – Tarrant County College, judge Jason Ramos

Winners received plaques and Snap‑On Tools, while all proceeds supported the Northrop‑Rice Foundation’s AMT Scholarship Awards: the Charles E. Taylor Scholarship ($1,500) and the William F. O’Brien Scholarship ($1,000).

AMTSociety, founded in 2005 by AMT magazine, serves 3,000 members with certification testing, renewal programs, and industry resources. For more on AMT magazine and AMTSociety, visit AMTonline.com.