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After the biggest turnout yet with 90 teams taking on 27 events, Southwest Airlines - Team Herb, topped them all to capture the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance two weeks ago at The Competition Presented by Snap-on in Chicago  Photo identification (left to right): Roy Luna, Matt Lehner, Kevin Shaw, Chase Lehner, Dave Swisher, Chris Grover, Chad Rhyne, Joe Chwan, Director of Worldwide Aerospace, Snap-on Industria “When Ken (MacTiernan) called our team, all the hard work, blood, sweat and sacrifices we put into this effort really paid off,” said Chad Rhyne, coach of Southwest Airlines - Team Herb. “I want to thank Southwest’s upper management team, which is so supportive and willing to stand behind us all the way. I also want to thank our fellow competitors who continue pushing us to be better. It’s competitive, but everyone is here to support each other. I got as many high-fives from other teams as I did from my own.” The crowning of Southwest Airlines – Team Herb, named after its founder Herb Kelleher, and one of two teams from Southwest in the field, capped off two days of excitement at The Competition, an aviation maintenance skills competition held at the MRO Americas convention last week in Chicago. As winners of the O’Brien Award, Rhyne and his team including David Swisher, Matt Lehner, Chase Lehner, Kevin Shaw, Chris Grover and alternate Roy Luna, have the honor of taking the five-foot tall traveling trophy with them back to their headquarters at Love Field in Dallas for the year. The trophy features a bust of Charles E. Taylor, an aviation pioneer who built and maintained the first aircraft engine used by the Wright Brothers. Sponsorship of the Award is part of Snap-on’s continued commitment to The Competition and aviation maintenance technicians around the world. “We were thrilled to see such a great turnout and incredible demonstration of skills,” said Bill Willetts, Vice President of Snap-on Industrial and Aerospace Maintenance Council board member. “Every year, myself and the thousands of Snap-on team members worldwide are impressed with how these technicians continue to raise the bar. Congratulations to Southwest Airlines - Team Herb on your hard-fought victory and to the 89 other teams who came out to Chicago. The aviation industry is in great hands.” Another historic moment at this year’s Competition was the first all-female team announced as a finalist for the O’Brien Award. United Airlines Team Chix Fix originally formed in 2018 and has been a mainstay at The Competition ever since. However, it was revealed shortly before the convention that this would be the last year for the Chix. “We came here to prove that women had a place in the aviation industry,” said Katrina Oyer of Team Chix Fix. “When we started there were only one or two other female teams, and now there are nearly 10 in this year’s field, including the first all-female military team. Our mission has been accomplished, and it’s time to move on.” The Competition Presented by Snap-on and hosted by the Aerospace Maintenance Council (www.aerospacecompetition.com), gives teams of licensed AMTs, AMEs, international military personnel and qualified aviation maintenance students the chance to test their aviation maintenance skills against those of their peers. The competition included 27 challenges in areas such as avionics; safety wiring; fiber optics/flight control rigging; hydraulics; jet engine troubleshooting; workplace safety SMS; and other tasks. Teams had 15 minutes to accurately complete each task; teams that finished their tasks up to safety standards in less than the allotted time received higher scores with points deducted for any errors. “There has been a lot of attention on aircraft maintenance lately,” said Ken MacTiernan, Chairman of The Competition. “This year more than ever, our hope was to shine a light on the professionalism of the people in this field. Don’t let the fast pace of the timed events fool you. Precision is the name of the game, both at the event and in the field, and perfection is the minimum standard.” Major Category Winners William O’Brien Award
For a full list of winners, visit Previous Competitions. In addition to the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance, Snap-on provided all the tools and equipment used by the participants during The Competition and donated more than $140,000 in tools and equipment prizes to top finishers. More than 50 other companies, educational institutions, community organizers and countless individual volunteers contributed time, resources, prizes, product, and airline miles to make The Competition a success. Other top sponsors include American Airlines and Pratt & Whitney® (Platinum); United Airlines, Teamsters and PPG (Gold). 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.
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