Kenosha, Wis., April 21, 2016 – Alaska Airlines’ Seattle maintenance technicians were the big winners at the 2016 annual international Aerospace Maintenance Competition Presented by Snap-on.
Alaska Airlines’ Team Seattle bested 50 other teams from around the globe to capture the prestigious Snap-on sponsored William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance, held during the Aerospace Maintenance Competition, April 5-6, at the MRO Americas Convention in Dallas. The competition is an opportunity for maintenance professionals to showcase their skills through a series of hands-on challenges.
“We spent four intense weeks preparing for this event, and we’re thrilled by the recognition,” said Alaska Airlines Team Seattle Captain Vishal Prasad minutes after he and his four teammates received the trophy.
Joining Prasad on Alaska Airlines Team Seattle were Mike Flowers, Brandon Statfield, Marvin Hitt and TJ Spring.
The William O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance Presented by Snap-on, is the grand prize for the team with the overall winning score from the Aerospace Maintenance Competition. The four foot tall O’Brien trophy will be on display at Alaska Airlines’ maintenance facility for the next 12 months. The trophy, which features a bust of Charles E. Taylor, will return to the Aerospace Maintenance Competition next year at the MRO Americas Convention in Orlando and will again be up for grabs to the winning overall team.
“There are just no cutting corners when it comes to maintaining aircraft, and that great responsibility is placed upon aircraft technicians,” said Andy Ginger, president, Snap-on Industrial. “The role AMTs play in keeping aircraft safely flying often goes unnoticed, but the Aerospace Maintenance Competition is the perfect venue to shine a spotlight on the critical work they perform every day. On behalf of the thousands of Snap-on professionals around the world, I’d like to congratulate the skilled technicians at Alaska Airlines Team Seattle, and all 50 other teams, for their accomplishments at this year’s Aerospace Maintenance Competition.
“The dedication and professionalism displayed by Alaska Airlines Team Seattle embody the true spirit of what the William F. O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance is all about.”
The Aerospace Maintenance Competition is an event that 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 24 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 in less than the allotted time received higher scores.
Snap-on is the official tool sponsor of the Aerospace Maintenance Competition; to support the event, Snap-on provided all the tools and equipment used by the participants during the competition.
Other first place winners from the competition included:
• Space Category: Virgin Galactic
• General Aviation Category: Flight Options
• School Category: Utah State University
• Military Category: United States Air Force/McChord Air Force Base
• MRO/OEM: FedEx Indianapolis
• International Commercial Aviation Category: China Southern Airlines
Individual award winners included:
• Charles E. Taylor Professional AMT Award: Dallas McLeod/Team Apache
• Charles E. Taylor Professional AMT Award (student): Gina Gottfredson-Kelly/Salt Lake Community College
In addition to the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance, Snap-on donated more than $75,000 in tools and equipment to top finishers in the competition.
Sponsoring the William F. “Bill” O’Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance is part of Snap-on’s continued commitment to the Aerospace Maintenance Competition and aviation technicians around the world.
“Snap-on makes great products,” Prasad said. “I carry a Snap-on screwdriver while at work and have multiple Snap-on tools in my toolbox.”
For more information about Snap-on, call 877.740.1900, or visit http://www.snapon.com; for information on the Aerospace Maintenance Competition, visit http://www.aerospacemaintenancecompetition.com/general-information/about/
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 $2.9 billion, S&P 500 Company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
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