Contest Fosters Skills Needed For Workforce Innovation

Students in the Daytona Beach Campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Aviation Maintenance Science (AMS) Department recently put two teams up against more than 40 other schools in the 2025 Aerospace Maintenance Competition.

The competition was hosted by the Aerospace Maintenance Council on the MRO Americas exhibition floor that ran from April 21-23. The AMS Department supported Team Beluga and the Altitude Aces, while Airbus and Pratt & Whitney, respectively, also sponsored the teams.

Teams competed in several categories: commercial aviation, general aviation, military, schools, MROs, and OEMs. There were 27 hands-on challenges that each tested an aspect of aviation maintenance knowledge. Despite being in different categories, the contest featured all teams competing against each other.

David Pappy, head of Fleet & Engineering for North America at Airbus, helped to coordinate the Airbus sponsorship and said that the competition fosters skills that “are critical for growth and innovation in the workspace.”

Pappy added, “Events such as these create competitiveness, operational mindset, team spirit and a sense of accomplishment.”

The Altitude Aces took first place in two challenges, the American Airlines Logo Light Harness Troubleshooting and the Abaris Training Composite Repairs Skills.

Team Beluga won the Daniels Manufacturing Corporation Tooling for Harness Assembly challenge. The team also received the AireXpert Dream Team Award that recognizes excellence in team spirit and performance, the third consecutive year a team from ERAU snagged the Dream Team Award.

Ian Wheeler, Chair of the Aviation Maintenance Science Department said, “Our students’ performance at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition is a testament to their hard work, technical skill and the strength of our program.

“To see both teams place in the top 10 and bring home multiple event wins — while competing against industry professionals and military teams — is something we’re incredibly proud of. These students are the future of aviation maintenance, and they continue to raise the bar year after year.”

FMI:  erau.edu/