Mohawk Valley Community College aviation maintenance students traveled to Atlanta April 8-10, 2025, for the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC), an opportunity for current and future aviation maintenance professionals to showcase their skills and see how they stack up against their peers. The competition is held in conjunction with Aviation Week’s annual MRO Americas, the world’s largest gathering of the aviation maintenance community.

The members of MVCC’s team — pictured above with Aerospace Maintenance Council President John Goglia and Director of MVCC Aviation Programs Walt Constantini — are all students on track to complete the Airframe and Powerplant Technician Certificate. From left: Charles Lewis of Hamburg, N.Y.; Benjamin Levinstein of Corfu, N.Y.; John Goglia; Railey Ehart of Remen, N.Y.; Jared Keeley of Baldwinsville, N.Y.; Justin Talavera of Schenectady, N.Y.; and Walt Constantini.

The team was sponsored A&P Master Images, Utica, N.Y.; All Jets Maintenance, Caribbean & Florida; Bombardier Aerospace; CommuteAir, United Express Airlines; JetNet LLC, Utica, N.Y.; Million Air, Griffiss, Rome, N.Y.; Piedmont Airlines; Richmor Aviation, Schenectady, N.Y.; and Right Brother Aviation, Rome, N.Y.

During the competition, five-member teams compete in one of six categories: commercial aviation, general aviation, space, education, military, and repair and manufacturing. In total, there were 86 teams — both college and professional — competing in 27 maintenance skill events. MVCC’s team finished fifth out of 40 college teams and 21st overall. Here are their top results:

• Railey Ehart was awarded the Phoebe Omlie Scholarship provided by American Airlines for $2,500. The scholarship is named for the first woman to receive an FAA aircraft mechanic’s license in 1927. Notably, Ehart also is the first woman to make the MVCC team since the College started competing in 2016.
• APU Starter (American Airlines) — MVCC placed second in the Education Category and seventh overall.
• Avionic/Electrical Troubleshooting (GlennCo Aviation Training Company) — MVCC placed second in the Education Category and seventh overall.
• PPG Transparencies — MVCC placed third in the Education Category and 20th overall.
• Fuel Nozzle Replacement (Pratt & Whitney) — MVCC placed fourth in the Education Category and 12th overall.
• Daniels Manufacturing Corporation — MVCC placed fourth in the Education Category and 12th overall.
• E-Drill Fastener Removal (Perfect Point) — MVCC placed fourth in the Education Category and 17th overall.
• D-Nose Leading Edge Sealing (Gore) — MVCC placed seventh in the Education Category and 24th overall.
• Thrust Reverser Control Fault Troubleshooting and Repair (Southwest Airlines & Barfield) — MVCC placed ninth in the Education Category and 17th overall.
• Safety Wire (FedEx) — MVCC placed ninth in the Education Category and 30th overall.
• Click-Loc Challenge (Moeller Aerospace) — MVCC placed 10th in the Education Category and 33rd overall.

About MVCC's Aviation Maintenance Programs

MVCC’s Airframe and Powerplant Technician Certificate program is one of only a few one-year programs in the country. Based a short distance from MVCC’s campus in Rome, N.Y., most of the instruction takes place in the College’s state-of-the-art aviation training center, located at 645 Bomber Drive, along the flight line of Griffiss International Airport. The FAA-authorized program (Certificate #VXYT570K) is structured as a 40-hour-per-week training program that runs in three consecutive semesters. Over the course of 12 months, students receive 1,905 hours of training that prepares them for the examinations required to be issued the FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate, while gaining hands-on experience with MVCC’s fleet of operational aircraft. The College also offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Mechanical Technology: Aircraft Maintenance. Learn more about the programs.