Aviation Technician Education Council

What Aviation Technician Education Council does

The Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) is a U.S. non-profit trade association founded in 1961, headquartered in Jenks, Oklahoma, and serving as the sole industry body exclusively focused on aviation maintenance technician (AMT) education. Its core constituents are FAA-certificated Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (AMTS), along with aviation employers, MRO operators, training technology vendors, and secondary education programs. ATEC's mission is to promote AMT education and address the structural technician workforce shortage, which industry sources project at 24,000–48,000 workers in North America by 2027–2028.

ATEC's product portfolio spans four pillars: (1) ATEC Academy, a 10-week instructor training program running multiple 2024–2026 cohorts; (2) the Choose Aerospace K-12 curriculum and scholarship program, reaching 1,600+ students across 44 states in its first year; (3) the annual Pipeline Report co-published with Oliver Wyman, the industry's reference workforce data publication; and (4) the ATEC Journal, credential exam, and a template/resource store for Part 147 compliance (Model Quality Control System, ACS Alignment Cross-Reference Form, Operations Specifications Request Letter). Recent technology investments include a virtual reality training partnership with Xennial Digital (May 2025) and an online FAA A&P General coursework offering developed with Choose Aerospace.

ATEC monetizes primarily through membership dues and fees, with secondary revenue from e-commerce template sales (e.g., $600 non-member / $300 member pricing for the Model Quality Control System), conference and academy tuition, and webinar subscriptions. Distribution is direct-to-member via the atec-amt.org portal, supplemented by in-person events (Annual Conference, Washington Fly-in) and channel partnerships for K-12 curriculum delivery. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by Executive Director Crystal Maguire, and is structurally dependent on its regulatory advocacy franchise and convening authority within the Part 147 ecosystem rather than on any single commercial product.

Name

Aviation Technician Education Council

Legal name

Aviation Technician Education Council

Website

https://atec-amt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) is a 1961-founded U.S. non-profit trade association serving FAA-certificated Part 147 aviation maintenance technician schools, employers, and training vendors through advocacy, instructor training (ATEC Academy), K-12 curriculum (Choose Aerospace), and workforce data (Pipeline Report).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Maintenance Education & Workforce Development

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Powerplant Maintenance & Repair (EDAOAFAB)

Keywords

• Aviation maintenance education
• Technician workforce development
• Part 147 advocacy
• Instructor training programs
• Aviation curriculum development

Headquarters

HQ city

Jenks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Fees: ATEC operates a membership-based trade association model. Membership is required for full access to webinars, Q&A resources, and store discounts. Non-members can access some content, while members receive 50% off store templates and free access to certain resources.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ATEC is a nonprofit trade association representing FAA-certificated Part 147 aviation maintenance technician schools. It provides regulatory and legislative advocacy, instructor training, workforce research, curriculum programs, credentialing, and compliance resources to build the aviation maintenance technician pipeline.

Product overview

ATEC operates as a trade association providing a portfolio of education programs, resources, and advocacy services for the aviation maintenance technician (AMT) community. The core offerings include ATEC Academy (instructor training), the Choose Aerospace Curriculum (high school pathways), the Pipeline Report (workforce research), and the ATEC Journal (scholarly publication). Additional offerings include webinars, scholarships, industry credentials, and compliance templates including the Model Quality Control System, ACS Alignment Cross-Reference Form, and Operations Specifications Request Letter Template for FAA part 147 certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Choose Aerospace: A partnership program that develops aviation maintenance curriculum for high schools and connects students to career pathways in aviation maintenance.
• ATEC Academy
• ATEC Credential

Products and services

• ATEC Academy A 10-week instructor training program that equips aviation maintenance technician instructors with practical, modern teaching strategies including active learning, behavior management, assessment techniques, and technology integration.
• Choose Aerospace Curriculum A turnkey curriculum developed by ATEC in partnership that introduces aviation fundamentals in high schools and supports registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathways into aviation technical careers.
• Pipeline Report ATEC's annual workforce data publication providing a data-driven snapshot of the aviation maintenance technician training and certification pipeline, published in collaboration with Oliver Wyman.
• ATEC Journal A scholarly publication featuring articles on technical and soft-skills curriculum integration, teaching methods, employer-education partnerships, and workforce development programs for aviation maintenance education.
• Webinars Online training courses and informative sessions on topics of interest to the aviation maintenance technician education community, with live and on-demand sessions available for ATEC members.
• Choose Aerospace Scholarship Scholarship program in partnership with SKILLED Nation that provides financial support to students pursuing aviation maintenance and technical training, with 586 eligible applicants competing for limited awards.
• Model Quality Control System A model manual template to help aviation maintenance technical schools (AMTS) without national accreditation develop an operations manual to establish compliance with 14 CFR part 147.
• ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential An industry-recognized credential that validates knowledge of FAA general aviation maintenance knowledge standards, earned by passing a comprehensive ATEC written exam.
• ACS Alignment Cross-Reference Form An Excel spreadsheet that cross-references curriculum to FAA Airman Certification Standards, helping part 147 programs show alignment with ACS requirements.
• Operations Specifications Request Letter Template A model letter template that provides all information necessary to obtain FAA operations specifications under part 147.
• Online FAA Mechanic General Coursework A new online, independent-learning option for FAA A&P General coursework developed through partnership between Choose Aerospace and ATEC, designed for adult learners including aviation educators and industry professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 803 students enrolled across 25 Choose Aerospace programs; 586 scholarship applications received; 46 students earned credential exam endorsements in 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Purdue UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2025Purdue University is conducting a study on electric propulsion and its integration into aviation technical programs, with ATEC community participation sought. ATEC is collaborating on research to understand curriculum development challenges and opportunities based on industry standards in aviation maintenance programs.
• Clemson UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Clemson University's FAA grant is funding Choose Aerospace curriculum use during the 2025-2026 academic year, supporting the high school aviation pathway program.
• Xennial DigitalcoreTechnology or Integration · 22 May 2025ATEC and Xennial Digital announced a partnership to bring virtual reality (VR) training to aviation maintenance technician schools (AMTS). This collaboration enhances workforce development by incorporating immersive VR technology into aviation maintenance education programs.
• AvotekminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Avotek, a leading provider of aviation maintenance training and technology solutions, developed and opened the Avotek Learning Center and Aviation Technology Museum in Weyers Cave, VA. ATEC members collaborate with Avotek on training systems and curriculum resources.
• FAA (Airman Certification ODA Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024ATEC advocated for and supports the FAA's expansion of the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program to include Airman Certification ODA (AC ODA), allowing eligible organizations to manage and conduct oral and practical testing for airframe and/or powerplant ratings. ATEC submitted comments supporting this FAA initiative.
• Choose Aerospace (SKILLED Nation / SkillPointe Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ATEC partners with Choose Aerospace and SKILLED Nation (formerly SkillPointe Foundation) to operate the Choose Aerospace Scholarship program, which in its first year reached more than 1,600 students and received 586 eligible scholarship applications from 44 states and 120+ school campuses.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Operates FAA Part 147 aviation maintenance technician programs at its Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses. Directly comparable as a Part 147 AMT educator participating in the same regulatory and workforce pipeline that ATEC coordinates.
• Aviation Institute of Maintenance: Largest chain of FAA Part 147 aviation maintenance technician schools in the U.S. with multiple campuses. Comparable to ATEC member schools in curriculum, regulatory alignment, and workforce outcomes.
• Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: Operates FAA Part 147 AMT programs alongside aviation degree offerings. Comparable as a Part 147 member school that depends on ATEC's advocacy, credentialing pathways, and scholarship pipelines.
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics: FAA Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school with a long operating history. Comparable as an institutional ATEC member school participating in the same credentialing and regulatory ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA): Trade association representing general aviation manufacturers. Comparable as a broader aviation industry trade group with overlapping membership in aviation workforce policy and engagement with the FAA, though focused upstream on manufacturing rather than technician education specifically.
• CAE: Global aviation training provider operating pilot and maintenance training programs worldwide. Comparable as a major commercial supplier of aviation maintenance training capacity that competes with ATEC member schools for student enrollment and employer relationships.
• FlightSafety International: Major aviation training organization serving pilots and maintenance technicians with advanced simulation and curriculum. Comparable as a high-end training provider addressing technician skill development within the same broader aviation workforce pipeline.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): Trade association serving the business aviation community. Comparable as an aviation industry trade body engaging with the FAA on workforce and regulatory matters, though focused on business aviation operators rather than technician education specifically.

Others

• Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE): National trade association for career and technical education. Comparable as the parent-level trade association for the broader CTE category within which ATEC's Part 147 AMT programs sit, and a potential coordination partner for federal funding advocacy.
• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit serving middle school, high school, and college students preparing for careers in skilled trades. Comparable as a K-12 and post-secondary CTE pipeline organization with overlapping aviation maintenance student engagement and competition frameworks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aviation-technician-education-council-atec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aviation Technician Education Council