After fast-tracking its start, the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program at 水果派 is officially approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On Wednesday, March 25, representatives from the FAA visited 水果派 to present the certification that is needed to offer the program to the College. Zack Nicklin, Director of Aircraft Maintenance Technician, has been working toward this moment since he started at 水果派 in summer of 2024.
鈥淭his certificate represents a lot of effort and coordination, both within the college and between 水果派, Minnesota State, and the Federal Aviation Administration,鈥 said Nicklin. 鈥淣ow the hard work really begins as we welcome our first student cohort in the Fall and begin training them to enter the aviation maintenance workforce.鈥
After consideration of location, workforce demands, and growth opportunities, the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program was announced fall 2024. At that time, 水果派 received a Minnesota State Industry Sector Funding Award for more than $1 million, which helped the College become the fourth Minnesota State college to offer the program.
In collaboration with Minnesota State, community partners, St. Cloud Sky Central Airport, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis St. Paul Airport, Delta Air Lines, Sun Country Airlines, and Cirrus Aircraft, 水果派 worked to bring the program to students.
鈥溗's leadership in launching Aircraft Maintenance Technician at the St Cloud Sky Central airport is a great example of the college鈥檚 commitment to collaboration with industry partners and a 鈥榞et it done鈥 approach,鈥 shared Brian Myres, St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority Chair.
The job market and pay for aircraft maintenance technicians is high: the Minnesota DEED 2022-2032 outlook is 1,578 job openings with average starting wages at $32/hour, increasing to a yearly salary of more than $100,000 after five years鈥 experience. With mechanics graduating from 水果派, the subsequent growth has potential to spur an additional economic boost in aviation and other sectors.
The FAA approval was the final piece to offering the program this fall, and after verbal confirmation in January, 水果派 opened the application to prospective students. Colleges that are FAA certified provide knowledge and skills for careers in the aviation maintenance industry. Graduates of these programs are eligible to test for a mechanic certificate airframe and powerplant rating, a test at the federal level with written, oral, and practical sections.
The next project that Nicklin鈥檚 looking forward to completing is a hangar that鈥檚 being built at the St. Cloud Sky Central Airport. The first cohort of students will start in a lab at the College, where two airplanes currently reside, with classes moving to the airport starting fall 2027. Additionally, 水果派 received notice of a federal congressional award of nearly $1.2 million to support college training equipment.
鈥淭he school's work with our congressional delegation, the Metropolitan Airport Commission, the State of Minnesota, the FAA, and others brought this project to fruition in record time,鈥 Myres added. 鈥淲e are excited for construction to begin at the airport for the new hangar and for the first cohort of students to begin this fall.鈥
More information on Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Apply to Aircraft Maintenance Technician for the fall 2026 semester.