Northern Kentucky Schools Help Launch Careers in Aircraft Maintenance
In response to the demand for skilled aircraft maintenance technicians, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and Epic Flight Academy, a vocational school at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, are paving the way for aspiring aviation technicians.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College offers a 24-month FAA-certified comprehensive aircraft maintenance program with affordable tuition, paid work experience and an associate degree. Epic Flight Academy’s accelerated FAA Part 147 program enables students to achieve certification in 19 months. Together, these institutions are helping build a talent pipeline in Northern Kentucky that meets the aviation industry’s needs.
Passion for Aviation
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s aviation program offers flexible scheduling, scholarships and training in airframe, powerplant and avionics. It also provides connections with top employers. Graduates are prepared for careers with passenger and cargo airlines, corporate aviation, aircraft maintenance firms and manufacturers, like GE Aerospace.
An associate degree is also valuable for graduates who want to enter management and/or pursue a bachelor’s degree. High school students can start on a degree through dual-enrollment options.
“It’s so great to see what our graduates do with their passion for aviation,” says Jeff Wright, program chair for aviation maintenance technology at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. “Our graduates are working at high levels of the aviation maintenance industry, not only throughout our region but also the world – some even as entrepreneurs.”
Empowering Graduates
The aviation sector is experiencing a significant labor shortage, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a need for approximately 138,000 new aircraft mechanics by 2030.
Epic Flight Academy’s program allows students to earn their FAA aircraft maintenance technician certification within about 19 months, bypassing the lengthy apprenticeship model that often spans several years.
Epic Flight Academy’s curriculum includes hands-on experience with aircraft engines and related systems, ensuring students receive practical training and theoretical knowledge. The program’s structure involves approximately four months per course, with new classes commencing every three months, allowing for flexible enrollment options.
Graduates of the program can secure positions with starting salaries around $60,000 annually. This competitive pay reflects the high demand for certified airframe and powerplant mechanics, particularly as companies like FEAM Aero, a leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as aviation line maintenance services, actively seek to fill roles within their newly established maintenance facilities at the airport.
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