If all goes according to plan, in September 2027, Jackson County Airport (KJXN) will stand-up a non-profit to train high school juniors and seniors in aviation maintenance.
The program will initially be open to 25-35 high school students, noted Jackson County Airport Manager Juan Zapata.
Best of all, the classes will be available at no cost to the students.
Adult Students to Fund the Program
Interestingly, the plan is to fund ongoing operations by inviting adults to earn their A&P certificates in a 13-month accelerated program.
“The adult program will cost around $30,000,” Zapata said. “Enrollees will attend class seven hours per day, five days per week, for 13 months. At the end, they’ll take their A&P test.”
Zapata hopes to have the Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technicians School (ATMS) certificate later this year.
“Our plan is to start the first class of adults in January 2027,” continued Zapata.
On the student side, those enrolled will only have to supply their own coveralls, steel toe work boots, and safety glasses. The school will supply everything else, including a toolbox and tools.
“The toolbox will belong the student throughout the course,” said Zapata. “If the student is successful and passes their A&P exam, they will get to keep the toolbox and its contents.”
The Schedule
Once the program takes off, juniors will be at the airport for two hours of coursework and hands-on work every school day. Seniors will be at the airport seven hours each day.
Both grades will take normal classes in the morning and maintenance classes after.
The adults and students will use the same facilities and classrooms, but as they will be working on different schedules, they won’t overlap much, according to school officials.
We Need Maintainers
Zapata told me other Michigan-based maintenance schools are seeing high job placement rates, at nice starting wages. Many graduates are entertaining two or three job offers.
Jackson County has 15 high schools, noted Zapata. Seven are within 10-15 minutes from the airport.
Zapata expects demand to be high. He wants to help those who are truly interested and who will have a hard time paying for whatever comes after high school.
As a result, Zapata is working to figure out how best to select the initial students.
He’s taken many calls from students and their families interested in the program.
For those interested in more information, Zapata hopes to have a new page dedicated to the school on the airport’s website in the next few weeks.
What an opportunity for Jackson County students and those of us who fly airplanes.
From what I’ve heard, we need maintainers.
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