Sarasota-Bradenton at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Sarasota-Bradenton
6
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
44.7
A&P Mechanic Institute
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Sarasota-Bradenton Metro
140
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$76,730
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.45
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 35840).
AeroMx runs a full-service maintenance shop in the Dolphin Aviation Commerce Center at Sarasota-Bradenton International, with licensed technicians handling turbine and piston aircraft, phase and annual inspections, heavy maintenance, and borescope work. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $76,730 a year, below the $79,870 U.S. median, in a metro where mechanic employment sits well under the national concentration for the job (location quotient 0.45).
Four training options sit within reach. Charlotte Technical College, 4.8 miles away in Port Charlotte, runs a day program in Aviation Airframe Mechanics. Central Florida Aerospace Academy, 64.7 miles away in Lakeland, and A&P Mechanic Institute, 65.9 miles away, offer Part 147 Airframe and Powerplant training. National Aviation Academy's Tampa Bay campus is 66 miles away in Clearwater with a 14-month Aviation Maintenance Technology program.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Sarasota-Bradenton
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Sarasota-Bradenton, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Sarasota-Bradenton
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 44.7 out of 100.
Sarasota-Bradenton Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Sarasota-Bradenton
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Sarasota-Bradenton, ordered by score. High school programs within 100 miles follow the ranking. Scores are national, out of 100, and the table after the cards shows the points behind them.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Sarasota-Bradenton.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Sarasota-Bradenton
#1
A&P Mechanic Institute
Lakeland, Florida 66 miles from Sarasota-Bradenton #105 nationally
44.7 of 100
This program suits students who want a single private campus offering combined airframe and powerplant ratings on a 15-month day or night schedule in Lakeland, Florida.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification
- Length
- 15 months
- Schedule
- day and night classes
-
#2
National Aviation Academy, Tampa Bay Campus
Clearwater, Florida 66 miles from Sarasota-Bradenton #150 nationally
39.7 of 100
This program suits students in the Tampa Bay area who want a 14-month, private-school path to FAA Airframe and Powerplant certification, training in an on-campus hangar at National Aviation Academy's Clearwater, Florida location.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 14 months (2,000 clock hours)
-
#3
Charlotte Technical College
Port Charlotte, Florida 5 miles from Sarasota-Bradenton #171 nationally
36.7 of 100
This program fits students who want the airframe rating as a standalone credential first, with the powerplant rating available separately at the same Port Charlotte campus.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- Aviation Maintenance General Technician (OCP A); Aviation Maintenance Airframe Technician 1 (OCP B); plus 1 more
- Length
- 1,350 hours
- Starts
- Next start date: February 10, 2027 (registration deadline February 2, 2027)
-
#4
Lorenzo Walker Technical College
Naples, Florida 69 miles from Sarasota-Bradenton #174 nationally
36.7 of 100
This program fits students near Naples who want hands-on airframe training in a working hangar, with a path toward full Airframe and Powerplant certification through further coursework.
- Type
- Technical College
- Credentials
- OCP A: Aviation Maintenance General Technician (AMT0706); OCP B: Aviation Maintenance Airframe Technician 1 (AMT0767); plus 1 more
- Length
- 1,350 hours
- Starts
- February 22, 2027 (subject to change)
-
#5
US Aviation Academy Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida 97 miles from Sarasota-Bradenton #201 nationally
29.1 of 100
This fits students who want a fast 16-month aircraft mechanic program with tools provided at a newly opened Florida campus near Orlando.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification
- Length
- 16-month program
- Cost
- $36,000, total program
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A&P Mechanic Institute | 44.7 | † | † | 8 | 5 | † |
| 2 | NAA Tampa Bay | 39.7 | † | † | 8 | 0 | † |
| 3 | Charlotte Technical College | 36.7 | † | † | 0 | 5 | † |
| 4 | Lorenzo Walker Technical College | 36.7 | † | † | 0 | 5 | † |
| 5 | USAA Kissimmee | 29.1 | † | 1.9 | 8 | 0 | † |
High School Pathways
High School Aviation Maintenance Programs Near Sarasota-Bradenton
This FAA-approved program is run by a high school or career center, so it is listed apart from the college ranking, nearest first.
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Florida ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Sarasota-Bradenton
Aircraft mechanics in the Sarasota-Bradenton metro area earn a median of $76,730 a year ($36.89 an hour), $210 below the Florida median of $76,940.
Sarasota-Bradenton Pay vs. Florida and U.S. Medians
The Sarasota-Bradenton median is $3,140 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Florida aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Sarasota-Bradenton
BLS counts 140 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Sarasota-Bradenton metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.45.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Aero Maintenance (AeroMx)
General aviation maintenance shop in the Dolphin Aviation Commerce Center, Hangars C5, B4 and A4, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
AeroMx is a fully insured maintenance facility at SRQ staffed with licensed aviation maintenance technicians performing turbine and piston aircraft maintenance, including phase and annual inspections, heavy maintenance, and borescope services.
Source: AeroMX- Turbine and Piston Aircraft Services (aeromx-srq.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Sarasota/Bradenton International (SRQ) recorded 2,112,417 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarasota/Bradenton International | SRQ | Small hub | 2,112,417 |
| Punta Gorda | PGD | Small hub | 957,136 |
Local Context
An Independent MRO Shop at SRQ
AeroMx operates out of the Dolphin Aviation Commerce Center at Sarasota-Bradenton International, staffed with licensed aviation maintenance technicians who work on turbine and piston aircraft. The shop's services include phase and annual inspections, heavy maintenance, and borescope work, the kind of general aviation maintenance job that keeps FAA-certificated aircraft mechanics busy outside the airline world.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Sarasota-Bradenton: Common Questions
What Schools Near Sarasota-Bradenton Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Sarasota-Bradenton?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Sarasota-Bradenton?
How Far Is Training From Where Mechanics Work?
Do Hours Working at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Certification?
More Metro Guides
Aviation Maintenance School Rankings in Other Metro Areas
Sources for School and Pay Data
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school records
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (49-3011)
- Commercial Service Airports, CY2024 Enplanements
- Aero Maintenance (AeroMx): AeroMX- Turbine and Piston Aircraft Services
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.