Richmond at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Richmond
5
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Top Score Nearby
65.1
Liberty University
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Richmond Metro
140
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$75,100
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.24
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Area covered: Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 40060).
Richmond International Airport landed 740,177,980 pounds of cargo in 2024. Two FAA-certified repair stations serve the metro's business aircraft: Vantage Aviation, formerly Dominion Aviation Services, at Richmond Executive-Chesterfield County Airport, and Aero Industries, a Cessna Service Center at Richmond International, doing airframe, engine, propeller, and avionics work. Local aircraft mechanics and service technicians earn a median $75,100 a year, just under the $79,870 U.S. median for the occupation.
Training sits about an hour and a half away in several directions. Aviation Institute of Maintenance runs Aviation Maintenance Technician certificate campuses in Norfolk, 81.3 miles away, and Manassas, 87.2 miles away. Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, 95 miles out, and Liberty University in Lynchburg, 95.7 miles out, both offer an associate-level path. The University of the District of Columbia Community College, 98.5 miles away, rounds it out.
Top Picks
Top Picks Near Richmond
Among the aviation maintenance schools near Richmond, a pick appears only when one school clearly leads on its figure; ties produce none.
Top Pick Near Richmond
Best Outcomes Near Richmond
Highest overall score of the 5 ranked schools, 65.1 out of 100.
Highest IPEDS graduation rate of the 2 ranked schools that report one: 65%.
Richmond Ranking
Top-Ranked Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Richmond
The ranked aviation maintenance schools within 100 miles of Richmond, ordered by score. 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 Richmond.
Score bars: Outcomes (30)Cost (25)Program Depth (20)Access (15)Scale (10)
-
- Top Pick Near Richmond
- Best Outcomes Near Richmond
#1
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia 96 miles from Richmond #15 nationally
65.1 of 100
This program fits students who want an associate degree combining airframe and powerplant training with credit for life and work experience, at a large private university in Lynchburg, Virginia.
- Type
- University
- Credentials
- Associate of Arts (AA)
- Length
- 87 credit hours
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Starts
- Jan 18, 2027; Spring 2027; Fall 2027; Spring 2028 and beyond
-
#2
Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, Virginia 95 miles from Richmond #61 nationally
51.1 of 100
This associate degree program fits someone in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley who wants a partly online path to airframe and powerplant certification, with standalone certificates available along the way.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- Associate of Applied Science Degree; Airframe Maintenance Certificate; plus 1 more
- Length
- 68 credit hours over four semesters (AAS)
- GI Bill
- Approved
-
#3
University of the District of Columbia Community College
Washington, District of Columbia 99 miles from Richmond #67 nationally
50.7 of 100
This fits students who want a public two-year AAS combining airframe and powerplant training with quick certification results near two DC-area airports.
- Type
- Community College
- Credentials
- AAS; Certificate of Completion for Aircraft Mechanic's Certification
- Length
- four semesters (approximately two years) for the certificate program
- Starts
- Admission deadlines: Fall May 15, Spring October 15, Summer April 15
-
#4
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Manassas
Manassas, Virginia 87 miles from Richmond #128 nationally
41.7 of 100
Veterans and students near Washington, D.C. who want a Veterans Lounge on campus, GI Bill eligibility, and hands-on time on single and multi-engine aircraft, fit well at the Manassas campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 21 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
-
#5
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia 81 miles from Richmond #129 nationally
41.7 of 100
Students who want instructors with military backgrounds and two hangars for real aircraft training, next to Norfolk International Airport, fit well at the Norfolk campus.
- Type
- Private Aviation School
- Credentials
- Certificate
- Length
- 21 months
- GI Bill
- Approved
- Schedule
- day and evening classes
| Rank | School | Score | Outcomes (30) | Cost (25) | Program Depth (20) | Access (15) | Scale (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University | 65.1 | 27.7 | † | 14 | 10 | 0.9 |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Community College | 51.1 | 16.2 | 13.4 | 14 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 3 | UDC-CC | 50.7 | † | † | 14 | 5 | † |
| 4 | AIM Manassas | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
| 5 | AIM Norfolk | 41.7 | † | † | 0 | 10 | † |
See the full best aviation maintenance schools in Virginia ranking.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Richmond
Aircraft mechanics in the Richmond metro area earn a median of $75,100 a year ($36.11 an hour), $7,100 below the Virginia median of $82,200.
Richmond Pay vs. Virginia and U.S. Medians
The Richmond median is $4,770 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Virginia aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Richmond
BLS counts 140 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Richmond metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.24.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Business Aviation
Vantage Aviation (formerly Dominion Aviation Services)
FAA repair station and FBO at Richmond Executive-Chesterfield County Airport
Vantage Aviation, which acquired longtime Richmond operator Dominion Aviation Services, runs an FAA-certified repair station and MRO department at Richmond Executive-Chesterfield County Airport.
Source: Richmond Executive Chesterfield County Airport (FCI) FBO (vantageair.com)
Business Aviation
Aero Industries
Cessna Service Center and repair station at Richmond International Airport
Aero Industries is a Cessna Service Center and FAA-certified Part 145 repair station at Richmond International Airport performing airframe, engine, propeller, and avionics maintenance.
Source: Aero Industries | NDI Services and Full Avionics Services (aeroind.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Richmond International (RIC) recorded 2,456,422 passenger boardings in 2024, the most of the airports listed here.
| Airport | FAA ID | Hub Class | Passenger Boardings, 2024 | All-Cargo Landed Weight, 2024 (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond International | RIC | Small hub | 2,456,422 | 740,177,980 |
Local Context
Cargo Weight Moving Through Richmond International
Richmond International Airport landed 740,177,980 pounds of cargo in 2024. Two FAA-certified repair stations serve the metro's business aircraft: Vantage Aviation, formerly Dominion Aviation Services, at Richmond Executive-Chesterfield County Airport, and Aero Industries, a Cessna Service Center at Richmond International, handling airframe, engine, propeller, and avionics work.
Aircraft mechanic employment in the Richmond metro carries a location quotient of 0.24 for the occupation, below the national average concentration. The cargo moving through Richmond International and the repair work at Vantage Aviation and Aero Industries make up much of the aviation maintenance activity in a metro this size.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Richmond: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Richmond?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Richmond?
Who Are the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employers in Richmond?
How Far Is Aviation Maintenance Training From Richmond?
Do Hours Working at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA Mechanic 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
- Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Vantage Aviation (formerly Dominion Aviation Services): Richmond Executive Chesterfield County Airport (FCI) FBO
- Aero Industries: Aero Industries | NDI Services and Full Avionics Services
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.