Grand Rapids at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Grand Rapids
4
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Aircraft Mechanic Jobs, Grand Rapids Metro
110
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro Median Pay
$75,550
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location Quotient
0.22
BLS OEWS, May 2025
GRR Passenger Boardings
2,065,053
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 24340).
Gerald R. Ford International hosts a full-service repair station run by Signature TECHNICAir, covering engine overhaul, major and minor checks and avionics installations. Aircraft mechanic employment here runs light relative to the metro's size, at 0.22 times the national concentration, and local median pay for the occupation is $75,550 a year.
Four training paths sit within reach. School of Missionary Aviation Technology is 29.2 miles away in Ionia, Western Michigan University's College of Aviation is 49.4 miles off in Battle Creek, Lansing Community College is 66.5 miles away in Mason, and Andrews University adds a fourth option 78.6 miles out.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Grand Rapids
4 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 29 miles away, in Ionia.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Grand Rapids.
School of Missionary Aviation Technology
Ionia · 29 mi
- Program Length
- 12 months School website
- Published Program Cost
- $32,000 School website
Private aviation school. FAA certificate M90T074K.
Western Michigan University
Battle Creek · 49 mi
University. FAA certificate JX8T258Q.
Lansing Community College
Mason · 67 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $7,200 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 25% IPEDS
- Program Length
- 24 months School website
Community college. FAA certificate JW8T257Q.
Andrews University
Berrien Springs · 79 mi
University. FAA certificate LW5T030N.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in Michigan page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Grand Rapids
Aircraft mechanics in the Grand Rapids metro area earn a median of $75,550 a year ($36.32 an hour), $650 above the Michigan median of $74,900.
Grand Rapids Pay vs. Michigan and U.S. Medians
The Grand Rapids median is $4,320 below the U.S. median of $79,870.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Michigan aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Grand Rapids
BLS counts 110 aircraft mechanic jobs in the Grand Rapids metro area as of May 2025, a location quotient of 0.22.
A location quotient above 1.00 means these jobs make up a larger share of local employment than they do nationally.
Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul
Signature TECHNICAir
Repair station at Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Signature TECHNICAir operates a full-service FAA Part 145 repair station at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids offering engine overhaul and replacement, major and minor checks, and avionics installations.
Source: Aircraft Maintenance in Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) | Signature TECHNICAir (technicair.com)
Business Aviation
Pentastar Aviation / Avflight
FBO and aircraft maintenance support at Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Pentastar Aviation and Avflight jointly operate an FBO at Gerald R. Ford International Airport providing private jet charter, management, and aircraft maintenance support.
Source: Pentastar Aviation and Avflight Team Up to Provide Private Jet Charter (pentastaraviation.com)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Gerald R Ford International (GRR) recorded 2,065,053 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald R Ford International | GRR | Small hub | 2,065,053 | 204,807,750 |
| Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International | AZO | Nonhub | 92,510 | |
| Muskegon County | MKG | 2,729 |
Local Context
A Delta Air Lines Partner Program Nearby
Lansing Community College, 66.5 miles from Grand Rapids in Mason, is one of Delta Air Lines' partner AMT programs nationwide. Students train at the college's Aviation Technology Center and often field multiple job offers before finishing the program, according to the school.
It sits alongside three other options in the metro's reach: School of Missionary Aviation Technology in Ionia, Western Michigan University's College of Aviation in Battle Creek, and Andrews University in Berrien Springs.
A Repair Station at Gerald R. Ford International
Signature TECHNICAir operates a full-service FAA-certified repair station at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, offering engine overhaul and replacement, major and minor checks, and avionics installations. Pentastar Aviation and Avflight jointly run an FBO at the same airport that adds aircraft maintenance support on top of charter and management services.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Grand Rapids: Common Questions
What Schools Train Aircraft Mechanics Near Grand Rapids?
What Do Aircraft Mechanics Earn in Grand Rapids?
What Is the Largest Aviation Maintenance Employer in Grand Rapids?
How Far Is the Commute to Aircraft Mechanic Training From Grand Rapids?
Does Work at a Local Repair Station Count Toward FAA Mechanic Certification?
More Metro Guides
Aviation Maintenance Schools 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)
- School of Missionary Aviation Technology published program cost
- Signature TECHNICAir: Aircraft Maintenance in Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) | Signature TECHNICAir
- Pentastar Aviation / Avflight: Pentastar Aviation and Avflight Team Up to Provide Private Jet Charter
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.