Chattanooga at a Glance
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chattanooga
6
Within 100 mi, FAA 2026
Tennessee Median Pay (Statewide)
$81,040
BLS OEWS, May 2025
CHA Passenger Boardings
557,741
FAA, CY2024
Area covered: Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 16860).
Erlanger's LIFE FORCE air medical helicopter program keeps aviation mechanics on staff through its aircraft services partner, Med-Trans Corporation, supporting flights out of Chattanooga. The metro's population reached 588,050 in 2024, and Lovell Field, its small-hub airport, handled 557,741 enplanements the same year.
Training means a drive out of town. Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Rome is 49.5 miles away. Snead State Community College in Albertville is 80.6 miles out, and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro is 82.8 miles away.
Within Commuting Range
FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chattanooga
6 FAA-approved schools are within 100 miles, nearest first. The closest is 50 miles away, in Rome.
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of Chattanooga.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Rome, GA · 50 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $2,568 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 43% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate 1CVT581K.
Snead State Community College
Albertville, AL · 81 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $3,870 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 49% IPEDS
Community college. FAA certificate 3AQT606K.
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro · 83 mi
University. FAA certificate MQJT005K.
Pellissippi State Community College
Maryville · 84 mi
Community college. FAA certificate PLST693K.
Chattahoochee Technical College
Dallas, GA · 84 mi
Community college. FAA certificate CT1T680K.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance Atlanta
Duluth, GA · 99 mi
- In-State Tuition
- $16,520 IPEDS
- Graduation Rate
- 46% IPEDS
Private aviation school. FAA certificate VI8T077K.
See all FAA-approved programs statewide on the aviation maintenance schools in Tennessee page.
BLS Wage Data
Aircraft Mechanic Salary in Tennessee (Statewide)
These are statewide BLS figures covering all of Tennessee: a median of $81,040 a year ($38.96 an hour) across 4,670 jobs.
Compare metro areas across the state on the Tennessee aircraft mechanic salary page, or see the national aircraft mechanic salary breakdown.
Local Employers
Where Aircraft Mechanics Work in Chattanooga
Helicopter Operations
LIFE FORCE (Erlanger Health System) / Med-Trans Corporation
Air medical helicopter base in Chattanooga, TN
Erlanger's LIFE FORCE air medical helicopter program in Chattanooga is staffed with aviation mechanics provided through its aircraft services partner, Med-Trans Corporation.
Source: LIFE FORCE Air Medical Program (erlanger.org)
Airports
Commercial and Cargo Airports in the Area
Lovell Field (CHA) recorded 557,741 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lovell Field | CHA | Small hub | 557,741 | 54,727,406 |
Local Context
An Air Medical Helicopter Base in Chattanooga
Erlanger Health System's LIFE FORCE program keeps an air medical helicopter fleet flying out of Chattanooga, and it staffs aviation mechanics through its aircraft services partner, Med-Trans Corporation.
That kind of always-on helicopter maintenance work sits alongside the general aviation traffic moving through Lovell Field.
A Longer Drive to Training
The nearest FAA-approved program to Chattanooga is Georgia Northwestern Technical College in Rome, 49.5 miles away. Two more options, Snead State Community College in Albertville and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, sit at 80.6 and 82.8 miles. Reaching a program from Chattanooga means planning for a longer commute.
Aviation Maintenance Schools Near Chattanooga: Common Questions
What Schools Near Chattanooga Train Aircraft Mechanics?
What Is the Major Aviation Maintenance Employer in Chattanooga?
How Far Is Training From Chattanooga?
Do Hours at a Local Employer Count Toward FAA 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)
- LIFE FORCE (Erlanger Health System) / Med-Trans Corporation: LIFE FORCE Air Medical Program
All sources retrieved .
Read how we source and check school, wage, and airport data for every page on this site.