Aviation Maintenance Technology

Q: Where do your graduates find jobs?
A: Our graduates find jobs in all areas of the aviation industry, including:
1. Fixed base operations maintaining small general aviation aircraft
2. Corporate flight departments
3. Manufacturers such as Cirrus, Cessna, and Boeing
4. Service centers for small and corporate aircraft
5. Helicopter operators (oil, logging, medivac etc.)
6. Regional airlines
7. Major airlines

Q: What will I spend on tools?
A: Students select the brand of tools they want to have. These include, but are not limited to, Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac, Proto, NAPA, S-K, Matco. We have a tool day at the beginning of the school year where students can compare the offers from some of these vendors. Some of the vendors have large discount prices for a “student package”. Prices vary widely between vendors, for a list of recommended vendors, please contact Lynn McGlynn at the aviation campus, 218-681-0829

Q: What will housing cost?
A: Thief River Falls has low housing costs compared to larger cities, for a complete listing of available housing, and current housing rates, please contact Northland College.

Q: How big is Thief River Falls?
A: The population of Thief River Falls is about 8400 people.

Q: Can I find part time work?
A: Students find work in many different places, including retail stores, grocery stores, gas stations, manufacturers, and even local farms. Thief River Falls is a regional center where people from surrounding smaller communities come to do business, eat, and shop. Thief River Falls is the home of Arctic Cat snowmobiles and we also have a local Electronics Distributing Center-Digi Key.

Q: What do tuition and fees cost?
A: For current tuition costs please contact Lynn McGlynn at 800-959-6282.

Q: How much “hands on” work is there in the aviation maintenance program?
A: Overall, the program consists of approximately 1/3 classroom and 2/3 shop/hangar time. Some classes have more shop while others have less.

Q: What will I work on in the shop?
A: Depending on the project, students work on aircraft and engine components, training boards, aircraft, and engines. We have a mixture of operational and static components.

Q: What kind of aircrafts do you have?
A: Northland’s aviation program has:
Aero Commander 560
Beechcraft Bonanza
Beechcraft Queen Air
Boeing B727 (2)
Cessna L-19/O1 “Bird Dog”
Cessna 150L (2)
Cessna 172
Cessna 210
Cessna 310
Cessna 337
Cessna 421
Douglas DC-9 (2)
Mitsubishi MU-2
Piper PA-23-250 Aztec
Piper PA-25 Pawnee
Piper PA-28-151 Warrior
T-39 Sabreliner
UH-1 “Huey” helicopters (3)