Legacy Aviation Learning Center

Legacy Aviation Learning Center is a nonprofit school in Traverse City, Michigan. It trains aircraft maintenance technicians. The site calls it the sole aviation maintenance technician school in Northern Michigan. The school is a 501(c)(3) charity. It is an FAA certified Part 147 aircraft mechanic technician school.

The school runs a 12 month aviation maintenance program. It plans to teach about 50 students each year. Graduates earn an airframe and powerplant certificate. The site says the program costs $42,350 per student and is on par with other maintenance schools. The first class started in January 2024.

The site says demand for aircraft mechanics and technicians will grow by 11 percent over the next decade. It cites the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2023. The school says first year salaries can reach $60,000 to $80,000. It says its short program helps graduates start work sooner.

The school is at 2640 Aero Park Drive in Traverse City. It sits next to Cherry Capital Airport. Three pilots and aviation fans bought the property in spring 2022 for $1.5 million. The purchase included the Delta-Two Hangar and a 4,600 square foot office building.

The founders are Dan and Peg Jonkhoff, Matt and Lauren Golba, and Bryan Linck. The site lists industry partners including Kalitta Air, AAR Corporation, Duncan Aviation and Envoy Air. The school also supports the Experimental Aircraft Association, EAA Young Eagles and the Civil Air Patrol.

The site has pages for admissions, an enrollment deposit, loans and scholarships, FAQs and student housing. It also lists student jobs, a calendar and a DoD SkillBridge program. The school has a donate page and an annual report.

The phone number is (231) 600-7626. The admissions email is listed on the site. The contact form asks visitors for their questions. A representative then contacts them with more detail. The school also has a newsletter sign up and links to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.