Manatee Technical College flying into SRQ with new aviation program

Bradenton's Abie Trejo doesn’t plan to fly airplanes or even work on them, but he’s considering enrolling in Manatee Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technician School to build on his current skills. 

The estimated $10.7 million school is on schedule to open in January 2027 at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

Trejo, 19, took advantage of the dual enrollment program with MTC to earn a certification in electrical and instrumentation technology while he was 17 years old and still attending Lakewood Ranch High School. 

The program led Trejo to his current employer, Roots Education Co. Starting in grade school, Roots educates students using cutting-edge technology. Trejo’s boss suggested the new program because of the innovations found within the aviation industry. 

“Our programs have so much crossover,” MTC Director Jodi Kirk said. “If you’re doing coverings and finishings on an airframe, you can probably do them in the automotive world, as well. With aircraft instrumentation, that’s crossing over to pretty much any instrumentation area.” 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

MTC will offer two programs: airframe mechanics and powerplant mechanics. In motor vehicle terms, airframes are the bodies (fuselage, wings, tail and landing gear), and powerplants are the engines.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires certification in both areas to inspect, maintain and repair aircrafts, which will be onsite in a hangar behind the school.

Kirk said the engines and aircrafts will cost over $1 million, and the Manatee County School District had to hire a consultant to find vendors. 

While MTC will operate the program once the school is constructed, the endeavor has been a group effort thus far, and one that Kirk noted probably would not have come to fruition without every bit of additional support and financing.

A $5.5 million appropriation from the state kicked off the project. The airport dedicated over $1.5 million to the design and infrastructure. A $3 million grant from the Department of Economic Opportunity will pay for the hangar, and a legislative grant will cover the equipment.

Suncoast Technical College, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority are also partnering with the School District of Manatee County to get the school up and running.

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

It takes about 12 to 18 months to secure a helicopter or airplane. So to start, students will work on engine trainers, which are specifically designed for hands-on education. The school will open with a combustion heater trainer, an oxygen trainer and pressurization trainer.

Kirk said the school will also purchase one single-engine and one multi-engine aircraft, along with several turbine and reciprocating engines. The purchases are based on what students will be seeing out in the workforce once certified, but Kirk expects the equipment roster to grow over time.

Tim Bekkering, director of marketing, events and public relations for MTC, said the program could evolve as the marine program has, where private owners allow students to do maintenance work on their boats. In this case, it would be helicopters and airplanes.

Excitement is growing as the opening date draws near. Students won’t be able to apply until late August, but Kirk said people are calling, emailing and signing up for the newsletter every day to stay up to date on the school’s progress and enrollment. 

Additionally, about 15 professors are on a waiting list to be hired. There’s also been interest from volunteers and local businesses in need of airframe and powerplant mechanics. 

The airframe program will open in January with 25 students. By August 2027, the plan is to have both the airframe and powerplant programs running simultaneously because the building will include two classrooms and two lab areas. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

The school has a capacity of 50 students. Both programs, which are required by the FAA to become a mechanic, take 20 months to complete, so Kirk expects a “heavy, ongoing wait list” once both programs are open for enrollment.

Depending on the need, the school might offer night classes, as well. In that case, the program would take longer to complete because students can only attend school for four hours during the evening versus seven hours during the day. 

“It’s such a unique career,” Kirk said. “I think it could be attractive to a lot of our technical students who are interested in various things.”

Trejo is currently working toward his associate degree in science at the State College of Florida, but hearing about the program is making him consider his future options. 

“Do I want to stay as a technician, or do I want to pursue going on to a university,” he said. “I like being hands-on, and I’ve seen a lot of different schools because of where I work. MTC is incredible compared to other schools.” 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median pay for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians was $38.05 per hour and $79,140 per year in 2024, and that the field is growing at a rate of 5% each year, which is above the average growth rate of 3% for all occupations.