JACKSON — Jackson aviation training school grant request is moving through the state budget process.
State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz testified before a House budget subcommittee this week seeking a $300,000 state grant to help establish an aviation maintenance technician training school at Jackson County Airport – Reynolds Field.
Schmaltz said the proposed aviation training program would create a pathway for students to earn industry certifications and a professional license while still in high school.
The federally certified program would offer tuition-free aviation maintenance training for 11th- and 12th-grade students. Recent graduates and adult learners could enroll at a reduced cost. Graduates are projected to enter the workforce with starting salaries near $70,000.
Airport Manager Juan Zapata told lawmakers most of the funding would go toward specialized equipment required to meet Federal Aviation Administration certification standards, including engine test stands and machine shop equipment. The airport would provide the facility, and the school would operate as an independent nonprofit overseen by a board of directors.
Federal projections show the U.S. could face nearly a 20% shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians by 2028.
If approved, the aviation training school is expected to launch in September 2027 with about 30 students per year. Schmaltz will continue working through the state budget process in the coming months.