PITTSBURGH — Fifty-four maintenance students at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics took their final test for Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant certification on graduation day or the morning after their 2026 commencement. Forty-seven of these students passed their certification exams on the first attempt.

Sixty students graduated from the institute in 2026. At least 15 employers hired graduates from this class.

"Every one of the 54 Maintenance students took their final test graduation day or the morning after," said Derek Vrabel, student services coordinator.

Jon Wojcik, the class salutatorian from Buffalo, N.Y., described the demand for skilled technicians. "There's a shortage for both pilots and mechanics," Wojcik said. He noted the aging workforce within the field. "All these people are retiring, I think the average age is 57, of mechanics."

Wojcik mentioned his job search, saying, "I do have a couple of interviews next week with a couple of contractors, and SpaceX in Texas." He added that for the SpaceX position, he would be applying his airframe skills for the assembly of Starship rockets.

Nancy Weaver, a graduate from Canton, Ohio, received a job offer from Kalitta Air in Michigan. Weaver, who previously pursued a film degree, spoke about her experience. "I graduated a while back for film, and then I decided it wasn't for me," Weaver said. She found a specific interest in her new field, stating, "I was expecting to like working on engines, but I really like doing the sheet metal."

The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics was founded in 1929. The aviation technician program takes less than two years to complete, with a cost of approximately $42,000. Four years after graduating, alumni from the institute earn a median of $80,825, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Why It Matters

The aviation industry is projected to require an influx of maintenance technicians in the coming years. Boeing forecasts that 123,000 maintenance technicians will be needed in North America through 2044. As of 2024, there were nearly 161,000 U.S. aviation maintenance technician jobs, with a median salary of $79,140 that year. The successful certification of students from institutions like the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics addresses this ongoing demand within the sector.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifies approximately 220 aviation mechanic schools in the U.S. These programs prepare individuals to fill roles in an industry with an aging workforce.