Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- Since it landed at Northern Michigan University 20 years ago, the Aviation Maintenance Technology program has grounded itself as a major asset to the school.

Professor Mark Welke has been with the program since its inception and says it's really taken off in recent years.

"We've pretty much maxed out enrollment for the last three years," he said.

But the program doesn't want to lose any momentum. Tuesday afternoon it hosted its first ever public open house. By attracting even more students, the program hopes to fly even higher.

"We'd like to get 50 students next year, 60 the year after and demonstrate our ability to show the growth in enrollment and use that to demonstrate to the administration," said Welke. "We need the technologies to come here, we would love to get up to date aircraft."

The curriculum is a two-year associate’s degree program which trains students in 44 subjects following FAA regulations.

"Everything from basic electricity to jet engines, hydraulic pneumatics, sheet metal, composite repair, we could go on and on," said Welke.

But the greatest bragging point of NMU's Aviation Maintenance program is its job placement success rate. Each year about 85-95% of its students are placed in full time jobs. In fact, two thirds of this year's graduating class have already been hired. Many by local airlines, including American Eagle and Mesaba. Students say the program gives them a competitive edge in the applicant pool.

"Class size isn't that large compared to other programs that I've seen and I feel well prepared because of that," said second year student Ed Zarn.

And all students seemed to agree; it's easy to take pride in their NMU education.

"I'm kind of going to miss it a little bit," said student Eric Erdman. "It was a lot of fun!"