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Students in Traverse City gain hands-on experience restoring Coast Guard helicopter.
This Coast Guard Search and Rescue helicopter traveled from a museum in Chicago, Illinois, where the H-52 Seaguard helicopter had previously been stationed in service of the greater Lake Michigan region. During its operational years, the aircraft played a vital role in safeguarding mariners and supporting search and rescue missions throughout the Lake Michigan sector. C
Legacy Aviation grads step into high-demand airline mechanic jobs amid shortage
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Graduations hopefully open doors and create opportunities for most students.
On Friday, for two dozen graduations, those doors will swing wide open and present them with high-paying, in-demand jobs just about anywhere in the world.
After intense months of classwork and hands-on experiences, their futures are about to take flight.
"So, I've always worked with my hands and I've always wanted to do something important," said Brennan Moen-Vallier, graduating aviation student.
Something important which he coupled with aviation.
"I enjoy planes, they're pretty cool," said Moen-Vallier.
It kind of makes sense that 22-year-old Moen-Vallier ended up here at Legacy Aviation in Traverse City.
"I worked for Envoy Air, which is a commercial airline company,” Moen-Vallier said. “I worked for them as a cleaner and then inventory control and the mechanics there just wouldn't shut up about it."
A year or so ago, he packed his bags, left his U.P. hometown and worked his tail off to become one of those airline mechanics.
"It took me 317 days exactly to get both licenses once school started, but that's 'cause I wanted to do extra to get my license early," said Moen-Vallier.
Come Friday, he will be a graduate like those who came here before him.
“I will cry no matter what, probably because you just get to know these kids for the whole year and you get to know them pretty well and so that's pretty cool," said Jaclyn Eikey, director of student services at Legacy Aviation.
Like those in the past getting that certificate that opens doors...
"The demand, I think we're at like a 27 percent shortage of these jobs. We just don't have enough kids out in the world and so this job for many years to come is going to be high demand all over the country and the world," Eikey said.
High demand and high starting pay just about anywhere they want to work.
"I had two opportunities and they were the only two I applied for,” Moen-Vallier said. “One was for back for Envoy Air, which I declined, and the other one was for Air Wisconsin and Appleton, which I accepted."
The latest batch of airline mechanics is ready to fill some of those vacancies while putting the finishing touches on Friday's ceremony. Legacy is already making plans for the next batch to arrive.
"We have almost over 30 starting in a couple weeks and already we can just tell how that year is going to go, so it's just amazing to see the progress and the growth," Eikey said.
Growth of each individual student and aiming for growth in what they offer here.
"We want to grow our class size here, eventually, five, ten years down the road, obviously we want to grow our building bigger we're almost running out of room now, but we want to see this program grow and expand and add even other programs," said Eikey.
Just days before graduation and Moen-Vallier is still here in the hangar working on his skills. A year spent here may pay off for years to come.
"It was like, it's a hard year, don't get me wrong, but one year and then you're set for life and that's it," Moen-Vallier said.
While graduation will take place this Friday, Legacy is already filling up its next class, which will start in August, there are some spots still available for those looking to enroll.