Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin are a center of gravity for aerospace and aviation, nationwide.
With airports in every county, an Air National Guard Base, and a world-renowned
aircraft manufacturing sector, there are multiple avenues for those who want to get their career up off the ground in this neck of the woods.
In the Twin Ports alone, there are nearly 3,500 local jobs directly connected to aviation. Activities related to aerospace such as manufacturing, maintenance, and design add another 2,000+ positions. In all, the sector contributes $646 million to the regional economy. What’s more, a 2017 study by DEED found that the sector increased by 39% between 2007 and 2017.
As growth soars, more jobs are becoming available in aviation — especially in manufacturing and design. Companies on the vanguard of aircraft creation include Cirrus, whose SR22 is the bestselling FAA-certified small aircraft in the world. To put things in perspective, Cirrus built and delivered more single-engine planes in their class during 2018 than all other general aviation manufacturers combined.
“This is a great start,” said William King, executive director of business development at Cirrus. “We don’t see this as having hit some kind of pinnacle. We see this as a path … to even more significant production, even more products for the aerospace industry that we hope to build and supply our customers with.”
Companies like Cirrus work with an ecosystem of specialty firms that provide essential aviation products and services, such as Midwest Aircraft Refinishing in Hibbing and Roy Aero Service in Grand Marais. Regional businesses like Sinex Solutions, SCS Interiors, and Ikonics all make crucial contributions to the aircraft design and manufacture process.
Are you interested in becoming a pilot? Would you like to work in aircraft design and manufacturing? Maybe you want to explore a career in management within the aerospace industry, or learn more about what it takes to pursue a military career with the Air Force. If you envision a career in aerospace, there’s a place for you within the Northland aviation industry — read on for leads on regional employers and education providers!
Here’s an overview of Northland employers within aviation and aerospace:
- Aerospace & Defense
- Aerial Tours
- Aircraft Manufacturing & Services
- Airports
Interested in breaking into the aviation field, or advancing your career in aerospace? Here’s a short glossary of links to area schools that offer aviation programs:
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Northeast Minnesota
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Northwest Wisconsin
