Lake Superior College (L.S.C.) is starting a new Aviation Training School.

At a special meeting this morning the Duluth Airport Authority approved a five - year lease for hangar 103 on airport grounds.

Starting in fall of next year the new hangar will accommodate an Air Frame and Power Plant Program.

This class will teach students the nuts and bolts of repair and maintenance for airplanes.

For two and a half years, L.S.C. has been working with various businesses including Cirrus Design, to get this program up in the air.

"We're very energetic about getting this program up and running because we think it's really going to add to the value of the economy in the region," said Mark Winson, Vice President of Finance & Administration for Lake Superior College.

To get the program certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, Hangar 103 needs improvements by next May.

Ventilation, windows and exterior insulation will likely be installed or replaced.

"We need to create classroom space, a small library, office spaces, a number of work rooms for various things do in the end it'll look like an educational facility with a big hangar in the middle of it," said Winson.

He said Duluth area Aviation is booming, and many businesses are in need of skilled aviation workers.

"We see that as going to result in good paying jobs so we really think a lot of folks will be interested in getting into this program so that they have kind of a heads up, or a leg up so to speak on getting those jobs in those industries here," Winson said.

He says he hopes the program will eventually grow to include training in Avionics, small airport management, and customized machining.

Hangar 103 is right next to Cirrus, so Winson hopes that proximity will facilitate close collaboration between L.S.C. and Cirrus.