Aviation at Nicolet

Learn to Fly: Private Pilot Ground School at Nicolet College

Nicolet College will offer its next Private Pilot Ground School in Spring 2026. Learn about the joys of flight, what it takes to become a pilot, and the many career options there are in the aviation field. Over 200 Wisconsin companies have ties to the state's aerospace sector, and more than 26,000 people are employed in Wisconsin by companies that support aviation businesses and aerospace manufacturers. Click here to learn more about Private Pilot Ground School >

Flight Training in Northern Wisconsin

Nicolet College does not operate aircraft or provide flight training, but a number of our ground school students are flying with the following flight schools:

Rhinelander Flying Service
Cessna 172
Rhinelander Airport (KRHI)
www.rhinelanderflyingservice.com
715-365-3456

Lakeland Aviation of Minocqua
Cessna 172 (two)
Lakeland Airport (KARV)
www.lakelandfbo.com
715-356-3891

Blue Sky Aviation
Cessna 172 (also Piper Archer LX and Tecnam P2006 Twin in MNM)
Eagle River Union Airport (KEGV) and Menominee, MI (KMNM)
www.blueskykmnm.com
920-901-2200

Baltz Aviation
Piper Warrior
Manitowish Waters Airport (D25)
www.baltzaviation.com
715-776-8161

Wausau Flying Service
Cessna 150 & 172, Stearman Bi-Plane, Flight Simulator
Wausau Downtown Airport (KAUW)
www.flywausau.com
715-845-3400

Northwoods Gateway Aviation
Cessna 140, 152 & 172
Langlade County Airport, Antigo (KAIG)
www.flyantigo.com
715-623-4525

KTKV Flyers
Redbird FMX Flight Simulator
Tomahawk Airport (KTKV)
Facebook: KTKV Flyers
715-612-3336

Additional information about flight training can be found at:

EAA
https://www.eaa.org/eaa/learn-to-fly

AOPA
https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/learn-to-fly

Aviation and Aerospace in Wisconsin

Jobs in aviation go far beyond flying! The average aircraft contains thousands of parts from hundreds of different suppliers, with many people involved in their operations, resulting in many types of jobs in aviation. There are many careers available other than the pilots up front flying the plane.

Over 200 Wisconsin companies have ties to the state's aerospace sector, and more than 26,000 people are employed in Wisconsin by companies that support the aviation and aerospace manufacturing sectors.

Wisconsin ranks above the national average for employment concentration in many different professions relating to aviation and aerospace. They can include:

• Pilots
• Flight Instructors
• Mechanics
• Airline pilots, mechanics and flight crews
• Airline operations and management
• Air Charter operators
• FAA inspectors
• Avionics Technicians
• Air Traffic Controllers
• Aeromedical Operations
• Fixed Base Operator (FBO) operations
• Aviation Education
• Aviation Sales and Marketing Professionals
• Aviation Manufacturing
• Industrial engineers
• Machinists
• Maintenance and repair workers
• Tool and die makers
• Welding and fabrication
• Airport Management and Operations
• Flight Schools
• Commercial Drone Pilots Operators
• Aerial Photography, Mapping and Surveying
• Aviation engineering

Aviation Education

Nicolet College does not currently offer a for-credit aviation program, but we are working to establish arrangements with several other 2-year and 4-year institutions. In many of these programs, credits earned for passing your written FAA exam, your Private Pilot License, or other General Education classes may transfer to an approved degree program.  We will post that information when it is available. 

If you’re interested in an aviation college education, please contact Curt Drumm at Nicolet College at  cdrumm@nicoletcollege.edu