Flight Training - March 2019 - 16

PREFLIGHT INDUSTRY NEWS

BY DAVID TULIS

PATHWAYS TO AVIATION CAREERS
BOLD NEW PROGRAMS OFFERED BY AIR CARRIERS
REGIONAL AIR CARRIERS, MAJOR AIR-

lines, and other aviation businesses
responded to Boeing Co.'s prediction
for "significant" pilot demand through
2037 by creating pathway programs that
coach, mentor, and empower career aviators toward full-time aviation careers.
In July 2018, the airliner manufacturer's
20-year Pilot and Technician Outlook
called for 635,000 commercial pilots,
96,000 business pilots, and 59,000 helicopter pilots for an estimated 790,000
total pilot positions. Many air carriers are
offering aviation students career pathway
programs and other incentives to fill the
expected vacancies. Here's a look at several of the pathway programs that AOPA
has highlighted recently:
* American Airlines has partnered
with American Flyers, CAE, and CTI
Professional Flight Training for an
integrated flight training program that
could propel an aspiring career pilot
into the cockpit of an American Airlines
jet. Although participating in the cadet
academy doesn't guarantee a job, the
airline says it offers the resources "to be
a successful candidate for an interview
at Piedmont, PSA, or Envoy," its three
wholly owned subsidiaries.
* Ameriflight initiated an intern
program with package giant UPS where
participants can gain Part 135 flying
experience at Ameriflight and accumulate the flight time required to proceed to
UPS Airlines.
* California Aeronautical University has relationships with eight regional
airlines including SkyWest, Piedmont,
ExpressJet, Air Wisconsin, Compass,
Trans States, Mesa, and GoJet. CAU
President Matthew Johnston said many
students are "already in a pipeline or a
cadet program with an airline" and the
affiliations will allow students to find
their dream job.
* Delta Air Lines selected Auburn
University as one of the initial eight
16  FLIGHT TRAINING MARCH 2019

universities to take part in the company's Propel Pilot Career Path
Program that helps to "identify, select,
and develop the next generation of
pilots."
* FedEx's Purple Runway program
supports students building time through
feeder carriers including FedEx Express,
Mountain Air Cargo, and Empire
Airlines, and is on track to supply the
overnight package carrier with a pipeline of full-time pilots and technicians.
FedEx pledged $500,000 to Delta State
University to help offset education costs
for students "training to become the
next generation of aviation professionals" and promised financial support to
five other colleges including the University of Memphis, the University of
North Dakota, Indiana State University,
Arkansas State University Mid-South,
and the Tennessee College of Applied
Technology.
*JetBlue was one of the early adopters with its Gateway programs, defined
pathways that put pilots in the seat of
a Cape Air or JetSuiteX aircraft to gain
time and experience. After completing a
four-year program, pilots can move into
an Airbus A320 and bypass time building
in a regional air carrier. The air carrier
also has partnered with the University of
North Dakota, Jacksonville University,
Auburn University, Bridgewater State
University, and the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.

* Pan Am International Flight Academy in Miami partnered with ExpressJet
Airlines to encourage flight instructors
to seek employment with the air carrier
to gain experience and help replenish
the professional pilot population. The
agreement calls for a pilot pay package of more than $50,000 in first-year
compensation.
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations (AMO)
division will place University of North
Dakota sophomores and juniors in a
pathway program for the agency's fleet
of 200 aircraft. If they keep their grades
up, complete the training regimen, and
accrue 1,000 flight hours, AMO Pathways
Program students will be assured of fulltime employment as pilots when they
graduate.
* United Airlines developed a
partnership with Metropolitan State
University of Denver for undergraduate
students to interview with the airline
before joining one of United's regional
partner airlines. If they meet flight time
requirements within 5 to 7 years of
graduation, aspiring career pilots can
move on to the major air carrier without
another interview, said Capt. Michael
McCasky, managing director of United's
Flight Training Center in Denver. "When
you do your interview with us when you
are a junior in college, you have done
your last United interview."
www.aopa.org/careerpathways
http://www.aopa.org/careerpathways
Flight Training - March 2019

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