Spartan College Signs Agreement with Mesa Airlines
Officials at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology announced today a pilot training agreement with Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines. The pilot pipeline program creates opportunities for Spartan flight students by providing a pathway for employment at Mesa.
“This new program is just another example of how Spartan is addressing the nationwide pilot shortage,” Spartan President and Dan Peterson said. “Establishing cadet programs with airlines, such as Mesa, is a great way for us to keep pilots in the cockpit and the aviation industry moving forward.”
The cadet program offers benefits and incentives for students to select Mesa among competing employers. As a cadet, qualified Spartan students receive a $10,000 loan from Mesa. Upon graduation and the completion of one year of employment as a pilot with Mesa, the loan and interest is forgiven. Additionally, a pipeline program participant meets Spartan’s hiring requirements and qualifies to work as a Spartan Certified Fight Instructor, which accelerates the achievement of required training hours for a pilot’s passenger license.
“We are pleased to sign this cadet pipeline program with Spartan, and we look forward to a long- standing relationship, providing a career path for these future professional aviators to reach their dreams,” Mesa Airlines Chairman and Johnathan Ornstein said.
According to the 2017 Boeing Pilot Outlook, an estimated 637,000 new pilots are needed to meet the global demand for passenger and cargo flights.
“Globally, this employment forecast means 87 new pilots need to enter the workforce daily to meet the demand,” Peterson said. “Additionally, approximately 22,000 of the pilots at our nation’s largest carriers will be mandated to retire in the next 10 years when the pilot reaches 65 years of age. We must aggressively pursue a remedy to the shortage now.”
Spartan College Pilot Pipeline The pilot training program at Spartan College is considered one of the most innovative of its kind. Spartan’s practice-as-you-learn instructional model enables flight students to expedite his or her training in the air when compared to many other conventional programs.
“This partnership means a student, with aspirations to serve as a pilot for a major airline, is now a step closer to realizing his or her career goals,” said Peterson. “With the tremendous growth in the airline industry, entering a pilot training program today, has long-term career opportunities.”
About Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Spartan Education Group, owns colleges that provide top-tier training in aviation. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has two campuses in Tulsa, Okla., two in Los Angeles, and one in Denver. During the last 90 years, Spartan has trained more than 140,000 students from across the U.S. and more than 60 countries. Spartan Education Group and its colleges are backed by Sterling Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm with substantial holdings in education. More information can be found at www.Spartan.edu.
Updated 06-26-2018
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