JetBlue Pilot University

[Furloughed80]

JetBlue Announces Aviation University Gateway Program for Pilot Candidates
Wednesday January 30, 10:00 am ET
Airline Partners With Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of North Dakota, and Cape Air to Fill Pilot Pipeline
NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Award-winning JetBlue Airways (NasdaqGS:JBLU - News) today announces the creation of the Aviation University Gateway, a career-planning and mentoring program designed to identify and recruit talented men and women into the professional pilot ranks. Through rigorous academic training and regional airline experience, the Aviation University Gateway creates a clearly defined career path for aspiring pilots, beginning early in an aviator's college career and culminating in the possibility of a final interview at a major airline.

JetBlue is partnering with prestigious aviation programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of North Dakota to fill the Aviation University Gateway's pipeline with top-flight candidates who demonstrate exceptional potential as professional pilots. JetBlue is also partnering with Massachusetts-based Cape Air to be the program's first regional airline partner, giving Aviation University Gateway participants valuable flying experience prior to interviewing at JetBlue.
``Since JetBlue's inception eight years ago, we have filled our cockpits with some of the airline world's finest pilots,'' said Dean Melonas, the airline's vice president of recruitment. ``JetBlue remains a desirable choice among pilot candidates looking for an innovative and unique culture, strong growth opportunity, and competitive compensation. We are proud to be the first airline to provide the mentoring and structure for a student from early on in his or her university career, all the way through to the right seat of a JetBlue aircraft. We look forward to taking the mystery out of the pilot career path with the Aviation University Gateway program.''
``Cape Air is thrilled to be part of this exciting program,'' said Dave Bushy, Cape Air's chief operating officer. ``Airlines like ours want to attract the best employees and pilots in their formative years. We feel that Cape Air can provide some of the finest aviation experience in the world, while also flying to some beautiful destinations. Here at Cape Air we believe this program is a homerun for the industry. We look forward to serving as the first of many regional partners for JetBlue in its Aviation University Gateway program.''
``We are extremely pleased to have been asked to join this program as a university partner,'' said Dr. Tim Brady, dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. ``We are proud of our accredited aviation programs and know that JetBlue will gain many outstanding pilots through the Aviation University Gateway Program.''
The Aviation University Gateway path is open to Embry-Riddle or North Dakota students with high academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or above) and recommendations from their professors. It requires a successful series of interviews with JetBlue and a regional airline partner, as well as the continued enrollment in an Aviation Accreditation Board International (ABBI)-accredited aviation program. During the Gateway program, participants will intern at Cape Air (and eventually other regional airline partners) and then serve as an instructor at their respective flight school. Following that process, candidates will fly with Cape Air for at least two years and then be eligible for a final interview at JetBlue.
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers the most legroom throughout coach (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines). JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft ``BetaBlue,'' a first among U.S. domestic airlines. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit http://www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 53 cities with 550 daily flights. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit http://www.jetblue.com. The JetBlue logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=795

 

[wahoo250]

Not bad...although as a previous UAL intern (supposedly guaranteed interviews...I wouldnt know as I have not applied) I would have to say to the prospective candidates not to put all your eggs in one basket.

 

[calfo]

"...we have filled our cockpits with some of the airline world's finest pilots,''

Who continue to leave in ever greater numbers for other airlines...

"JetBlue remains a desirable choice among pilot candidates looking for an innovative and unique culture, strong growth opportunity, and competitive compensation.

With five-year individual contracts, regional airline payscales, and a management "taking advantage of the worldwide aircraft market" (selling airplanes).

participants will intern at Cape Air (and eventually other regional airline partners) and then serve as an instructor at their respective flight school. Following that process, candidates will fly with Cape Air for at least two years and then be eligible for a final interview at JetBlue.

Sounds like servitude to me...

 

[FlyAuburn]

Who continue to leave in ever greater numbers for other airlines...



With five-year individual contracts, regional airline payscales, and a management "taking advantage of the worldwide aircraft market" (selling airplanes).




Sounds like servitude to me...

So let me ask you - is JB the only one losing pilots to other airlines? I hear that CAL's CP office is getting tired of people leaving to DAL. You sure do throw the first stone pretty quick...

 

[viking737]

Doesn't Cape Air fly single pilot 135 in the 402?
How is an intern going to do that without some flying experience? I know it used to be 1200 hrs min required for 135 single pilot.

 

[RCA]

The future is near!!!! Last time I checked JB was a Major. It's only a matter of time before places like CAL NWA and maybe the mighty Delta will need programs like this.

 

[jke406]

The future is near!!!! Last time I checked JB was a Major. It's only a matter of time before places like CAL NWA and maybe the mighty Delta will need programs like this.

post not in good taste. deleted by me.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

The future is near!!!! Last time I checked JB was a Major. It's only a matter of time before places like CAL NWA and maybe the mighty Delta will need programs like this.

your village called. they want their idiot back.

Sorry the above top quote in this post is correct. The information is out there an available... one simply has to choose...

 

[RCA]

your village called. they want their idiot back.

My post was an opinion. Thanks for your's.

RCA

 

[COpilot]

Doesn't Cape Air fly single pilot 135 in the 402?
How is an intern going to do that without some flying experience? I know it used to be 1200 hrs min required for 135 single pilot.

Go to: www.capeair.com

The short of it, a person has to Flight instruct for 18 to 24 months at their university. Then go to Cape at least a minimum number on months.

 

[get2flyin]

"JetBlue is partnering with prestigious aviation programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of North Dakota to fill the Aviation University Gateway's pipeline with top-flight candidates who demonstrate exceptional potential as professional pilots."

I attended one of these "prestigious" institutions...and I still just threw up in my mouth a little.

Sad. Just Sad.

 

[FlyAuburn]

"JetBlue is partnering with prestigious aviation programs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of North Dakota to fill the Aviation University Gateway's pipeline with top-flight candidates who demonstrate exceptional potential as professional pilots."

I attended one of these "prestigious" institutions...and I still just threw up in my mouth a little.

Sad. Just Sad.

Funny, it had the same effect on me too.

 

[aerobato]

I say, good on the guys that can afford it. It sounds like they are getting some good training and then 18-24 months of flight instruction before going to Cape Air to do some real flying.

What's wrong with that. I sure would have liked that "short cut" when I was flight instructing for way too long.

By the time they get to JetBlue, the upgrade time will be lengthy and they will have plenty of time to learn.

Why does everyone on these boards always forget where they came from, and think that they are god's gift to aviation.

Get over yourselves,

Just my .02

 

[Capn Sac]

This a program to bridge the whole gap from student to "major" airline pilot. It has many good things for all of the interested parties. For the student and their parents paying for the education.. There is a clearly defined path with 5-6 steps to get to the final goal. For the University.. A new interest in Aviation careers, enrollments are way down. The University also gets to have instructor's take a year tour as a flight instructor, most are leaving for a regional job after a few months. I spoke the the Chief CFI for ERAU, he has trained over 200 instructors in the last year. This might result in better training for the students coming thru the pipeline. For the regional partner airline and eventually JetBlue we get to look at the candidate all the way thru school and as an intern. There are steps and bridges to cross, it is a long interview process. For the candidate it is a path to a job, it may not be for everyone, but it might be for some. Give it chance, sometimes new things are good.

 

[get2flyin]

I say, good on the guys that can afford it. It sounds like they are getting some good training and then 18-24 months of flight instruction before going to Cape Air to do some real flying.

What's wrong with that. I sure would have liked that "short cut" when I was flight instructing for way too long.

By the time they get to JetBlue, the upgrade time will be lengthy and they will have plenty of time to learn.

Why does everyone on these boards always forget where they came from, and think that they are god's gift to aviation.

Get over yourselves,

Just my .02

Why are we letting 200 hr. wonder children even keep the right-seat of an RJ warm? There isn't anything wrong with getting some experience as a CFI or something else before going onto a 121 carrier. While attending a quality training program should be a feather in an applicants cap, hiring extremely low time pilots from "prestigious" universities is nothing more than a way to justify paying new pilots, and then all pilots, less...just watch.

Just because airlines refuse to offer acceptable pay to attract QUALIFIED applicants doesn't mean there aren't qualified applicants.

 

[dollacrackho]

embry-riddle is to prestigious as "the golden girls" are to lesbian orge whorefests. things that should never, ever, ever go together. wow jet blue is really tanking it . i know a bunch of people that left pretty decent jobs to go this place and now they're going to be working alongside a bunch of riddle turds.

 

[SKYLAWYER]

After attending the open house I don't see any ERAU guys seeing the right seat at JB for quite some time. They still have a great deal of experienced guys trying to get on at JB. Attrition could go through the roof and change things. One of the JB recruiters referred to it as PR fluff. Sure they might get an interview down the road but that doesn't mean they will get the job. Must we discus the multitude of interns that stuffed charts for UAL back in the day and then got in with fairly low time. I know a couple personally. Partnering with aviation universitys is a ok way to attract pilots. It's an outstanding way to attract college grads for the multitude of operational jobs an airline needs. When an airline has a presence at a university, all of the non-flying aviation majors also get to develop relationships with the carrier. Even if it just seems to be marketed towards pilot applicants.
Personal disclaimer - I did not graduate from erau or any other aviation university. :laugh:

 

[SKYLAWYER]

One more side note, times in the industry are changing. We are going through that cycle that seems to occur in avaition about once a decade. I know how it feels to be hired at a job that I needed tons of exerience just to get an interview with, and then see the hiring mins go south 6 months later. There is this feeling of a loss of pride associated with our position as the barriers to entry seem to vanish. I don't mind low time pilots who are eager to learn and personify the professionalism we associate with our career field. I don't like people who don't appreciate what a big deal it is to fly right seat in a jet because they had to do no work to achieve that position. Years ago TWA was hiring guys with dirt bottom minimums and through excellent training and guidance they managed to make it work. We can either accpet the times or be miserable for a long time. The one thing I would like to see more of my co-workers stop doing is judging the younger guys from a distance. Recently I bumped into a young lady who seemed to embody the 400 hour wonder child. Boy was i surprised to find out she had 2 type ratings, an ATP, an engineering degree, and had written software codes for Honeywell. Word through the pipeline was also that she was an excellent stick. When she walked through the crew-room door the first thing out of one of the guys mouths was "Here comes the new hiring mins". He swallowed his pride when he found out she was more than qualified to work here, and just about any other place she felt like.

 

[wt219200]

Doesn't Cape Air fly single pilot 135 in the 402?
How is an intern going to do that without some flying experience? I know it used to be 1200 hrs min required for 135 single pilot.

ATP required for scheduled 135 which Cape Air is.

 

[SNAFU22]

Doesn't Cape Air fly single pilot 135 in the 402?
How is an intern going to do that without some flying experience? I know it used to be 1200 hrs min required for 135 single pilot.

Last I checked single pilot 135 still is 1200tt and 500 cc, has this changed?

Curious, because that's what I needed before hiring on my first 135 gig.