American Eagle to offer Spartan-trained pilots up to $10,000 in bonuses
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/...cle_ac6c94a2-942c-11e3-8d02-0017a43b2370.html
By KYLE ARNOLD World Business Writer | 1 comment
Regional carrier American Eagle Airlines and Tulsa?s Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology announced Wednesday they will partner on a pilot training program that offers up to $10,000 in signing bonuses for students who give the airline a two-year commitment after graduation.
The carrier is responding to a growing need for trained pilots in the face of stiffer flight-time requirements and increases in demand. The initial announcement did not detail how many positions American Eagle was seeking.
?American Eagle Airlines created the Pilot Pipeline Program to ensure we have the quality and qualified pilots we need for future operations,? said Nicolas Brice, director of pilot recruitment for American Eagle, in a statement. ?This is an important initiative for our company that also helps program participants gain the experience they need to start careers as commercial airline pilots while easing the financial burden of doing so.?
The partnership was announced Wednesday afternoon at Spartan?s flight campus at Jones Riverside Airport.
American Eagle is the wholly owned regional carrier for American Airlines.
Students who complete an associates degree or bachelor?s degree program are eligible for the program. Entrants also need to complete the necessary 1,500 hours of flight time to get an air transport pilot license, or students can get deferred entrance into the program while they complete their training.
Boeing has estimated that North American airlines will need around 87,000 additional pilots in the next 20 years, not to mention many pilots that are nearing the 65 year old age limit.
The route for students to become commercial passenger pilots has also been under fire because of the high costs for training versus the low starting pay for regional pilots, around $22,000 a year on average.
But mainline pilots, most of whom start at regionals, are often paid above $100,000 a year, even if it takes 10 to 15 years to reach that salary.
Regional airlines have been trying to soften that blow by offering recruiting bonuses and opening pathways to become pilots.
American Eagle has opened similar pilot pipeline programs in Texas, Florida and Arizona in the last year.
American Airline?s agreement with pilots and the regional carrier also allows pilots from American Eagle to move up to the mainline carrier. American Airlines hires about 50 percent of its pilots from American Eagle.
?This alliance between Spartan College and American Eagle Airlines 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 Peter Harris, Spartan?s CEO and President.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/...cle_ac6c94a2-942c-11e3-8d02-0017a43b2370.html
By KYLE ARNOLD World Business Writer | 1 comment
Regional carrier American Eagle Airlines and Tulsa?s Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology announced Wednesday they will partner on a pilot training program that offers up to $10,000 in signing bonuses for students who give the airline a two-year commitment after graduation.
The carrier is responding to a growing need for trained pilots in the face of stiffer flight-time requirements and increases in demand. The initial announcement did not detail how many positions American Eagle was seeking.
?American Eagle Airlines created the Pilot Pipeline Program to ensure we have the quality and qualified pilots we need for future operations,? said Nicolas Brice, director of pilot recruitment for American Eagle, in a statement. ?This is an important initiative for our company that also helps program participants gain the experience they need to start careers as commercial airline pilots while easing the financial burden of doing so.?
The partnership was announced Wednesday afternoon at Spartan?s flight campus at Jones Riverside Airport.
American Eagle is the wholly owned regional carrier for American Airlines.
Students who complete an associates degree or bachelor?s degree program are eligible for the program. Entrants also need to complete the necessary 1,500 hours of flight time to get an air transport pilot license, or students can get deferred entrance into the program while they complete their training.
Boeing has estimated that North American airlines will need around 87,000 additional pilots in the next 20 years, not to mention many pilots that are nearing the 65 year old age limit.
The route for students to become commercial passenger pilots has also been under fire because of the high costs for training versus the low starting pay for regional pilots, around $22,000 a year on average.
But mainline pilots, most of whom start at regionals, are often paid above $100,000 a year, even if it takes 10 to 15 years to reach that salary.
Regional airlines have been trying to soften that blow by offering recruiting bonuses and opening pathways to become pilots.
American Eagle has opened similar pilot pipeline programs in Texas, Florida and Arizona in the last year.
American Airline?s agreement with pilots and the regional carrier also allows pilots from American Eagle to move up to the mainline carrier. American Airlines hires about 50 percent of its pilots from American Eagle.
?This alliance between Spartan College and American Eagle Airlines 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 Peter Harris, Spartan?s CEO and President.
