Hey Undies and Empty Nipple kids, wanna go to Jetblue?

[General Lee]

Press ReleaseSource: JetBlue Airways Corporation
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.



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[spg2bmd]

Sweet, the shortcuts are moving up the ranks. This should be dangerous... er, good.

 

[Propsync]

This is a little irritating, but it does make some sense. Normal career path now includes 50-100k in student loans for many. Given the flight instructor/regional/major path, there are too many years not making enough money. These programs are a risk/reward for the student. Spend the money, get on with Cape and make enough to get by until your shot at the golden carrot. Imagine graduating with that much debt, paying for a car/student loans/rent/ramen while taking home 1000-1500 bucks a month.

It really ends up benefitting the school for recruitment. We should mark this thread and check back in four or so years and see what becomes of this.

 

[Longhorn]

There are not many here that are happy about this.

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

Wow, who's next?

 

[Tomct]

And this is bad how? What is the difference between this and someone finishing their school and moving from job to job until they finally land a "Crappy Job" at a regional.
General, just because you can't live with the fact that YOUR airline still uses one of the WORST/OUTDATED processes for pilot selection out there....why throw rocks at a glass house?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

There are not many here that are happy about this.

And why is that?

 

[fam62c]

Why doesn't JB just lower their minimums a little and select from the THOUSANDS of experienced CA's and FO's at regionals that would like to fly for them? I mean really, don't they require like 1000 hours in planes over 20,000 pounds? All of a sudden a few hours in a 421 is acceptable if you come from the right school? Not only is this a bad idea but it makes no sense and is unnecessary. I hope the JB pilots nip this one in the bud sooner rather than later.

 

[Rerouted]

They just did.....

Minimum Qualifications:


- 1500 hours total time in airplanes (including turbine Helicopter,

excluding Simulator, Flight Engineer time)

- 500 hours in fixed wing airplanes

- Recency of flight experience will be considered

- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)

Certification

- Current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate-

 

[CX880]

Talk about paying for a job. Not only is this a new low for the industry but also for ERAU. When did getting a GPA over 3.0 qualify a person to fly a 150 seat airliner. I can only imagine those riddle genious lining up now for the program, as long as mom and dad pay the bills everything'll be alright. Don't we have like thousands of qualified RJ drivers out there?? WOW.