![]() ![]() We're eager to work with students through their entire journey and provide world-class training and dedicated pilot mentorship along the way." "Enrolling in Ascend Pilot Academy is the first step of what we hope will be a long relationship with Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines. "Through this program, an aspiring commercial pilot will be able to realize their dream of learning to fly, and work toward becoming a captain at Alaska Airlines," said Nik Kresse, Hillsboro Aero Academy's vice president of airplane flight operations. With campuses located in Hillsboro and Redmond, near the metropolitan areas of Portland and Bend, Hillsboro Aero Academy is a premier flight school and long-time Horizon Air partner. Hillsboro's fleet of 95 aircraft are equipped with modern avionics, and their training staff are working directly with Horizon's to develop instructional practices to best prepare students to fly in an airline environment. With 80% of these hires anticipated to be sourced from regional airlines like Horizon Air, a more robust talent pipeline is critical to maintaining operational efficiency and business growth. In 2022 alone, mainline airlines are expected to hire more than 10,000 pilots – twice the amount hired in 2019. Over the past two years, thousands of pilots at major airlines took early retirements, accelerating a pilot shortage that was already on the horizon. "Our goal is to create a program that enables students to complete an intensive training and time-building program, with a clear and established path toward flying for Horizon as a first officer."Īn industry-wide shortage of pilots has emerged during the pandemic. "Launching the Ascend Pilot Academy addresses a critical need to build a larger and more diverse talent pipeline and remove historical barriers to entry for aspiring pilots," said Joe Sprague, Horizon Air president. Once enrolled, cadet pilots will be eligible for low-interest financial aid, a $25,000 stipend to cover the cost of a commercial pilot license, mentorship and guidance from Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air pilots and a conditional job offer at Horizon Air, with an opportunity to fly with Alaska Airlines after meeting certain criteria. In partnership with Hillsboro Aero, the two airlines will register and train up to 250 students a year. ![]()
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