PORTLAND, Ore., March 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and
its regional partner Horizon Air are teaming up with Hillsboro Aero
Academy, a premier flight school in the Pacific Northwest, to
launch the Ascend Pilot Academy (APA). This new development
program, designed for aspiring pilots, provides a simpler, more
financially accessible path to becoming a commercial pilot at
Horizon and eventually Alaska. The
program is part of a larger effort to address a growing pilot
shortage coupled with increased travel demand.
In partnership with Hillsboro Aero, the two airlines will
register and train up to 250 students a year. 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.
"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.
"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."
An industry-wide shortage of pilots has emerged during the
pandemic. Over the past two years, thousands of pilots at major
airlines took early retirements, accelerating a pilot shortage that
was already on the horizon. In 2022 alone, mainline airlines are
expected to hire more than 10,000 pilots – twice the amount hired
in 2019. 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.
Combined, Alaska and Horizon
estimate they will need to hire 500 pilots a year, or 2,000 by
2025. The Ascend Pilot Academy is one part of building that diverse
talent pipeline.
"We're taking a number of steps to actively recruit pilots at
both Alaska and Horizon, including
enhancing our existing Pilot Development Program and launching a
robust marketing recruiting campaign," added Sprague.
Barriers to entry
The barriers to entry for aspiring pilots can seem nearly
impossible to overcome, particularly for young people who are
unable to afford the estimated $70,000 to $90,000
to pay for training, schooling, and the licenses to become a
commercially rated pilot. Furthermore, it can be difficult for
flight school students to secure government-backed financing, which
means financing terms are often prohibitive.
In response to these challenges, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air
have been advocating for expanded federal student loan aid to also
cover costs associated with flight education.
"It should be as easy to get a federally backed, low-interest
student loan to become a pilot as it is to attend medical school,"
Sprague said. "The Ascend Pilot Academy aims to do just that."
A Pacific Northwest partnership
With campuses located in Hillsboro and Redmond, Oregon, 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.
"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. "Enrolling in Ascend Pilot Academy is the first
step of what we hope will be a long relationship with Horizon Air
and Alaska Airlines. We're eager to work with students through
their entire journey and provide world-class training and dedicated
pilot mentorship along the way."
Many pilots at Alaska and
Horizon either started their careers at Hillsboro or instructed at Hillsboro. Horizon E175 captain Emma Bryson and her husband, E175 captain
Ian Bryson, both previously worked
as Hillsboro flight
instructors.
"Hillsboro Aero Academy and Horizon Air were the clear choice as
the place to build my career," said Emma
Bryson, "They made a point of explaining that this is a
place you could stay if you wanted. My husband and I chose
Hillsboro Aero because it was close to home and we thought flying
in the Pacific Northwest was the best way to learn to fly in all
types of weather and terrain."
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air offer pilots a highly
competitive compensation and benefits package, in addition to a
supportive work environment with opportunities for growth.
Employees receive travel privileges across Alaska Airlines'
impressive flight network that includes 120 destinations across
the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa
Rica and Belize, as well as
the ability to fly space-available on any of the 13 member airlines
of the oneworld global alliance.
Interested students can learn more about Ascend Pilot Academy
and enroll at:
https://careers.alaskaair.com/career-opportunities/pilots/pilot-training/.
Alaska Airlines' sister airline Horizon Air flies to more than
50 cities across the United States
and Canada. The regional carrier
operates a fleet of 30 Embraer 175s and 32 Bombardier Q400s. With
more than 800 active line pilots, the airline has pilot bases in
Anchorage, Alaska; Boise, Idaho; Medford and Portland, Oregon; and Everett, Seattle and Spokane,
Washington.
About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120
destinations across the United
States, Belize, Canada, Costa
Rica and Mexico. We emphasize Next-Level
Care for our guests, along with providing low fares,
award-winning customer service and sustainability
efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld
global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline
partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more
than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to
locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and
blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of
Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
About Hillsboro Aero Academy
Since 1980, the
mission of Hillsboro Aero Academy has been to deliver the finest
airplane and helicopter training in the sky. Aviators from 75+
countries have chosen us to fulfill their dream of a career in
flight. HAA delivers an extended visa option for international
students, a 40-year reputation, the industry's top safety
certification, and one of the world's most diverse flight
environments at its Oregon-based
campuses.
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SOURCE Alaska Airlines