The largest Boeing 747 operator in the world, Atlas Air, is teaming up with an aviation education organization to offer a hiring route for prospective pilots who wish to work for the big freight airline. The program’s goal is to draw in young individuals that the business can train to meet its needs as it expands globally.
While a number of passenger airlines have partnered with flight schools to help with pilot hiring, Atlas Air, based in New York, is one of the few freight airlines that has a direct partnership with a flight school for a pilot training academy.
The Atlas Cadet Academy has opened at Spartan Education Group’s flying school in West Chicago, Illinois. Spartan Education Group offers pilots and aviation technicians government-approved training programs and career routes at a few U.S. campuses. The company made this announcement on Monday. Participants in the program have a clear path to possible first officer roles with Atlas Air, which also manages widebody Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft.
Apart from imparting fundamental aeronautical information and preparing students for FAA certification and rating examinations, the academy will offer personalized training and an in-depth understanding of the airline’s culture. The goal is to improve Atlas Air’s control over the labor pipeline and make it easier for new hires to integrate.
In contrast to a regular flight school, where graduates can eventually find employment with any airline, the academy makes it possible for students to be employed with Atlas Air.
