The 21st Century Pilot-Mill Industry

Leisure air-carrier Air Transat and CAE, the renowned Canadian manufacturer of aircraft simulation and modeling technologies and training services, have partnered to launch Ascension Academy, a new cadet training program by which the airline will train its future pilot cadre. The Ascension Academy program will offer aspiring pilots a defined pathway via which to earn pilot certification at CAE’s flight academy and, upon attainment of their Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates, opportunity to undertake careers as Air Transat right-seaters (read Second In Command or First Officer). Applications are now being accepted for training beginning in February 2024.

Fighting the Good Fight

The United Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC), as represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), reported 82-percent of the Chicago-based air-carrier’s pilots had voted in favor of a new comprehensive working agreement surpassing the value of the aviators’ current contract by upwards of $10-billion. All told, 97-percent of eligible United pilots participated in the ballot.