New 27,000 Square Foot Hangar Caps School's Full Renovation

Delta Connection Academy formally has unveiled its completed 27,000-square foot hangar at Sanford International Airport in Florida, during a grand opening held to celebrate a capstone event in the Academy’s extensive renovation and expansion.

The all-new hangar is central to Delta Connection Academy’s reputation as one of the premier professional flight training facilities in the world. The opening underscores a multi-year plan to take Delta Connection Academy to a new level of professionalism and competence. 

"The Delta Connection Academy is proud to be among the very best in the industry," said Vice President Doug Blissit, Delta Air-Elite and Delta Connection Academy. 

"A strong sense of pride has marked each student and graduate as belonging to a cadre of excellence.  We continue to fine-tune the Academy and enhance all the elements that have marked us as innovative and cutting-edge in training some of the world’s best pilots."

The new hangar debut is a major milestone in the school’s multi-year business plan that includes newly-renovated buildings, adding 50 all-new Cirrus SR20s (with an option for eight more) to the Academy’s 115 single-engine and twin-engine fleet, providing students with state-of-the art Level 6 AeroSim FTDs (Flight Training Devices), AATDs (Advanced Aircraft Training Devices) and modernized, scenario-based curricula.

The Academy’s grand opening comes on the heels of several major advancements. This year, for example, the Academy instituted the world’s first flight academy-based high-altitude aircrew training that incorporates the physiological training associated with high altitude operations in combination with computer-based simulation training.

Offered in conjunction with the Southern Aero Medical Institute, the high-altitude awareness training directly translates to safety for passengers, and is consequently another advantage for Academy graduates entering the job market.

In addition, the Academy has added and expanded many other programs and courses, including Federal Aviation Administration Industry Training Standards (FITS) curricula; upset recovery training; cutting-edge safety curricula; type ratings for Delta’s entire fleet, using scenario-based approach to rapid qualification, and multi-crew coordination training similar to that provided for new hires by the airlines themselves.

During the next 10 years, approximately 30,000 pilots will reach mandatory retirement. The Boeing Company has placed the number of pilots that will be needed worldwide through 2024 at more than 18,000 a year and Delta Connection Academy pilot-graduates are prepared to fill those needs.

Delta Connection Academy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, operates a fleet of more than 115 aircraft, including the latest in technically advanced aircraft with its fleet of 50 new Cirrus SR20 G2 aircraft (shown above) and seven Level 6 AeroSim Technologies Flight Training Devices. The Academy has trained students from 90 different countries and has placed pilots with 30 airlines including (but not limited to) all Delta Connection carriers, American Eagle Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines.

In addition to its main campus at the Orlando/Sanford International Airport, the Academy is the flight-training partner for three colleges and universities across the United States and has a total enrollment of more than 1,000 flight students.

FMI: www.deltaconnectionacademy.com