Candidates Will Earn While They Learn With Clear Pathway To An Aviation Job

One of the major hurdles to becoming a professional pilot has always been the cost. To help overcome that obstacle, Alaska-based carrier Ravn Air and the University of Alaska, Anchorage have developed a program that trains pilots for First Officer positions and paying them while they learn to fly.

Television station KTUU reports that the paid internship program at UAA is the first of its kind in the nation. It allows pilot candidates to complete their degree and be paid as a regional airline pilot.

Deke Abbott, Senior vice president of Flight Operations for Ravn Air Group told the station that the first-year pay is about $36,000, and the program offers a $15,000 annual retention bonus, bringing the compensation package to about $51,000. "They will be in school earning that kind of money while they're still a second-semester senior, or second semester of their associate's degree," he said.

In their final semester, students will fly as full-time Ravn First Officers. When they get their degree, they stay on the job and continue to climb the seniority ladder with no break in service or time away from the cockpit looking for a job, Abbot said.

The program is only open to residents of Alaska. The university said if there is enough interest, the program could start as early as this fall.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report