New FAA Training Program Graduates First Student Pilot | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-04.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-04.16.25

Airborne-AffordableFliers-04.17.25

SunnFun-DayFour-04.03.25

Tue, Jan 22, 2008

New FAA Training Program Graduates First Student Pilot

Delta Connection Academy Boasts First FAA-Approved FITS Program

Delta Connection Academy made history on January 4, 2008 when Steven Harden became the first flight school student pilot nationwide to complete the 141 FAA/Industry Training Standards (FITS) program designed to increase aviation safety, reduce the number of accidents and improve pilot skills and decision making in technically-advanced aircraft.

The new FITS program focuses on a redesigned training platform for aviation. For years, student pilots were taught how to pass a practical test -- rather than practical operation.

With the introduction of the 141 FITS program, Delta Connection Academy student pilots now focus on real-world, scenario-based training that enhances aeronautical decision making, risk management, and single pilot resource management skills. Instead of treating each element as a separate or stand-alone lesson, scenario-based training efficiently integrates these important concepts into every instructional exercise.

"I’ve had both traditional and now FITS training and without a doubt the FITS is a much better, more realistic approach to flight training," said Harden. "Since I was old enough to look up in the sky, I wanted to fly. To have my instructors pin my first two bars on my epilates, it was a very proud moment for me."

Delta Connection Academy offers the FITS program to give each student an edge as they enter the job market. According to the Boeing Company, more than 18,000 pilots will be needed nationwide each year between 2008 and 2024. More than 30,000 pilots will reach mandatory retirement age over the next 10 years underscoring the need for highly skilled pilots. For Harden, he has transitioned to working on his commercial flight rating with aspirations to fly for a major airliner and eventually own a charter service.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection Academy operates a fleet of more than 115 aircraft, including the latest in technically advanced aircraft with new Cirrus SR20 G2 aircraft and 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.

FMI: www.deltaconnectionacademy.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.15.25): On-Course Indication

On-Course Indication An indication on an instrument, which provides the pilot a visual means of determining that the aircraft is located on the centerline of a given navigational t>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.15.25)

“The remaining infrastructure and staffing for this outdated method costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually to support the small number of pilots that have not converted>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Wild Sky LLC Goat

Weather Conditions Were “Very Gusty” At The Time Of The Accident On March 14, 2025, about 1515 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Wild Sky Goat light->[...]

Airborne 04.16.25: NYC Heli-Tour Shutdown, FAA Closing RCOs, A-26 Restoration

Also: Penguins Are Bad Pilots, DA42 Fleet Delivery, Coulson Expands, CAF SoCal Celebrates Spitfire 80th The FAA issued an emergency order shutting down New York Helicopter Charter,>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.16.25)

"The FAA is taking this action in part because after the company’s director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired.... The review, known as a Certificate H>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC