First class in the school's ab-initio program completes the final part of the training

The first ab-initio class of Embry-Riddle University's Commercial Airline Pilot Training (CAPT) Program has successfully completed the airline DC-9 series type-rating course. Each cadet, having had no prior flight experience, earned a type rating after finishing the demanding two-month course, which is a part of the CAPT Program.

"We are proud of the accomplishments of our first group of ab-initio cadets and the dedication and professionalism of our Boeing MD-90 instructors," said Gary Morrison, director of CAPT's MD-90 Part 142 training. "Despite delays caused by Florida's unusual hurricane season, these cadets maintained their focus and determination and worked hard to reach this milestone in their professional flight training."

The new type-rated pilots are Charles Allen, Brent Liddicoat, Patrick Lo, and Will Watson, of the ab-initio class, and Andrew Coleman and Britton Tabor, who entered the program with prior flight experience.

Since its inception in August 2003, the CAPT Program has type-rated 17 pilots - seven flight instructors, eight cadets and two FAA check-airmen.

The Boeing MD-90 Program is a full DC-9 series airline type-rating course that teaches airline operations skills and expert knowledge about complex jet transport category operations in an airline environment. The FAA recognizes training time in the Boeing MD-90, an FAA-certified Level D simulator with modern 'glass-cockpit' displays, full-fidelity visual systems, and six-axis motion capabilities, as loggable jet aircraft time. CAPT cadets log a minimum of 100 hours of flight time and gain experience in both pilot-in-command and second-in-command positions.

The CAPT Program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an approximately 12-month immersion program that trains individuals with no flight experience to the highest standards of the commercial airline industry. The program employs the latest technologies and training tools to deliver airline-specific training to its cadets. These include flight video cameras, self-reflecting journaling, line operations safety audits, and a comprehensive academic curriculum built on a foundation of crew concepts and crew resource management.

FMI: www.erau.edu, www.captprogram.org, call (877) 577-CAPT, or email CaptInfo@erau.edu