ATP and SkyWest Enhance Tuition Reimbursement Program

ATP and SkyWest Airlines have enhanced their tuition reimbursement program, which provides financial assistance to qualifying students with its Airline Pilot Hiring Partnership. Candidates enrolled in the training organization’s Airline Career Pilot Program can now receive up to $17,500 in assistance and take advantage of the partnership’s fast track from graduation to employment.

The Jacksonville, Florida-based ATP trains approximately 1,600 students at any given time at its bases around the country. In an interview with Flying, ATP’s marketing director Michael Arnold said that the company had placed 700 students into airline pilot slots last year. “We have been seeing exponential increases year-over-year,” he said.

ATP also plans the opening of two new bases in March 2020, bringing its total to 40 nationwide. The first, at the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS), adds to the two bases already in Colorado, at Rocky Mountain Regional Airport (KBJC) and Centennial Airport (KAPA), which also hosts one of the company’s 14 maintenance bases. The second will open at the San Antonio International Airport (KSAT), and, according to Arnold, give students the real-life experience inherent to operations at an airport hosting significant airline activity.

The company has also joined forces with United on its Aviate program, where students and instructors at ATP can apply for flow-through positions with the airline, and gain experience using airline protocols while still in training. Another cooperative agreement with regional airline Endeavor was also announced on February 14—and a base opening in the northeastern US is imminent as well.

Arnold also watches for another milestone to pass for ATP: It currently counts 399 aircraft in its fleet. With orders in with Textron Aviation and Piper Aircraft for 100 aircraft from each OEM in the coming years, ATP will tick over 400 aircraft in the near term.

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