Wheels Up and ATP Partner To Create Pilot Pipeline Program

Wheels Up is partnering with ATP Flight School by forming a hiring partnership that will offer ATP graduates a pathway to first officer positions at the on-demand private aviation company; partnership follows Wheels Up addition to Delta Air Lines Propel Program [Courtesy: Wheels Up]

Wheels Up (NYSE: UP) is partnering with ATP Flight School by forming a hiring partnership that will offer ATP graduates a pathway to first officer positions at the on-demand charter aviation company.

The announcement comes just weeks after Delta Air Lines added Wheels Up to its Propel College pathway for pilots. Propel partners with colleges, the military, and Delta Connection carriers to make it easier for it to hire aspiring pilots.

Now, through ATP, Wheels Up will have the ability to recruit from 2,400 students and instructors enrolled at any ATP location and will allow it to replace pilots it will eventually lose to the Propel program or other opportunities.

ATP flight instructors will be eligible to interview at Wheels Up once they gain 1,000 hours of total flight time. If successful, they will receive conditional job offers to fly as Beechcraft King Air 350, Cessna Citation CJ3, or Beechjet 400 first officers. However, they will need to continue instructing until they reach 1,200 hours of total time before they can transition into those full-time roles at Wheels Up.

Gui Canto, a Wheels Up captain, said in a statement that ATP's "fast-paced program" allowed him to seamlessly transition to flying for one of the largest private aviation companies.

"At Wheels Up, I've been able to gain significant experience beyond the flight deck—and most importantly—continue to develop my skills and further my career at a great company," Canto said.

ATP's Airline Career Pilot Program is designed as a fixed-cost, accelerated training program that allows students to gain the certifications they need much faster than a four-year degree college with training built into the degree requirements. ATP is the largest provider of commercial pilot training in the U.S., with a nationwide network of 71 training centers located in 31 states, allowing for more efficient scheduling and examiner availability. In the last 12 months, ATP has placed more than 1,250 pilots at airlines and corporate operators across the industry.

ATP's director of marketing, Michael Arnold, said his company was proud to partner with Wheels Up so that graduates would have another accelerated pathway to professional flying careers.

"With demand for professional pilots at peak levels, ATP is committed and excited to work with our airline and corporate aviation partners to develop scalable pilot hiring solutions," Arnold said.

ATP Charter Delta Air Lines hiring on-demand Pilots Wheels Up workforce

Michael WildesAuthor

Michael Wildes holds a master’s degree in Logistics & Supply Chain Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science, both from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Previously, he worked at the university’s flight department as a Flight Check Airman, Assistant Training Manager, and Quality Assurance Mentor. He holds MEI, CFI & CFII ratings. Follow Michael on Twitter @Captainwildes.