Delaware State University and Piedmont Airlines have announced a “Paid-Pilot Pipeline Program” agreement.
The agreement will financially reward DSU Aviation Program students as they build up their flight hours and give the airline an inside recruiting track with students.
A shortage of pilots is developing, with short-haul carriers like Piedmont feeling the most pressure. Piedmont is based in Salisbury, MD and flies jets and turboprop aircraft on the East Coast.
Under the agreement, the airline can recruit any DSU aviation students into its Piedmont Cadet Program who has at least 500 flying hours.
If accepted in the program, the student will receive $1,000 from Piedmont for every additional 100 hours of flying time he or she achieves on the way to reaching the 1,000 hours required to earn an Airline Transport Pilot Rating.
DSU aviation students in the program that reach the minimum required 1,000 flying hours will be guaranteed a place in Piedmont’s subsequent new hire class.
Because Piedmont is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, DSU graduates who become Piedmont pilots can flow through to employment with American Airlines without being required to interview for the job.
Brian Schultz, a senior professional pilot aviation major, became the first DSU aviation student to be accepted as a Piedmont Cadet. Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Hales said he expect other DSU aviation students to be accepted into the program before the end of the current semester.
