Alaska Airlines Launches Program for Aspiring Black Pilots

Ashley Barajas

Monday, January 03, 2022 at 02:01 PM ET

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True North will allow aspiring black pilots a direct path to the airlines. [Courtesy: Alaska Airlines]

Key Takeaways:

Alaska Airlines launched the True North Pilot Pathway Program with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State University (HBCUs) as its first participants.
The program aims to increase racial diversity among pilots and make pilot careers more accessible by funding flight lab fees for students.
True North provides students with internships, mentorships, and guarantees a first officer position with Horizon Air (an Alaska Airlines subsidiary) upon program completion.

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Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) announced Friday that the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State University have been chosen as the first schools to participate in the company’s new True North Pilot Pathway Program.

The program was designed by a group of African-American pilots to make becoming a pilot more accessible and to clear a more direct path for their careers. Both schools are HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities).