New Atlas Air Academy Creates Direct Pathway for Hiring Young Pilots

The cargo airline is collaborating with Spartan flight school on tailored training.

Monday, August 19, 2024 at 05:06 PM ET

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A certified flight instructor with Spartan Education Group stands with students next to a Cessna 172 Skyhawk plane. The students are part of the inaugural class in Atlas Air’s pilot academy. [Credit: Spartan Education Group]

Key Takeaways:

Atlas Air, a major cargo airline, has partnered with Spartan Education Group to establish the Atlas Cadet Academy, creating a direct pilot training and hiring pathway.
Unique for a cargo airline, this academy offers customized instruction and early exposure to Atlas Air's culture, specifically preparing aspiring pilots for first officer positions tailored to the company's requirements.
The program allows cadets to earn certifications and build flight hours, aiming to provide Atlas Air greater control over its labor pipeline and streamline the integration of new employees.

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Atlas Air, the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747 aircraft, is partnering with an aviation education group to provide a hiring pathway for aspiring pilots who want to work for the large cargo airline. The program is designed to attract young people whom the company can prepare according to its requirements as it continues to grow internationally.

Several passenger airlines have established pathways with flight schools to facilitate the recruitment of new pilots, but New York-based Atlas Air is one of the only known cargo airlines to work directly with a flight school on a dedicated pilot training academy.

Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Air Cargo Market Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government coverage and news analysis, and was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. Eric is based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com