Embry-Riddle And American Eagle Airlines Establish Pilot-Hiring Program

Through its Pilot Pipeline Program, American Airlines affiliate American Eagle will gain a steady supply of airline-qualified pilots by screening, training and hiring Embry-Riddle flight students, who in turn will receive a $10,000 scholarship with a two-year commitment to the program as well as specialized training leading to employment as a commercial airline officer.

"At a time when a pilot shortage is upon us, this program is an outstanding opportunity for our students to acquire valuable experience with a leading airline and meet American Eagle's employment needs," said Embry-Riddle President Dr. John P. Johnson.

"Embry-Riddle is one of the top aviation and aerospace colleges in the nation and we're thrilled they're joining the American Eagle Pilot Pipeline Program," said Nicholas Alford, American Eagle's director of pilot recruitment. "We have a long history of hiring top-quality pilots from Embry-Riddle, and we look forward to using this program to provide even more opportunities at American Eagle for Embry-Riddle graduates to start building their careers in commercial aviation."

To be eligible for the program, Embry-Riddle students must be at the sophomore level or higher and maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average as well as a 3.0 GPA in their major.

Embry-Riddle and American Eagle will monitor and mentor the accepted students to ensure they satisfy the requirements of the pipeline program. After earning their B.S. in Aeronautical Science and Commercial, Instrument and Multi-Engine flight ratings at Embry-Riddle, the selected graduates will become full-time American Eagle employees while serving as Embry-Riddle flight instructors, accruing additional flight hours. After reaching a certain number of flight hours operating commercial aircraft for American Eagle, they will have a guaranteed interview for a first officer position with American Airlines.

Embry-Riddle has pilot-hiring agreements with other airlines as well --- Cape Air/JetBlue, ExpressJet/Delta and SkyWest. Embry-Riddle students who are interested in the American Eagle Airlines Pilot Pipeline Program should contact the Career Services office at their campus.

About American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle serves American Airlines with a fleet of more than 240 jets. The carrier operates from hubs at Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami and New York, conducting over 1,800 flights daily to more than 170 cities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

About Embry-Riddle
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 40 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., and through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu.