On March 11th, 2023, Sling Pilot Academy held their “200 Free Flights” event to celebrate their Elite Partnership with SkyWest Airlines.
The event was aimed at educating High School and College students about the severe need for airline pilots worldwide and the incredible opportunities of the airline pilot career. According to Boeing, the Pilot (Airline Pilot Career) Outlook for 2017-2036 is: Pilot World Demand – 637,000. That is 31,850 per year, 87 per day.
Sling Pilot Academy is the largest and most innovative flight school in the Los Angeles area, and SkyWest Airlines is the largest regional airline in the world. The Sling Pilot Academy Elite Partnership with SkyWest Airlines allows Sling Pilot Academy students to build seniority with the airline when they start their training as students and provides them with a $15,000 tuition reimbursement after becoming a Pilot at SkyWest Airlines.
Area High School and College Students were invited to sign up for a free flight, and 200 people signed up. Because of the weather on the day, flights were not conducted, but were rescheduled for the weekend of March 25th/26th over 2 days, utilizing 15 Sling NGT (Next Generation Trainer) airplanes and 30 Flight Instructors.
Over 700 people attended the event that included a Simulator Station with 2 FAA-Certified AATD simulators and Flight Instructors giving logged flight training to Students; a STEM station where Students were able to learn about aircraft construction and pull a few rivets on real aircraft sub-assemblies; and a presentation by SkyWest Airlines about a career in the airlines.
The following associations also attended to try to reach under-represented constituent groups:
- Women in Aviation
- 99’s
- Professional Asian Pilots Association
- Latino Pilots Association
- Civil Air Patrol
Each Student received:
- A free Introductory Flight Lesson
- A free Simulator flight session
- A Pilot logbook to log airplane and simulator time (counts towards Pilot Certificate!)
- A 1-hour presentation by SkyWest Airlines, the largest regional airline in the world, on the state of the airline industry and the pathway from High School to career
- A tour of our aircraft manufacturing facility where students will have the opportunity for a hands-on experience
- Free lunch provided by The Habit Burger Grill food truck
At the event Sling Pilot Academy also announced winning an FAA Aviation Workforce Development Grant of around $500,000, which will be used to award full Private Pilot scholarships valued at around $17,000 to 25 area High School and College Students over the next 12 months (and 160 Remote Pilot Courses and Tests). 2 of the scholarships were awarded during the event.
