UD Announces Pilot Pipeline Agreement with GoJet Airlines
Sep 13, 2017
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque is pleased to announce that it has signed a pilot pipeline agreement with GoJet Airlines. The Wingman Pipeline Program provides promising pilots currently enrolled in a professional airline training program an internship at GoJet while they build flight hours. Program participants become GoJet First Officers upon completion of the required flight time.
Participating students represent GoJet on campus and at recruiting events, and they are mentored by GoJet pilots throughout the duration of their internships. Additionally, the program prepares student pilots for the GoJet First Officer training program by providing course materials months in advance.
“We want our pilots to come to GoJet and do well,” said Brad Sargent, GoJet’s chief pilot. “That’s why we start preparing them for success well before their first day of class.”
The internship also includes a two-day visit to GoJet's corporate headquarters in St. Louis, where participants have the opportunity to talk with new pilots who are actually in systems training, as well as sit in on a new hire class to get a feel for what their training will be like. Students are also exposed to the departments within the GoJet Ops Center that they'll interact with when flying the line, including Dispatch, Crew Scheduling, and Maintenance Control. Best of all, interns have the opportunity to fly in a full-motion CRJ simulator.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity for our students, as we work with the industry to ensure all of our students meet their career goals and realize their dreams of becoming airline pilots,” said Chaminda Prelis, director of aviation programs at UD.
In addition to $10,000 in tuition reimbursement, participating students can earn $2,500 for each successful pilot they refer to GoJet during their time as an intern (funds are banked until the students become official GoJet pilots). Other benefits include limited flight benefits and jump seat privileges.
“This program is a win-win for everyone,” said Randy Bratcher, director of Flight Operations at GoJet. “Program participants have a First Officer job with a premier regional airline waiting for them when they finish their hours, and GoJet has a pipeline of high quality and well-trained pilots from the University of Dubuque.”
The signing signals the latest airline agreement at UD that provides students a pathway to careers in aviation. Other agreements include Cape Air-JetBlue University Gateway Program, Delta Airlines Inc. and Endeavor Air Inc. Agreement, Envoy Cadet Program, ExpressJet Airline Pilot Pathway Program, SkyWest Pilot Bridge Program, PSA Pilot Cadet Program, and Piedmont Airlines Pilot Cadet Program.
For more information regarding the GoJet Wingman Pipeline program, visit www.gojetairlines.com.
About GoJet Airlines:
GoJet Airlines is a premier regional carrier operating as United Express and Delta Connection. GoJet proudly flies the Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900, two of the youngest and most technologically advanced regional jets in the industry. It has a total fleet size of 47 CRJ700s and 7 CRJ900s. GoJet serves over 4.5 million passengers annually, with more than 220 daily flights.
