Flair has announced the launch of its new entry-level pilot training program, the Flair Airlines Cadet Program.
In collaboration with Genesis Flight College, a Collingwood, Ontario-based private flight training college and Canada Training Solutions (CTS Aero), Flair hopes to foster new talent while meeting the growing demand for skilled pilots and "ensuring the highest standards of safety and excellence."
The program aims to prepare pilots to become First Officers on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft within 18 months, and comes amid a chronic, industry-wide pilot shortage.
While Europe has established programs to train pilots for first officer positions on Boeing 737 and Airbus A320-family jets, says a statement by Flair, this initiative stands as one of North America's first efforts to train pilots from scratch for first officer roles on larger narrowbody aircraft.
"Flair is proud to collaborate with Genesis Flight College and CTS Aero to take this effective training model and adapt it for rigorous Canadian standards," Flair's CEO, Stephen Jones, said in a statement.
“The program is a first of its kind in Canada by a national carrier and will allow us to contribute to the growth and sustainability of Canada's aviation workforce and to continue our mission to deliver the lowest fares on offer in Canada. Training pilots through our innovations will be a key part of our success.”
David Gascoine, President of Genesis Flight College, added: “We are pleased to be selected as the first flight school in Canada to implement the industry-leading multi-crew training syllabus pioneered in Europe along with fully integrated virtual reality training.”
Pilot training is about to experience a revolution, CTS Aero's President, Garrett Lawless, noted, adding, "With mixed reality flight simulation, targeted cognitive training, and evolved curriculums that leverage the strengths of these technologies, we provide support to elite flight training programs as they prepare tomorrow’s aircrew. Our programs use proven methodologies to efficiently train more pilots with fewer resources and to higher standards than traditional approaches.”
Flair said the program was created to "design and implement a comprehensive curriculum that adheres to the highest industry standards for training and safety."
Applicants will undergo a "rigorous" pre-selection program. Only those deemed with the aptitude to complete the program will be selected, where they will then undergo specialized training with access to top industry equipment.
The inaugural batch of cadets will enter the program in JAN, 2024.
More information is available at https://go.flyflair.com/flaircadetprogram
