US Carrier Announces Ab Initio Program

[bafanguy]

I'll put this here because I think it's interesting that an established US carrier, JetBlue, announced the launch of its own ab initio program. Someone will correct my recollection if I'm completely wrong but I don't recall any established US carrier having a full fledged, self-initiated, in-house, LH-style ab initio flight training program to provide pilots.

[I'm prepared to be wrong if my recall of history is faulty]

There have been some programs in the past to accommodate low time pilots perhaps but nothing in-house, zero-time that I recall.

The details of the announcement are sparse so far but here's what's said to be the memo the JB pilots got:

"JetBlue Pilots,

We are pleased to announce that JetBlue is developing an innovative talent pathway for those seeking to become pilots at JetBlue. In keeping with tradition, we?re calling it Gateway 7. This particular Gateway program will allow an applicant, if successful, to start with no flight time and become a JetBlue pilot after completing a rigorous training program. The first question that may come to mind is, ?Why is JetBlue creating another Gateway program when we have thousands of qualified applicants every time we open our application window??

Like our other Gateway programs, candidates build experience and training at their own expense and are not JetBlue Crewmembers until successfully completing their multi-year Gateway program. Essentially, Gateway 7 is just our latest addition to JetBlue?s leading suite of recruitment programs for future JetBlue pilots. All other Gateways will continue, including our popular Gateway 2 (Bluedarts), Gateway 6 (University program) and the standard Gateway 1 (off the street). For more information on Gateways ? please reference your FOM.

As you are all aware, in the United States, the traditional path to becoming a professional pilot is primarily based on an accumulation of hours approach and mainly focuses on single-pilot, single- or multi-engine operations in small general aviation aircraft. As professionally trained pilots ourselves, we know that it takes more than logging hours to be a successful pilot in today?s modern environment.

Since the cost and time of the traditional civilian pilot career path is becoming increasingly prohibitive for the average aspiring pilot, a new approach is needed. Gateway 7 will take a more competency-based approach and will optimize the training of prospective airline pilots by offering early exposure to multi-crew/multiengine operations, full motion simulator training, crew resource management, and threat and error management. We believe that by offering more ways to meet those diverse interests, strengths and backgrounds, we?ll be able to continue to find the best pilots in the industry long into the future.

Competency-based training programs are in use within the U.S. military and among leading international airlines. For those of you who have not experienced this first-hand, the U.S. military has very successfully used this type of highly structured method to train their pilots for decades. As such, we referenced guidance from the various military and ICAO training programs in the development of the Gateway 7 program.

Although still in the final phases of development, Gateway 7 will also be a highly-structured, high-quality training program. After completing the first several phases of training, the pilot trainee will accumulate 1,500 hours of flight time required for the issuance of an unrestricted ATP, in full compliance with existing FAR?s. Once the pilot candidate successfully completes the Gateway program and is selected to be a JetBlue pilot, s/he will be hired and complete the JetBlue qualification program, which will include a modified and extended version of IOE. Multiple stage checks and end-of-course tests ensure the pilot trainee?s progression according to the Practical Test Standards requirements of the FAA. We believe that our oversight of the entire training continuum and the candidates' early exposure to multi-engine/multi-crew operations will become a leading training option for pilots interested in Part 121 operations at JetBlue.

The Gateway 7 training program will be demanding. Therefore, we need to ensure trainees have a high probability of success. To support this, we are putting a rigorous Gateway 7 application process into place. Candidate screening will be a critical component of this process, just as it is for military pilot candidates before they are selected for flight school. Our goal is to ensure that our Gateway 7 selection assessments, currently in development, will help us choose well-qualified candidates who have the character traits and aptitude that ideally suit them for a career as pilots at JetBlue. The first stage of this process is data accumulation. Our talent department is working with a third-party business partner to help develop the multi-stage, rigorous selection process.

To help us validate the screening assessment we are developing, we are seeking assistance from current JetBlue pilots. Look for a follow up email in the coming days with more details regarding the assessment and how you can play an integral part in shaping this important aspect of the program ? the process by which we will select candidates for Gateway 7.

In closing, Gateway 7 will officially launch in the coming weeks and we will announce the selection process and timeline later this year. Based on our training capacity, we are planning to begin with about 24 pilot trainees in the spring 2016 inaugural class. As a result, the program?s first graduating class of First Officers is projected to be ready to join the line in 2020, approximately four years after starting the program.

Stay tuned for more details on Gateway 7."

[bafanguy]

flyboyike,

Yep...no debate there. Details are scant but a US carrier with an ab initio program is a first to my knowledge.

And they haven't yet said how they'll handle this part:

"After completing the first several phases of training, the pilot trainee will accumulate 1,500 hours of flight time required for the issuance of an unrestricted ATP..."

Maybe in cahoots with Cape Air or something similar ?

And there's this:

"...candidates build experience and training at their own expense..."

Should be interesting to see what the whole deal looks like.

[The Range]

Yeah, should be interesting to see what the whole deal looks like

[peekay4]

It's not really "ab initio" if the candidate pays all the cost.

[bafanguy]

peekay4,

I didn't realize there was an officially-designated and industry-accepted definition of ab initio. But, then I may have overlooked it. I thought a colloquial understanding of the idea was close enough to convey the program's purpose.

Can you offer an example of a true ab initio program fitting the official definition ?

[military doesn't count in this context]

And, can you offer a link to the official body that created this definition ?

Just curious...so much to know...so little time !

[bafanguy]

flyboyike,

Yes, I see what you're saying. The memo is pretty vague on the nuts & bolts.

Here are the parts that led me to assume (perhaps incorrectly ?) that JB would mandate a specific flight training organization to do the PPL/CPL/IR/MEL at least:


"This particular Gateway program will allow an applicant, if successful, to start with no flight time and become a JetBlue pilot after completing a rigorous training program."

How would JB know the flight training would be "rigorous" if they just selected people and told them to go get the tickets ?

"Since the cost and time of the traditional civilian pilot career path is becoming increasingly prohibitive for the average aspiring pilot, a new approach is needed."

I was guessing the "new approach" was a true ab initio program with a JB-selected-mandated training organization. This would, to my recollection, be unprecedented in the USA.

"Although still in the final phases of development, Gateway 7 will also be a highly-structured, high-quality training program."

Again, without JB selecting/approving/overseeing the training for ALL selectees, they can hardly assure a "highly-structured, high-quality training program".

I guess until the details are revealed, I'm just a blind man with an elephant.

[I seem to recall that back in the 60s, UAL did select and hire some pilot candidates w/o any flight time but told them "go somewhere, get your tickets and let us know when you've finished and you're hired"...or something sorta/kinda like that ? That's different from what I got from the JB memo]]

[ExDubai]

I asume JB will have a cloose look to the LH programm.

[bafanguy]

ExD,

I'd think that's a good place to look. And:

"Trainees will now pay EUR 70,000 towards their training costs – Lufthansa will provide this amount on an interest- and repayment-free basis until the pilots receive their first salary payment in a permanent position."

Lufthansa looking for new trainee pilots - News & Releases - Lufthansa Group

[peekay4]

@bafanguy

For an airline-based ab initio program, the airline will sponsor (finance or reimburse) substantially all training costs from zero hours all the way to the point they hire you as a First Officer.

Often room and board are included as well. Some even offer a monthly stipend / allowance throughout all your training!

In return for this financing (and hopefully future employment), you agree to a security bond, or a service bond, and/or partial repayment scheme.

E.g., the contract might stipulate that you won't jump to another airline for x number of years, and/or that you will pay back y% of the training costs (deducted from your wages) over a certain amount of time.

Naturally airline-based ab initio program are highly selective since the airline is investing a significant amount of time and money in your training.

These programs are very common outside of the US, especially with mainline carriers in Europe and Asia.

Examples include the British Airways Future Pilot Programme, Lufthansa Ab Initio, Singapore Airlines Cadet Pilots, and the Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme.

And of course, virtually all military pilots go through similar cadetship programs and agree to a number of service years.

The commonality on all these ab initio programs is that the employer pays for a substantial proportion of the flight training costs, even after taking into account the bond service or repayment schemes.

[ExDubai]

@bafanguy Yepp, that's the way how it works. From my point of view that's fair.

[James331]

I doubt it will end up happening, why bother when you have such a strong GA scene like in the US.

[LTCTerry]

What if...

ab initio

Isn't that simply Latin for "from the beginning?"


In the world of people who want to become airline pilots I tend to think of it as a person who signs up for 0-250 hours for commercial/instructor, but it actually would apply to someone walking in and saying, "I've wanted to fly all my life, now that I'm retired I have the time and money to do it."


OK, none of that matters. Here's what I would do in the modern world if I were going to recruit and train for my own airline-based ab initio program in the US:

1. Hire someone to screen initial applicants.

2. Train under FAR Part 141 timed to give a multi-engine commercial with King Air type rating at 190 hours.

3. Train to complete a frozen ATPL at 250 hours.

4. Complete Airbus type rating.

5. Coordinate with European partners with a reciprocal ownership stake to put "our" newly trained pilots into "our" jets overseas until they have ~1,500 hours.

6. Complete FAA ATP training.

Now you have a pilot meeting FAA qualifications for the right seat without 1,000 hours of traffic pattern time in a C-152 (that took three years to accumulate).

I don't know how big the European fATPL training market is, but I do recall reading that only one in five graduates will get a job in the cockpit. How many people graduate from these programs each year? I'll bet people would be mad, but 25 jetBlue pilots a year would likely barely be noticed.

Terry

[Global_Global]

5. Coordinate with European partners with a reciprocal ownership stake to put "our" newly trained pilots into "our" jets overseas until they have ~1,500 hours.

Well that would mean that the FAA pilot will need to redo the EASA 14 exams and that will take you another 18 months... Plus you need to right to work in Europe so that is a no go.

[bafanguy]

LTCTerry,

What you describe is essentially the Boeing Pilot Development Program (which won't have the issue of how to get people to 1500 hrs), announced about a year ago. It's not designed for the US market nor, as I've been told by my contact, will it replace existing ab initio programs like LH et al.

The problem here now is getting people from a fresh CPL/IR/MEL to the required 1500/1250/1000 for the ATP. This gap is mentioned in the linked article:

Boeing Announces Ab Initio Flight Training Program

I guess JB will have to explain how they intend to address that gap.

[bafanguy]

It appears that JB's ALPA representation has expressed an opinion of this program:


"Recently, management announced the new Gateway 7 program. The JetBlue MEC views this ab initio program as an untimely and unwarranted lowering of hiring standards that will negatively affect our company and our profession. Therefore, we oppose the implementation of this program at JetBlue. Soon management will be seeking volunteers to participate in taking an aptitude test which will be given to candidates. We encourage you not to participate in this assessment."

[SMT Member]

It's a bit difficult to comprehend how someone who's been carefully selected and subjected to closely monitored, highly structured, quality training - followed by 1000 hours bashing circuits in a Cessna - is in any way 'lowering standards' compared to a guy who funded his own training, made it thru at whichever training facility he chose, and then bashed the same circuits for a thousand hours.

Perhaps the JB MEC are expecting astronauts, albeit I've been told they head exclusively for Delta.

[bafanguy]

A bit more perspective from JB's ALPA reps:


Fellow Pilots:

As you know, many paths are available to those wishing to become an airline pilot in the United States. Each of you spent years in the military, regional airlines, cargo, or corporate flying in order to build the flight experiences necessary to be a safe and professional aviator. It takes years of flying in all types of weather and in all situations to make one competitive enough to become a JetBlue pilot.

More than 14,000 ALPA pilots at regional airlines with several thousand hours of 121 experience are qualified and ready to join the ranks of JetBlue. The issue of hiring and retaining qualified JetBlue pilots comes at the price of a quality collective bargaining agreement—not at the prospect of hiring non-aviators and hoping that their simulator time and flight training in a blue-sky world prepares them for shooting an ILS to minimums during a winter storm.

Please don’t let our profession down or lower our standards for the promise of a raffle ticket by participating in JetBlue surveys which seek to gather data to model the typical JetBlue pilot. JetBlue’s attempt to create an ab initio program is not an effective way to secure qualified aviators, and we are concerned that the program is an attempt to deal with an increasingly competitive market for pilots without dealing with the need to improve rates of pay, rules, and working conditions.

The best way to attract and retain the best pilots is with a great CBA. One of the greatest assets our negotiators have at the table is the professionalism and experience of our pilot group. With that kind of wealth of skill and capability, we can negotiate a contract that will enhance JetBlue as a destination airline. In this fashion, we can recruit and maintain the finest aviators who come with seasoned proficiency and safety.

For these reasons, we ask you not to participate in Gateway 7 program surveys.

[ExDubai]

It takes years of flying in all types of weather and in all situations to make one competitive enough to become a JetBlue pilot.....

not at the prospect of hiring non-aviators and hoping that their simulator time and flight training in a blue-sky world prepares them for shooting an ILS to minimums during a winter storm.

What kind of expierience is necessary to join the flight deck of Mesa and the other regionals? Is a winter storm less difficult for a junior FO with Mesa then with JetBlue?

Such programms worked well outside the US, why should it not work with JetBlue?

[zondaracer]

Such programms worked well outside the US, why should it not work with JetBlue?

1. Because AF447
2. Because many pilots feel that they had to work their way up to the mainline and LCC jobs, so why should someone else get a shortcut if there are plenty of pilots who are already qualified to do the job.

[aviation1st]

^ like the guy above said!

Modern day scabs. Underpaid, even after they're "qualified." Dragging the industry as a whole down with them.