JetBlue Launches ‘Gateway Select’ Pilot Training Program

JetBlue has launched its seventh pilot recruiting pathway, Gateway Select, the airline's new competency-based training program for aspiring pilots.

JetBlue also announced that it will partner with CAE to help deliver Gateway Select's training curriculum, leveraging CAE's experience in delivering competency-based training prgrams to airlines throughout the world.

Gateway Select allow participants the opportunity to become JetBlue pilots after completing a rigorous four-year training program that incorporates classroom learning, extensive real-world flying experience and instruction in full flight simuators. The highly selective program is designed specifically for candidates without previous aviation training who demonstrate the most desired qualities in a pilot.

With Gateway Select, JetBlue hopes to train and hire high-quality pilots while also making the profession more accessible to a broader range of candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Gateway Select takes the best from training programs used by the US military and international airlines, and applies the same safety standards ad federal requirements as current pilots.

"Much like the model US military pilot training programs use, we have built a challenging curriculum that uses a consistent operating philosophy from the very first day of training," said Warren Christie, senior vice president of safety, security, and training, JetBlue. "This is a major advancement in commercial pilot training. The traditional path will continue to produce excellent pilots, and now we will supplement the talent pool with pilots who are trained specificially for safe and efficient operations at JetBlue."

Through the intensive four-year program, pilot trainees will complete a series of training phases, with constant guidance and mentorship from JetBlue. Trainees will begin at JetBlue University in Orlando for four weeks with the fundamentals of aviation. They will continue to CAE's flight academy in Phoenix for 30 weeks to develop core flying skills. Upon completion, candidates will receive their private pilot's licence. Trainees will then return to JetBlue University for training on highly complex transport category aircraft, concluding with the completion of the Airline Transport Pilot - Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP). Training will include the safe and efficient operation of the Embraer 190. Next, trainees will return to CAE in Phoenix for 12 weeks of additional FAA licensing requirements. Trainees will then attend an instructor course to achieve their CFI qualifications and ratings. Upon completion, trainees will then begin working as entry-level salaried instructors for CAE's flight academy while accumulating flight hours to achieve the FAA's 1,500 flight-hour requirement.

Recognizing the need to support further diversity into the pilot profession, JetBlue will work to recruit applicants from minority colleges and technical schools, and partner with organizations seeking to promote greater inclusion in the pilot community.