ATP, Wheels Up partnership fosters first officers

The partnership “allows Wheels Up to recruit from ATP’s student and instructor group of 2,400 pilots" and provides ATP graduates "with expanded opportunities for professional development and progression,” ATP said in a news release.

The partnership provides opportunities for eligible ATP flight instructors to interview with Wheels Up when they reach 1,000 hours total time, and those applicants who receive a conditional job offer can continue to build flight time. When instructors reach 1,200 hours of flight time, they transition to first officer positions with Wheels Up, flying Beechcraft King Air 350, Cessna Citation CJ3, or Beechjet 400 aircraft.

“With demand for professional pilots at peak levels, ATP is committed and excited to work with our airline and corporate aviation partners to develop scalable pilot hiring solutions,” said Michael Arnold, director of marketing for ATP. “We’re proud to partner with Wheels Up and bring this opportunity to our graduates, providing them with yet another accelerated pathway to quickly establish their career at a leading carrier.”

ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program allows students to train for a professional pilot career at a fixed cost and on an accelerated timeline. ATP has placed more than 1,250 pilots with airlines and corporate operators in the past 12 months, according to the news release.