ALASKA AND HORIZON TEAM UP WITH HILLSBORO TO OFFER ASCEND PILOT ACADEMY

WA/OR – Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have announced a partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy to create the Ascend Pilot Academy. The academy will help provide pilots with a path toward a career with Horizon Air and eventually with Alaska Airlines. Horizon and Alaska expect to register and train up to 250 students per year during their partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy.

Upon enrollment, students of the Ascend Pilot Academy will be able to apply for low-interest financial aid, a $25,000 stipend for the cost of a commercial pilot license, mentorship from pilots at both airlines, a conditional job offer from Horizon, and an eventual job offer with Alaska once certain criteria are met. This year, it is expected that mainline airlines will hire more than 10,000 pilots, which is twice the number of pilots hired in 2019, to address the continued pilot shortage. Alaska and Horizon estimate that by 2025, they will need to hire 500 pilots a year and anticipate the Ascend Pilot Academy will help fuel that talent pipeline.