Online university, Jacksonville flight training school teaming up to offer new professional flight program

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In an effort to address a pilot shortage for regional airlines, a Chicago university and a Jacksonville flight training school are teaming up to offer a new professional flight program.

• In an effort to address a pilot shortage for regional airlines, an online university and Jacksonville flight training school are teaming up to offer a new professional flight program.
• Over the next 20 years we’ll lose an estimated 804,000 pilots according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
• Sterling Flight Training CEO said being a pilot became less attractive because of low salaries and less open positions.
• A federal mandate requires pilots to retire at the age of 65, which will also contribute to the shortage.
• This new partnership will allow people from across the country to get a bachelors of science degree online and complete their flight hours in person in Jacksonville.

Student pilot Josh Spircoff said, "The groundwork is basically like the studying. I’m going through a bunch of bookwork modules.“

Wayne Heller, CEO of sterling flight training said, "There was a time when pilots didn’t need as many hours as they do today. In the last 10 years or so those requirements have risen. Definitely more time and more energy associated with getting your professional pilots license today then it was say 10 years ago“

“It was amazing, I mean going up there, about 3,000 feet up in the air, and seeing everything down on the floor, all the cars, all the buildings. It’s a whole different view. I’d rather be up there in the air than driving honestly nowadays.“ Spircoff said.

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