US carrier Spirit Airlines and training provider CAE have launched the Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway program that aims to expand the airline’s pipeline of highly skilled, professional pilots.

The training program is located at CAE’s flight academy in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Spirit Wings Pilot Pathway is designed to mentor future Spirit First Officers as they progress through their path to the flight deck. Candidates may apply upon successful completion of their flight training at CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy and achieving approximately 500 hours of total flight time. If successful in Spirit’s interview process, they will receive a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE), a Spirit Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and will be mentored as they work toward completing the minimum hours required for an ATP certificate.

Ryan Rodosta, Senior Director of Flight Operations and System Chief Pilot for Spirit Airlines, said, “At Spirit, we recognise pilots are at the core of an airline. We have one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry, and we fly to world-class destinations. We’re growing fast and creating tremendous career-progression opportunities.”

Spirit Airlines is expanding rapidly with new stations starting operations across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Spirit also plans to accept 24 brand new planes in 2022, bringing its fleet total to 197 aircraft, and 33 more new planes are planned for delivery in 2023.