The OU College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences School of Aviation partners with airlines across the U.S. to offer pathway programs that give students the opportunity to work toward careers with some of the nation’s largest airlines. These partnerships help qualifying students launch their aviation careers and get into the right seat of a commercial airline sooner.
The programs are open to students in Professional Pilot or Aviation Management – Flying concentrations with a private pilot certificate and provide recruitment, screening, selection, training and placement strategies to cadets—as well as mentorships with current pilots and tuition assistance—as they earn their ratings and ultimately become certified flight instructors for their airline at OU.
The School of Aviation has a rich history of aviation education and training, and these partnerships help the university to continue providing excellent aviation training and flight education for future pilots.
OU currently has cadet partnership agreements with the several airlines.
The Destination 225° University pathway is designed for collegiate aviators who attend a Southwest partner university or complete a Southwest Campus Reach Internship.
The Southwest Airlines Destination 225°Program provides various pathways to provide the opportunity to get you to the right seat of a Southwest aircraft.
The Destination 225° University pathway is designed for collegiate aviators who attend a Southwest® partner university or complete a Southwest Airlines® Campus Reach Internship.
Our vision is to ease the barriers to becoming a pilot and guide those who are selected to the University pathway in their next steps: gaining relevant flight experience with a Southwest Airlines partner, in order to put themselves in a position to join the ranks as a Southwest Airlines Pilot. Destination 225° is designed to be highly accessible, cost-effective, and innovative.
Southwest is proud to offer this transition training with the university and corporate partners.
This will differ by Destination 225° pathway and the experience each candidate brings, but the Cadet pathway will take approximately four years for training and flight experience.
Educational requirements for Destination 225° are the same as the educational requirements for a First Officer position at Southwest Airlines. A high school diploma or equivalency is required, and a four-year college degree is preferred.
While a job at Southwest Airlines is not guaranteed, Destination 225° was created to equip participants with the skills needed to start their career as a Southwest First Officer and is designed to build a pipeline of talented Pilots for Southwest. Neither acceptance into nor successfully completing the program guarantees employment or re-employment at Southwest Airlines.
Learn more about the qualifications to become a First Officer at Southwest Airlines.
Flight students can receive a Conditional Offer of Employment with Republic Airways as early as their instrument rating or commercial certificate!
This program requires no commitment or contractual obligation. Below you’ll find the requirements for this program based on your flight training program in addition to the application and interview process. The RJet Cadet program is the ideal transition from the classroom to the cockpit with the nation’s leading regional carriers on ultra-modern Embraer E 170/175 aircraft. Because of our diversity in partners – Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines – as well as our broad base locations, Republic Airways offers a unique set of options for any interested candidate.
PSA Airlines operates an all-jet fleet consisting of exclusively Bombardier regional Jet aircraft. We have an incredible team of more than 5,000 team members who do a tremendous job of operating more than 800 daily flights to nearly 100 destinations on behalf of American Airlines.
As a PSA pilot, you'll be part of a close-knit, passionate team flying exclusively for American Airlines. You'll receive an enhanced compensation package, unparalleled advancement opportunities and benefits few other regionals can match.
Your career as a mainline pilot for the largest airline in the world, American Airlines, can start here. PSA cadets can expect the following.
Envoy’s Cadet Program is designed to help the most promising university and commercial flight school student pilots make a smooth transition from the classroom to the regional flight deck.
Once you are employed as a Flight Instructor at one of our numerous affiliate programs, we provide you with all the benefits of being an Envoy employee. Benefits will include travel privileges for you and your immediate family on American Airlines flights; comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage; 401(k) retirement with company match contributions; American Airlines Group profit sharing; and paid vacation and sick time accrual.
For more information, contact Envoy Pilot Recruitment at (972) 374-5607 or via email at Envoy.Cadet@aa.com.
United Aviate provides a direct path for participants to transition to United as a First Officer upon successful completion of the Aviate program and hiring requirements. Aviate participants enjoy travel privileges to United destinations worldwide and will also have the opportunity to participate in a coaching program and receive mentorship from United pilots. This program with United Aviate allows deeper connections with the United team, access to senior leadership, site visits, and tours.
