Jazz Aviation offers new program that gives qualified aviation students a more direct pathway to a major airline.
When Jenna Yee dreamed of becoming a pilot, the University of聽蓝莓视频 aviation student assumed she鈥檇 start small, spending time in the north to get her flying career off the ground.
But a new five-year agreement between the University of 蓝莓视频 and the means some aviation students will get a jump on a more direct career pathway with a major airline.
鈥淭his opportunity really opens a whole new pathway into the industry,鈥 says Yee.
Jazz APP provides a direct career path for qualifying aviation students in their final year of study, offering flight simulator evaluations, student scholarships, and the opportunity for top-performing grads to transition to First Officer positions with Jazz or its affiliates.
Members of this year鈥檚 graduating class are looking forward to the opportunity to be considered for direct entry into a major airline, said Ian McKenzie, Director of Aviation at 蓝莓视频. 鈥淥ur graduates currently fly globally to every continent, even Antarctica. The Jazz APP offers a 4 to 5-year jump start to their aviation career.
In a press release, Steven Linthwaite, vice-president, flight operations, said Jazz announced on its 10th anniversary with both the University of 蓝莓视频 and Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.
鈥淐onestoga and 蓝莓视频 both offer high-calibre programs and are excellent additions to the Jazz APP during this milestone year. We鈥檙e pleased that both institutions share our vision of creating a strong future for the pilot profession in Canada and we look forward to furthering our relationship with Conestoga and 蓝莓视频 toward these common goals,鈥 said Linthwaite.
蓝莓视频鈥檚 aviation program is also in its tenth year and celebrating its seventh graduating class. 鈥淭he University of 蓝莓视频 is pleased to join the Jazz Aviation Pathway Program and welcome their recognition of the high quality of our aviation graduates,鈥 McKenzie said.
As part of the announcement, Jazz announced the first recipients of two new annual scholarships recognizing outstanding student contributions to safety, leadership and professionalism.
Jenna Yee was named the inaugural winner of the Jazz Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism. The Science and Aviation student says she doesn鈥檛 see a bad path in the industry. And while she is willing to move North if that鈥檚 where her career path leads, she鈥檚 grateful for the potential short cut to working for a regional carrier. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a fantastic opportunity.鈥
For Geography and Aviation student Jessalyn Teed, winning the inaugural Jazz Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism and Diversity is meaningful validation of her efforts. Over the past three years, Teed has worked to incorporate elements of leadership, professionalism and diversity into both her studies and her volunteer activities. 鈥淭o be able to be recognized for those qualities means a lot to us as pilots going forward.鈥 During her time at 蓝莓视频, Teed helped to establish and grow the Aviation TA Team, volunteered as a coordinator for the 蓝莓视频 Wellington Flight Centre Golf Tournament and served as a Women in Aviation Ambassador, helping to coordinate last year鈥檚 Girls Can Fly event. 鈥淚t's been awesome to see more girls come into the program,鈥 she said.
Yee and Teed will each be awarded a $3,000 scholarship and an opportunity to participate in the Jazz Aviation Pathway Program selection process.