US-based on demand operator Wheels Up Experience is to offer Jacksonville Beach, Florida-based ATP Flight School graduates a streamlined pathway to first officer positions and long-term careers in aviation. Amid the growing demand for commercial pilots, Wheels Up will recruit from ATP's student and instructor group of 2,400 pilots while providing ATP graduates with expanded opportunities for professional development and progression.

Under the partnership, eligible ATP flight instructors can interview with Wheels Up at 1,000 hours total time. Successful applicants receive a conditional job offer while continuing to build flight experience. Upon reaching 1,200 hours of flight time, instructors transition from ATP to Wheels Up as King Air 350, Citation CJ3 or Beechjet 400 first officers.

“With demand for professional pilots at peak levels, ATP is committed and excited to work with our airline and corporate aviation partners to develop scalable pilot hiring solutions,” says director of marketing Michael Arnold. “We're proud to partner with Wheels Up and bring this opportunity to our graduates, providing them with yet another accelerated pathway to quickly establish their career at a leading carrier.”

“ATP is a fantastic flight school with world-class instructors and a fast-paced programme that allowed me to seamlessly transition to flying for one of the largest private aviation companies in the world,” adds Wheels Up captain Gui Canto. “At Wheels Up I've been able to gain significant experience beyond the flight deck and most importantly continue to develop my skills and further my career at a great company.”

Students in ATP's Airline Career Pilot Programme receive the certification and resources they need to become a professional pilot at a fixed cost and on an accelerated timeline. As the USA's largest provider of commercial pilot training, ATP has placed over 1,250 pilots with airlines and corporate operators in the last 12 months.