(Photo | Courtesy of Leading Edge Aviation, Inc.)
Selected as Flight Partner for Forces to Flyers
Leading Edge Aviation, Inc. has been selected as one of four official flight training institutions for the Forces to Flyers Research Initiative, contracted by the U.S. Department of Transportation and led in part by Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. Under the contract, Leading Edge Aviation will provide flight training for up to ten qualified U.S. Military veterans for the Western Pacific, Northwest, Mountain and Alaskan regions of the United States. The four institutions combined will train 40 veterans through the three year program.
The Forces to Flyers research initiative, first announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao in November of 2017, will examine strategies for employing military veterans as pilots in order to address a severe pilot shortage in the United States. Over the span of three years, researchers will also study pathways for pilots entering the workforce, identify significant barriers in training and employment and design and implement an initiative that will provide flight training to individuals interested in becoming commercial airline pilots.
“We’ve been training veterans for over thirteen years and have seen the remarkable impact that quality flight training can have on an individual’s life and career,” says Brad Fraley, president of Leading Edge Aviation, Inc. “We are honored to be a part of the efforts of this research initiative and to participate in answering our nation’s call for well-trained pilots. This is an extremely exciting time to be a part of the aviation industry.”
Interested veterans will contact one of the contracted flight schools to apply for the program. Once selected, the student will begin flight training and after receiving a Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument Rating (CFI-I) and Multi Engine Instructor Rating (MEI) will be able to seek employment as a flight instructor while obtaining the flight hours necessary to qualify for an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP) and become an airline pilot.
