Cape Air and Mountain Air Cargo announced a new Pilot Hiring Pathway Program that allows pilots from both airlines to transition between the two companies in order to gain valuable flight hours and experience.
The Program is designed to assist Mountain Air Cargo and Cape Air in the selection, training, and growth of potential new hire pilots, and to provide a designated career Pathway for selected candidates. This unique Pathway provides an opportunity for Cape Air pilots to transition into the ATR aircraft at Mountain Air Cargo as a direct entry Captain to gain Pilot in Command turbine time, and for Mountain Air Cargo Caravan pilots to gain Pilot in Command multi-engine flight time as a Captain at Cape Air.
“We see pilots coming to us with a variety of backgrounds and training, not one pilot is the same, nor are their goals. We have worked hard internally, and with our partners, to develop these various pathways to suit the growing and ever-changing needs of the industry, said Linda Markham, Cape Air president. “It is our goal to identify, train and nurture our employees throughout their careers in order to sustain a healthy pilot base and most importantly, a safe operation.”
“Mountain Air Cargo is excited to partner with Cape Air and to be able to provide an outstanding opportunity for the pilots’ of both companies,” said Craig Bentley, MAC President. “The industry needs more of these types of agreements to ensure we can meet the needs of the marketplace and the needs of the pilots. This agreement brings together two great airlines with a long history of service, safety and well-trained pilots.”
Applicants who meet the program requirements, and are accepted into the pathway, can then transition to Mountain Air Cargo as direct entry ATR Captains. Candidates must have 1,000 flight hours at Cape Air exercising their ATP and have completed their Cape Air Captain commitment specified in their offer letter. Pilots will be hired and paid as an ATR Captain but will serve as Second in Command (SIC) on the ATR until gaining 200 hours of flight time prior to acting as PIC. Candidates accepted into the Program from MAC, are required to serve as Captain for 12 months at MAC as a Cessna 208 Captain, or ATR pilot after completion of Operation Experience (OE). Once that commitment is filled they can then transition to Cape Air as a Captain.
Pilots in the Program will keep their actual longevity for pay and vacation accrual as they transition from one airline to the other, as applicable. The pilots who transition to Mountain Air Cargo from Cape Air, qualify to apply for the FedEx Purple Runway Program after six months of employment at Mountain Air Cargo.