JetBlue Invests in Flight Training

We answer questions about the groundbreaking initiative.

By Evan Baach

Last week, the JetBlue announced it would begin to train individuals with no flight experience to become pilots for the airline. Entitled Gateway 7, the program would provide a clear path for future pilots, who would otherwise be responsible for financing their own training.

What type of training is this?

JetBlue will utilize a watered-down “ab initio” training program, which has been relatively controversial. Controversy stems from the fact that most ab initio training programs reduce the amount of experience necessary to become a pilot, simply because of additional oversight. There is significant debate over the effectiveness and safety of ab initio programs overseas — and this article does not get into that debate.

Why is this controversial?

Most controversy over JetBlue’s decision to hire pilots with no experience is based on a misidentification of the overall initiative. Under the plan as proposed, every pilot starts with no experience and every pilot is required to have the same level of experience as someone hired through existing avenues.

In other words, the JetBlue program will not reduce flight time requirements beyond those that already exist as other ab initio programs do. JetBlue will oversee the entire training process. While this oversight is presumably similar to ab initio overseas, this is where the similarity ends.

Additionally, the Air Line Pilot Association (ALPA) believes that there are pilots who meet JetBlue’s qualifications who will be “turned away” in favor of future Gateway 7 pilots.

Remember, the program is awaiting approval from the FAA, but the carrier notes that the U.S. military and foreign airlines have been training pilots using this method for decades.

Why is JetBlue using this method to train future pilots?

JetBlue has identified the expense of learning how to fly (and obtaining the necessary experience) as a high barrier that must be met for its future pilots.

Rather than rely on applicants to possess its minimums to apply, JetBlue believes in securing a path for its future supply of aviators. Ab initio training is an investment in a future pilot, however it is not without its criticism.

Ab initio training is expensive, and a significant investment in each applicant. It gives the airline control over its future pilots, but the responsibility to train each pilot, every step of the way, is something no US airline has attempted.

It is also not without regulatory hurdles. Ab initio training, as it is applied elsewhere, generally reduces the experience required to fly a large airliner, precisely because the training is so specialized and oversight is maintained over the duration.

However, JetBlue has indicated that requirements for pilots trained under Gateway 7 will not be reduced below those required of pilots hired through any other program. This is why this training approach is so unique — it bears the hallmark of ab initio training in that it requires immense oversight, however it offers none of the benefits of reduced requirements for the airline or the pilots benefitting from the training. Yet.

Why is JetBlue announcing this type of flight training?

JetBlue has, presumably, thousands of applications on file. As mentioned previously, ALPA, has denounced the plan, stating that there are thousands of qualified pilots ready to work for JetBlue today. However, JetBlue is looking down the road — far down the road.

As noted in our series “The Pilot Pipeline,” the biggest hurdle facing prospective pilots (and thus, the airlines) are the incredibly high barriers to entry into the profession. Flight training takes time and costs money. The average cost for an individual considering a career in the airlines often exceeds $100,000.

Pilots train for several years without the guarantee of an airline job at the end of the training process. JetBlue wants to remove the financial hurdle — and the ab initio program makes sense to accomplish this goal. JetBlue has run the numbers, and believes that down the road, a well-executed ab initio program will be cost effective and provide a steady supply of aviators.

Is JetBlue alone?

For now. But not for long. While JetBlue is leading the pack, this announcement is a solution to a complex problem (and one that we identified in our first part of The Pilot Pipeline series).

While it may take some time for the controversy to subside, I anticipate future initiatives by major and regional carriers will appear very similar to this one. In fact, regional carriers have taken steps in this direction by partnering with flight training institutions and universities to select from a “pre-hired” pool of candidates.

I predict that the JetBlue ab initio program will produce high quality, motivated pilots. Training will be focused on the goal: a seat in an airline flight deck.

JetBlue is planning its future. It is facing industrywide problems head on, and planning a solution. The success of the Gateway 7 initiative is dependent upon cost. You’d better believe JetBlue is pushing hard for reduced experience requirements as this will significantly reduce costs for the carrier.

The success of Gateway 7 will influence whether other airlines pursue similar programs. And the success or failure of these programs will have an impact on current regulatory requirements. JetBlue has set the stage for the future of the piloting profession.