Mesa Airlines and ATP Flight School Launch Pilot Tuition Assistance Program

Mesa Airlines and ATP Flight School take the first step to financially promote the pilot career with ATP’s new Tuition Reimbursement Program. In this exclusive agreement, Mesa Airlines will offer ATP’s current instructor group of 200 its tuition assistance program, Mesa TAP. In exchange, these pilots will commit to flying for Mesa Airlines upon reaching eligibility. Mesa also plans to invest in future student pilots through this innovative program.

“We recognize the huge regulatory and financial burdens for pilots entering the industry today, and want to invest in training the next generation of aviators at Mesa Airlines,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and CEO. “With our ongoing growth, extensive upgrade opportunities and long-term codeshare agreements, we believe there has never been a better time to join Mesa.”

Mesa is the first airline to invest in pilots as they build flight experience through ATP’s Tuition Reimbursement Program. ATP students have access to numerous loan options for full financing of airline career program flight training. This agreement will allow for a substantial portion of that payment to be subsidized by the pilot’s future employer, Mesa Airlines.

“This is the first program that truly promotes the pilot career. It provides a solution to the pilot’s loan repayment responsibility and will help them make a decision to enter into one of the most rewarding careers with tremendous long-term earning potential,” said Derrick Dennis, ATP’s President.

Since 2013, Mesa has grown significantly – doubling the size of the company, creating 900 new positions, and providing job security and enhanced opportunities for all its employees. With 10 more E175s and seven CRJ900 NextGen aircraft currently scheduled for delivery in 2015, Mesa’s fleet total will grow to 115 aircraft this year. Mesa is currently staffing crew bases in Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Washington Dulles.

About Mesa Airlines

A multiple-time recipient of Air Transport World’s Regional Airline of the Year Award and ranked No. 1 Regional Airline three consecutive years by the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report, Phoenix-based Mesa Airlines operates as American Eagle and US Airways Express from hubs in Phoenix, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Charlotte (through May 2015) and as United Express from Washington Dulles and Houston. Founded on a mesa in New Mexico in 1982 by Larry and Janie Risley, Mesa currently operates 97 aircraft, with more than 400 daily system departures to 91 cities, 35 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Mexico. The company has approximately 2,500 employees and plans to hire an additional 1,000 in the next two years. If you are interested in joining our company, go to www.mesa-air.com.

About ATP Flight School

In 1984, ATP pioneered accelerated, professional multi-engine flight training with an emphasis on pilot career development. Today ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program prepares pilots for airline careers with an airline-sponsored career track from zero time to 1500 hours, with CFI job placement and airline employment. ATP flies over 150,000 flight hours annually with 260 aircraft which results in more than 4,500 FAA pilot certificates each year. As America’s largest flight school, ATP is the leading supplier of professionally trained pilots to the nation’s regional airlines, air charter operators, and corporate flight departments. Learn more at ATPFlightSchool.com.

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