By Katie King-katie@ewbullock.com

August 7, 2018 –Pensacola, Fl—Delta Air Lines recently launched the Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program to identify, select and develop the next generation of pilots. The National Flight Academy was identified as a community partner organization that will continue to support innovative career paths for the future aviation workforce.

This industry-leading program complements the traditional, existing paths to becoming a Delta pilot and has three main areas of focus— college, company and community. This three-pronged approach will help Delta support future aviators as well as current Delta employees who have a passion for aviation and a strong interest in becoming a Delta pilot.

“NFA’s continued partnership with Delta exposes students to the unique world of aviation while also developing leadership, teamwork and communication skills to prepare them for the future,” said Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, CEO of the National Flight Academy. “We look forward to the continued partnership under the Propel program, including collaboration with their Flight Operations and TechOps team.”

Since 2013, Delta Air Lines, the “Official Airline of the National Flight Academy,” has sponsored nearly 1,600 students to attend the National Flight Academy. Attendance is made possible through scholarships provided to students in community partner organizations, children of active duty military families, children of Delta employees/retirees and children of Endeavor Air employees, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta. In addition, scholarships were provided to Delta’s Joint Venture Partner Airlines Virgin Atlantic, GOL and Aeromexico in the 2018 camps to offer their employees’ children.

Other key partnerships under the Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program include Aviation Career Enrichment, Civil Air Patrol, Conyers Middle School – Center for Technology and Engineering, National Gay Pilots Association, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, West Michigan Aviation Academy and Women in Aviation International.

Delta pilots will continue to teach students about aviation and familiarize them with pilot career opportunities through the Propel Community Outreach. Scholarships, consistent engagement and a robust mentoring program will help the airline enhance the diversity of the candidate pool and support a more inclusive selection process.

Additional information about the program and the airline’s partner universities can be found on propel.delta.com.

About the National Flight Academy

The National Flight Academy, located in Pensacola, Fla., aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, is designed to address the serious concerns of declining Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills and standards in our country. The Academy’s mission is to inspire students who subsequently return to their parent schools and seek out the more challenging courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The NFA is a self-supporting, tuition-based educational program. We welcome support from individuals, corporations and foundations for both our scholarship program and general operation funds.

For more information about the National Flight Academy, visit http://www.nationalflightacademy.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Please contact Malerie Shelton, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, via email at mshelton@navalaviationmuseum.org for more information.