MTSU’s partnership with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will not only be a boon for the Department of Aerospace’s professional pilot majors, including student veterans, but also for prospective students, the department’s growth and potentially Delta’s major hubs in Nashville, Atlanta and Cincinnati.

Delta announced July 17 that it plans to hire more than 8,000 pilots during the next decade to replace current pilots reaching retirement age and to support planned growth in its fleet and network.

Simultaneously, it launched the Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program with eight universities nationwide to connect with the next generation of pilots, including Middle Tennessee State University pro pilot majors.

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

The Collegiate Pilot Career Path application process begins in August. Successful candidates will be provided a “qualified job offer,” detailing a defined path and an accelerated timeline to become a Delta pilot.

“The fact that MTSU is only one of eight selected by Delta for the rollout of this program speaks to the high regard the industry extends to graduates of our aerospace department,” MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said.

“We’re uniquely positioned to supply Delta with talented and extremely capable pilots to fill its anticipated needs,” he added. “Our university takes pride in producing graduates ready for the challenges of the 21st-century workforce.”

Then-MTSU seniors Charles Greenfield, left, of Kingsport, Tenn., and Kevin Allsop of Knoxville, Tenn., check the view from the cockpit of the flight simulator during the May 2016 dedication of the Flight Simulator Building at Murfreesboro Airport. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

Steve Dickson, Delta’s senior vice president-flight operations, said the airline “conducted several years of research to create a pilot outreach and pathway program that will inspire and attract the next generation of high-quality talent.”

Students with the qualified job offer will receive an advanced engagement opportunity to immerse themselves in the Delta culture on and off campus, including having a Delta pilot as a mentor for the duration of their training and career, plus a financial assistance opportunity in the form of a guaranteed, interest-free loan to complete their flight training.

Students can start their careers flying for a Delta Connection regional airline, fly for the Air National Guard or Reserves, work as a flight instructor and flying for Delta Private Jets and pursue a pilot job at Delta in 3½ years.

Along with MTSU, Delta also chose Auburn University; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona; Middle Georgia State University, Macon, Georiga; Minnesota State University, Mankato; the University of North Dakota; and Western Michigan University.

Dr. Wendy Beckman

Dr. Wendy Beckman, MTSU aerospace department chair, said the professional pilot program began as a standalone concentration in the early 1990s.

“The program has steadily grown in size and quality since that time,” she said. “While there are no official rankings of collegiate aviation programs, feedback from industry has long indicated to us that we are in the top tier of such programs.”

“Delta’s interest in partnering with us for the Propel Program was a further indicator of that recognition,” she added, “and we are gratified to know that our faculty and staff’s efforts at continuous improvement in preparing our students for this career field have been recognized as a valuable contribution to the industry.”

Nick Lenczycki, MTSU Flight Operations program manager, said students being considered would include those entering their junior year, seniors and recent graduates.

While there’s no cap on the number of applicants, Lenczycki noted the process includes an interview, “so they do have t interview well and be selected for the program.”

This opportunity with Delta marks a milestone.

“MTSU has never partnered with a carrier like this, and to be able to partner with a renowned airline like Delta and have an accelerated path to become a pilot with them, it’s a tremendous opportunity for our students,” Lenczycki said. “We have one of the premier aerospace programs in the country.”

Dr. Hilary Miller, director of the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, said this also will open the door for MTSU’s student veterans since aerospace is the most popular choice for the 1,000 student veteran and family members.

Dr. Hilary Miller

“A career in aerospace is a natural fit for many of our student veterans, so this is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in becoming professional airline pilots,” Miller said.

“One of the key missions of the Daniels Center is helping our student veterans move into promising careers after graduation, so we look forward to working with the Department of Aerospace in sharing information about the benefits of Delta’s new program and how our student veterans can apply,” she added.

Aerospace actively and successfully recruits prospective students through its basic and advanced youth summer camps, a K-12 education partnership with teachers and an agreement with the Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program, the volunteer civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and this year’s selection as one of five U.S. colleges for use of a Cessna Skyhawk 172 to take to major air shows and competitions.

MTSU has more than 240 combined undergraduate and graduate programs.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Michael Smith, left, Textron Aviation delivery coordinator, and Nick Lenczycki, MTSU flight operations program manager, discuss MTSU’s use of the Cessna Skyhawk 172 April 12 at Textron Aviation headquarters at Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kan. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

Delta partners with MTSU aerospace through innovative Propel program

Delta is launching the Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program to identify and mentor the next generation of pilots, and the Middle Tennessee State University Department of Aerospace has been selected as one of eight initial collegiate partners.

According to the airline’s announcement July 17, Delta expects to hire more than 8,000 pilots in the next decade. Delta is initially partnering with eight universities with accredited aviation programs to select collegiate aviation flight students. The MTSU Department of Aerospace was one of the university programs Delta worked with to lay the groundwork for development of the Propel program, and is excited to be participating in this initiative.

Expecting to hire 8,000 pilots in the next decade, Delta is partnering with MTSU and other universities to launch the Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program to identify and mentor the next generation of pilots. (Photo submitted by Delta)

“The clear and expedient path to a flight officer position with Delta that will be offered by this program makes it stand out above other initiatives that are seen throughout the aviation industry. While our pro pilot students currently have many options available to them, we feel the Propel initiative will quickly become the partnership program of choice,” said Wendy Beckman, MTSU Department of Aerospace chair.

The other initial partner universities include: Auburn University; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona; Middle Georgia State University, Macon, Georiga; Minnesota State University, Mankato; the University of North Dakota; and Western Michigan University.

Successful candidates will receive a qualified job offer, or QJO, detailing a defined path and an accelerated timeline to become a Delta pilot. Students with a QJO will receive an advanced engagement opportunity that will immerse them in the Delta culture on and off campus including a Delta pilot as a mentor for the duration of their training and career.

The Propel program is the first in the United States to offer students their choice of three unique career routes and an accelerated timeline to progress to Delta, in 42 months or less, after:

• Flying for one of the Delta Connection Carriers.
• A job-share flying for Delta Private Jets and instructing for one of Delta’s partner collegiate aviation institutions.
• Flying military aircraft for the U.S. National Guard or Reserves.

The Collegiate Pilot Career Path will begin accepting applications in August 2018.

Established in 1942, MTSU’s Department of Aerospace has grown into one of the most respected aviation programs in the nation. Twenty-nine full-time faculty and staff, 50 flight instructors and 800 majors place it among the largest of the nation’s collegiate aviation programs. Aerospace students can choose from six concentrations: Professional Pilot, Maintenance Management, Aviation Management, Flight Dispatch, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, and Aerospace Technology. The department also offers a master’s degree in aeronautics.

Additional information about the Delta program can be found at propel.delta.com; additional information about the MTSU aerospace department can be found at www.mtsu.edu/aerospace or by calling 615-898-2788.

— MTSU News and Media Relations (news@mtsu.edu)

Then-MTSU seniors Kevin Allsop of Knoxville, Tenn., left, and Charles Greenfield of Kingsport, Tenn., check the view from the cockpit of the flight simulator during the May 2016 dedication of the Flight Simulator Building at Murfreesboro Airport. In August, Delta’s Collegiate Pilot Career Path will begin accepting applications to find the next generation of pilots. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)