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Jazz, Mount Royal enhance pilot career program

“Jazz is thrilled to renew our agreement with MRU for an additional five years. Our longstanding relationship adds strength to both the Jazz APP program and the professional pilot career path,” said Steve Linthwaite, vice president, flight operations, Jazz. “Working together on safety and professionalism allows us to prepare new graduates for airline operations while continuing to provide Jazz with a high quality source of new hire pilots.”

First signed in 2007, the industry-leading Jazz APP program and MRU agreement includes collaboration on training and curriculum to promote safety and professionalism, while providing relevant information on industry best practices. The Jazz APP is aimed at establishing a direct career path for qualifying graduates including flight simulator evaluations, student scholarships, and the opportunity for MRU’s top-performing Aviation graduates to transition to first officer positions at Jazz. The enhanced agreement provides all qualifying MRU graduates the opportunity for a job interview with Jazz.

Two awards were recently created to recognize Jazz’s commitment to safety and professionalism:

The Jazz Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism. Awarded to a full-time student in his or her final year of the Aviation program for outstanding contributions to safety, leadership and professionalism. The Award consists of a $3,000 scholarship and an opportunity to participate in the Jazz Aviation Pathway Program selection process. The award recipient will be selected by the MRU program chair or designate in consultation with Jazz to ensure the criteria as outlined are respected.

The Jazz Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism and Diversity. Awarded to a full-time student in his or her final year of the Aviation program who has self-identified as Aboriginal, a person with a disability, a visible minority, or female; for outstanding contributions to safety, leadership and professionalism. The Award consists of a $3,000 scholarship and an opportunity to participate in the Jazz Aviation Pathway Program selection process. The award recipient will be selected by the MRU program chair or designate in consultation with Jazz to ensure the criteria as outlined are respected. On April 30, 2016, Jazz will award the inaugural Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism and Diversity at MRU.

“Our students benefit from strong links with industry leaders such as Jazz,” said Leon Cygman, PhD, chair of Mount Royal University’s Aviation department. “The program provides a clear pathway for our graduates to realize their career ambitions as airline pilots. We are delighted to continue this agreement between our organizations, and we look forward to finding new ways of strengthening our collaboration in the future.”

Since 2007 Jazz has been actively involved in shaping the curriculum and training of Canada’s future professional pilots through active engagement with aviation colleges and universities. In 2015, Jazz rebranded these efforts under the Jazz Aviation Pathway Program banner. To-date, Jazz has announced agreements between the Jazz APP and the following aviation colleges and universities: Mount Royal University, Sault College, Seneca College and Western University.