Pilot Careers at Delta

Propel Pilot Career Path Program

Your path to a Delta flight deck starts here. Propel offers you a defined path to a career as a pilot through one of our three tailored career paths: Collegiate, Company, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). Each path offers a streamlined pilot career path with mentorship from Delta’s pilots every step of the way, supporting your progression and a Qualified Job Offer with Delta Air Lines, and Delta’s wholly owned subsidiary, Endeavor Air.

The best benefit to the Delta Propel program is its single interview approach where participants only need to interview once with Propel to progress to Endeavor and eventually to mainline Delta. Delta will support you throughout your entire journey with signature events on-campus and at Delta’s World Headquarters to strengthen your industry knowledge and develop leadership skills. To top it off, you will receive personal mentoring from an active Delta pilot.

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Collegiate Pilot Career Path

Delta is offering a pilot career path for college students at select universities and those affiliated with Delta’s partner organizations.  Successful candidates will receive a Qualified Job Offer (QJO) detailing a streamlined path to become a Delta pilot.

Delta understands the importance of high-quality flight training and ensuring opportunities for future generations of students. Pilots participating in Propel will be expected to build their flight hours by instructing at the university where they trained. Collegiate participants selected to Propel will receive a Conditional Job Offer (CJO) to Endeavor Air, Delta’s wholly owned subsidiary.

University Partners

Delta currently partners with the aviation universities listed below:

There is a two-step process to the Propel application:

  1. Submit a Talent Profile confirming you meet all eligibility requirements.
  2. Complete and submit the full application.

Once your application has been submitted it will be reviewed and you will not be able to make any adjustments to your application. We strongly recommend taking your time and having your application reviewed.

To be eligible to apply for the Collegiate Pilot Career Path, students must be enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an R-ATP eligible major at one of Delta's partner institutions above. The program is open to Juniors, Seniors, and students who graduated within the previous 6 months who intend to seek employment at their university as a flight instructor. Pilots must hold, at minimum, a Private Pilot certificate and must have completed at least one Part-141 flight course at the partner institution. To join Propel, pilots must hold a First Class Medical (note: it is acceptable if privileges have lapsed to second or third class). A pilot must hold or be able to hold a current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple re-entry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents).

Delta offers a career path for member of our six partner organizations.  Successful candidates will be receive a Qualified Job Offer (QJO) detailing a streamlined path  to become a Delta pilot.

Eligibility:

Nominees will need a referral code from the Partner Organization and must submit this code on their Talent Profile.

To be eligible to apply for the Propel Partner Organization path, someone must be nominated from one of our six partner organizations (listed below). Additional requirements include:

  • Enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an R-ATP eligible major.
  • Juniors, Seniors, and students who graduated within the previous 6 months who intend to seek employment at their university as a flight instructor.
  • Private Pilot certificate
  • Completed at least one Part-141 flight course at their institution 
  • First Class Medical (note:  it is acceptable if privileges have lapsed to second or third class)
  • Hold or be able to hold a current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple re-entry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents)

If interested in the Partner Organization path, please reach out to the organization and inquire about a nomination. 

Current Delta Interns and those who have interned in the past two years can pursue their dreams of becoming a pilot for Delta Air Lines. Delta Propel offers a defined, streamlined path to allow candidates to earn their flight certifications, build their experience, and meet all the requirements to become a Delta pilot.

Please visit the Student & Early Careers page to learn about and apply for internships at Delta.

Eligibility

Current Delta Interns and those who interned in the past two years must meet the following requirements to be considered for the career path:

  • Be in good standing or have left in good standing
  • Enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an R-ATP eligible major
  • Juniors, Seniors, and students who graduated within the previous 6 months who intend to seek employment at their university as a flight instructor
  • Private Pilot certificate
  • Completed at least one Part-141 flight course
  • First Class Medical (note: it is acceptable if privileges have lapsed to second or third class)
  • Hold or be able to hold a current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple re-entry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents)

FAQs:

Q: Are interns required to attend a partner university to qualify for this pilot pathway?

A: This path is for Delta interns who do not attend a Propel partner university. If you attend a Propel partner university, we ask that you apply to the College Pilot Career Path. The selection process is the same for the College and Intern paths.

Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Career Path

Our newest career path applies to CFI’s at Propel’s partner flight schools: ATP, Skyborne Airline Academy, Academy of Aviation, and Superior Flight School. Successful candidates will receive a Qualified Job Offer (QJO) detailing a streamlined path to become a Delta pilot.

Delta's Flight Training Partners:

  • Recommendation from partner flight school
  • Must have earned Instrument rating, Commercial certificate, and CFI at the partner flight school (it is permissible to have earned Private outside of the partner school) Preferred
  • Must be employed as a CFI and actively instruct at the partner flight school, and have between 500 and 1,250 total hours
  • First Class Medical (note:  it is acceptable if privileges have lapsed to second or third class)
  • Hold or be able to hold a current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple re-entry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents) 
  • (Current Delta employees) - Completion of 2 years (24 total months) as an active Delta Air Lines, and been on on active status within past six months. Must be employee in good standing

Propel Flight Academy

The Propel Flight Academy is a destination for a select number of Propel referrals from Delta partner organizations with a focus on candidates from diverse backgrounds. These candidates would be eligible for Propel scholarships.

Student pilots will complete Private, Instrument, Commercial and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certifications at Delta’s preferred training partner, Skyborne Airline Academy in Vero Beach, FL. Successful students will be offered employment with Skyborne as a CFI, receiving a full sponsorship from Skyborne for CFII and MEI, as well as a competitive salary, and private health benefits, until they reach 1,500 hours of flight experience. Upon completion, Propel Flight Academy pilots will transition to Endeavor Air and before seamlessly progressing to Delta.

To be eligible for the Propel Flight Academy, someone must be nominated from one of Delta’s partner organizations (including those listed above). Additional requirements include:

  • First Class Medical
  • Hold or be able to hold a current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple re-entry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents)

Company Pilot Career Path

Delta employees can transition their careers and pursue their dreams of becoming a pilot for Delta Air Lines. Delta Propel offers a streamlined path to allow candidates to earn their flight certifications, build their experience, and meet all the requirements to become a Delta pilot.

The path to become a Delta pilot can be challenging - let us support you every step of the way. Every Propel Company Career Path pilot will be connected with an active Delta pilot mentor. In addition, every pilot will have access to an extended Leave of Absence program.

Delta currently partners with the following aviation academies:

All candidates in the Company Pilot Career Path will be required to meet the qualification and testing aspects of Delta’s current pilot hiring. Employees in good standing must meet the following requirements to be considered for the Company Pilot Career Path:

  • Completion of 2 years (24 total months) as an active Delta Air Lines, and been on active status within past six months. Must be employee in good standing
  • FAA Private Pilot Certificate (Fixed Wing) preferred, not to exceed a Commercial Pilot Certificate (Single Engine-Fixed Wing)
    • If attending a Company Pathway partner school, the maximum qualification you may have is a Commercial Single Engine Certificate
    • If not already attending a partner school, the maximum qualification you may have is a Private Pilot Certificate
  • Logged 100 hours of total flight time (preferred) in a fixed-wing powered aircraft
  • Current Biennial Flight Review (BFR), if applicable
  • 4-year college degree preferred
  • FCC Radiotelephone Operator’s Permit in possession by interview date
  • Current FAA First Class Medical
  • No felonies
  • No DUI/DWI within the last 10 years
  • Has never interviewed for a Delta Air Lines pilot position outside of the program

Additional information about the Propel Company Path can be found on DeltaNet.

There is a two-step process to the Propel application:

  1. Submit a Talent Profile confirming you meet all eligibility requirements.
  2. Complete and submit the full application.

Company applicants are also required to provide letters of recommendation from a leader and a peer. Once your application has been submitted it will be reviewed and you will not be able to make any adjustments to your application. We strongly recommend taking your time and having your application reviewed.

General FAQs
You’re in the right place! Over the next decade, Delta expects to hire thousands of pilots to staff our daily flights across the globe. A career as a pilot is exciting and financially rewarding. We encourage aspiring pilots to take a discovery flight at your local airport and research the options available to you. Propel by Delta is a career path program that accelerates your journey to a Delta flight deck. 
The Delta Propel is meant to streamline your career and support you along the way. If you decide not to join or are not accepted into the program, you will still be eligible to apply to Delta in future semesters or later in your career. We encourage you to do so!

Qualified Job Offer (QJO) is a job offer as a Delta pilot contingent on the candidate successfully completing every part of the Propel by Delta program. A QJO includes: 

  • A streamlined pathway to Delta
  • An advanced engagement commitment (mentoring, on-site events, etc.)
Propel offers a single-interview experience and guaranteed path to mainline Delta flight deck and removes the burden of getting hired at a regional carrier by streamlining all Propel pilots through Endeavor Air. Once you achieve ATP minimums, you will onboard at Endeavor Air. From there you will start your progression to Delta flight deck through Endeavor’s Career Advancement Program (CAP) which includes a minimum of 24 months of active service as a captain.
You will be assigned a mentor (an active Delta pilot) during the duration of the program. You will be required to check in with your mentor on a set schedule to ensure you are on track and meeting the targets/gateways of the program.  In addition, your mentor will be available to assist you along the way during flight training, flight instructing, and while flying at a Delta Connection carrier. 
Successful Propel pilots will be required to meet all General, Performance, and Professionalism Eligibility Requirements contained in Endeavor’s Career Advance Program (CAP) before transitioning to Delta. Additional information about CAP can be found here.
 If you already meet the minimum requirements to become a Delta pilot, you can apply through Airline Apps.
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