Get Hands-on Experience With Cape Air
We know that your path to becoming a commercial airline pilot doesn’t end with LIFT Academy®, which is why we’ve developed pathways to help you continue on that journey even after graduation. Thanks to our workforce development relationship with Cape Air, LIFT℠ graduates have the opportunity to build flight time as First Officers with Cape Air. To explain how Cape Air can help further your aviation career, we talked with Zach Arace, LIFT graduate and First Officer at Cape Air.
Why Cape Air?
Building flight hours is essential to becoming a commercial airline pilot; however, finding ways to do so isn’t always easy. At least, that would be the case if not for our relationship with Cape Air. You’ll be able to apply for a First Officer Position with Cape Air after you’ve completed training at LIFT Academy and accumulated 500 flight hours — and that can happen quicker than you might expect.
“I graduated from LIFT Academy in April, and within a few weeks, I was being trained at Cape Air,” said Zach. “I started just shortly after reaching the 500 training hours milestone.”
The transition from LIFT Academy to Cape Air is a smooth one. Like with any new job, you’ll undergo training, but you’ll find that the time you’ve spent at LIFT Academy has prepared you well. That’s because our all-Diamond fleet has a lot in common with the aircraft at Cape Air, including a glass flight deck with the Garmin G1000 suite in the flight deck.
“The plane I fly, the Tecnam Traveller, immediately reminded me of the Diamond aircraft at LIFT Academy,” said Zach. “I felt right at home on the flight deck.”
A Place To Grow
During your time with Cape Air, you’ll further hone your skills and continue to grow as a pilot.
“Experiencing a true airline environment and getting my hands dirty made all the difference for me,” said Zach. “Building flight hours as an instructor is a great option, but you don’t get to fly out of Boston that way.”
Cape Air operates daily passenger flights throughout Montana, the Northeast and the Caribbean, giving you the chance to fly in weather conditions and airspaces you may not get to master with other airlines or as a flight instructor.
“We fly through all types of weather, which is a great training experience,” said Zach. “Even Montana winters can’t stop us from building hours.”
Another way Cape Air helps you grow as a pilot is by allowing you to conduct passenger flights.
“Those back seats aren’t empty,” said Zach. “During training, you get used to seeing empty chairs, but now when I look back, I see smiling faces.”
Perhaps most importantly, Cape Air provides you with opportunities to build flight hours consistently.
“The schedule is great,” said Zach. “Work is four days on and three days off, but you can work up to six days on if you want to build more time. It feels like you are working a true pilot schedule, which helps you get into the airline mindset.”
A Pathway To Success
LIFT Academy sets you up for success after graduation with our direct pathway to build time at Cape Air. Much like your time at LIFT Academy, your time at Cape Air will help prepare you for the next step in your career.
“Whether you want to fly with Republic Airways long term or move onto the mainlines, Cape Air does a fantastic job preparing you for the next stage of your career,” said Zach.
Beyond the flight hours and technical training you’ll receive at Cape Air, the connections you’ll make are another valuable asset.
“You’ll fly with some great people at Cape Air,” said Zach. “You never know who you’ll fly with in the future, so it’s important to network. I mean, there are people I met at LIFT Academy that I fly with now at Cape Air.”
It won’t be easy to become a commercial airline pilot, but with a clear pathway to that goal, Cape Air gives you the tools to make that dream a reality.
“It takes a lot of drive and determination to earn your stripes,” said Zach. “If this is your dream, though, it’s worth every sacrifice.”
Are you ready to pursue your dream?
Learn more or apply today at flywithlift.com.
