Delta Air Lines, through its Twin Cities-based EnÂdeavÂor Air reÂgionÂal subÂsidÂiary, plans to esÂtabÂlish a piÂlot hirÂing plan that will esÂsenÂtialÂly guarantee a caÂreer path for qualified Endeavor pilots to the larÂger, betÂter-payÂing inÂterÂnaÂtionÂal carÂriÂer.
EnÂdeavÂor Air said the new hirÂing program, called the "EnÂdeavÂor-to-Delta PiÂlot HirÂing and ComÂmitÂment Program," will use Delta's "rigÂorÂous hirÂing proÂtoÂcol." And every qualified new EnÂdeavÂor piÂlot will reÂceive a comÂmitÂment to be hired by Delta in the fuÂture.
"No othÂer reÂgionÂal airÂline is proÂvidÂing new pilÂots with this level of comÂmitÂment for fuÂture emÂployÂment with a mainÂline carÂriÂer," said EnÂdeavÂor PresÂiÂdent Ryan Gumm in an interview with the Star TribÂune. "IdenÂtiÂfyÂing a clear caÂreer path is viÂtalÂly imÂportÂant to pilÂots, and we've deÂsigned this program to help poÂsiÂtion EnÂdeavÂor as a natÂuÂral first choice for the best pilÂots."
Don Bornhorst, Delta's seniÂor vice presÂiÂdent in charge of comÂmutÂer airÂline afÂfiliÂates, said this is an advantage beÂcause EnÂdeavÂor will atÂtract caÂreer-foÂcused pilÂots. Delta will ÂbenÂeÂfit from the fuÂture emÂployÂment of pilÂots who have a clear unÂderÂstandÂing of the Delta brand, he added.
"Delta is hirÂing in a way that it hasn't for over a dozÂen years,'' Bornhorst said. "Airlines are very senÂiorÂiÂty-based. And now, once you are with EnÂdeavÂor, asÂsumÂing you pass your trainÂing, you'll go to Delta and beÂcome a first ofÂfiÂcer."
Delta is hirÂing about 600 pilÂots anÂnuÂalÂly as it expands its operations while compensating for the loss of baby boomer pilÂots who must reÂtire unÂder fedÂerÂal reguÂlaÂtions by age 65.
Nationally, a shortage of pilots is emerging, in part, because of fedÂerÂalÂly manÂdatÂed inÂcreasÂes in the hours that proÂspecÂtive regional-jet pilÂots must fly beÂfore they can be hired by a carÂriÂer such as EnÂdeavÂor.
Paul TemÂpleÂton, a formÂer PiedÂmont Airlines capÂtain and reÂgionÂal jet program diÂrecÂtor for flight-trainÂing school ATP, said Tuesday that he was imÂpressed at first blush with the Delta-EnÂdeavÂor comÂmitÂment, but reÂserved judgment unÂtil he learns more of the deÂtails.
He noted that American Eagle, which conÂnects with American Airlines flights, also has a flow-through piÂlot hirÂing aÂgreeÂment beÂtween the carÂriÂers.
"EnÂdeavÂor, which has not been hirÂing, is back in the game," said TemÂpleÂton, also a blogger on reÂgionÂal carÂriÂers at www.pilotjobs.com. "Delta is doing what it can. The maÂjor airÂlines and regionals are facing a seÂvere piÂlot shortÂage that's reÂalÂly come on in the last year or two."
The Air Line PilÂots Association, the unÂion that repÂreÂsents Delta and EnÂdeavÂor pilÂots, declined to comment on Delta's joint-caÂreer plan on TuesÂday.
EnÂdeavÂor, forÂmerÂly known as PinÂnaÂcle Airlines, has about 4,000 employees, Âincluding nearÂly 2,000 pilÂots. It pays its pilÂots from $35,000 to $100,000 a year, deÂpendÂing upon senÂiorÂiÂty and type of airÂcraft. About 400 headÂquarÂters employees are based at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
To the consumer, regional carÂriÂers such as EnÂdeavÂor and ComÂpass, also a Delta afÂfiliÂate, are indistinguishable from Delta.
Gumm said the piÂlot-trainÂing plan is anÂothÂer way in which EnÂdeavÂor is reÂboundÂing as a top-flight pasÂsenÂger carÂriÂer. The airline was renamed Endeavor after the former Pinnacle Airlines emerged from bankruptcy in 2013.
AtÂlanÂta-based Delta, which acÂquired NorthÂwest Airlines in 2008, emÂploys nearÂly 80,000 peoÂple around the globe and opÂerÂates a fleet of 700 airÂcraft.
Neal St. Anthony • 612-673-7144