Miami Dade College, Pan Am sign agreement

Miami Dade College (MDC) signed an agreement with the Pan AmInternational Flight Academy on Monday, April 22 to launch a partnership tocreate solid career paths for aviation students that will lead them to successin the dynamic aviation industry.

MDC’s President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón joined Mark Johnson, executivevice president and Chief Operating Officer of Pan Am International FlightAcademy, to sign the agreement that addressed the critical shortage ofcommercial pilots expected within the next two decades, by training the futuregenerations of top aviation professionals.

As part of a unique partnership, students enrolled incertain aviation courses offered by MDC will receive supplemental trainingprovided by Pan Am International Flight Academy, including the establishment ofa Pan Am Career Pilot Academy at Miami Executive Airport to conduct aprofessional flight training program for MDC students. Qualified students mayalso pursue job opportunities to become flight instructors for the Pan AmCareer Pilot Academy while they complete their degree program at MDC. Pan Amwill also offer additional training courses at other Pan Am facilities, which seekto provide a greater value to students’ career paths.

The new training program, which began in Spring 2019, willlead to FAA certification for Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, InstrumentRating, Multi-engine rating, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). Thecredentials will lead to Restricted Air Transport Pilot certificate (R-ATP).

A study by Boeing has estimated there is a global need for637,000 new pilots by 2036. Studies have also shown that aviation is one ofSouth Florida’s top industries, with one in four jobs related to the aviationindustry.

This collaboration between two local aviation leaders aimsto develop a holistic approach to aviation training that will include bothtechnical and traditional education and will be able to contribute to thesustainability and future of the aviation industry.