Embry-Riddle and Korean Airlines Launch Career Pathway Program for Pilots

March 1, 2019

With airlines worldwide projected to need 790,000 new pilots between now and 2037, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s premier aviation and aerospace institution, has teamed up with Korean Airlines to provide a new career pathway program for aspiring aviators.

Embry-Riddle currently participates in a number of pilot career pathway programs with leading industry partners, but the Korean Airlines initiative is the university’s first-ever such agreement with an international airline.

“The global pilot shortage is projected to be most acute in the Asia-Pacific region, where 261,000 new pilots will be needed over the next two decades,” said Dr. Alan Stolzer, dean of the College of Aviation on Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach, Fla., Campus. “Our partnership with Korean Airlines will allow us to help fill that gap by producing up to 40 highly qualified new pilots per year.”

Dr. Timothy Holt, dean of the College of Aviation on Embry-Riddle’s Prescott, Ariz., Campus, noted that the Korean Airlines agreement will improve training not only for future Korean pilots, but for all other student-pilots enrolled at the university. “Under this new partnership, flight students selected by Korean Airlines will receive motivation and mentorship in completing their training with Embry-Riddle. Before returning to Korea to work, they will be required to provide flight instruction for Embry-Riddle flight students, thereby gaining even more experience.”

Embry-Riddle President Dr. P. Barry Butler described the agreement as a win-win: “This type of career pathway program for pilots supports improved aviation education for all students, and it helps build workforce capacity for airlines worldwide,” he noted. “We are honored to partner with Korean Airlines on this important new effort to help address the global pilot shortage.”

Captain Kim, Senior Vice President of Korean Airlines’ Flight Operations division stated, “In the coming years, as the demand for pilots sees a sharp rise, we will seek to increase the number of qualified candidates coming from the world’s leading aviation universities. Both Korean Airlines and Embry-Riddle have similar goals in training excellence. We are excited to be strengthening our partnership with Embry-Riddle.”