Jazz adds the Centre québécois de formation aéronautique to its professional pilot career pathway program

HALIFAX, Aug. 31, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Jazz Aviation LP ("Jazz") is pleased to announce a further commitment to Canada's future professional pilots with a new agreement between the airline's Jazz Aviation Pathway Program ("Jazz APP") and the Centre québécois de formation aéronautique ("CQFA"); the Cégep de Chicoutimi's School of Aviation flight program.

"Creating a strong future for Canadian professional pilots by engaging with both English and French language academic institutions are important parts of building a strong Jazz APP program," said Steve Linthwaite, Vice President of Flight Operations at Jazz. "We're very pleased to welcome Quebec's CQFA to the Jazz APP and look forward to working together and supporting their students."

First signed in 2007, the industry-leading Jazz APP program and CQFA agreement includes collaboration on training and curriculum to promote safety and professionalism, while providing up-to-date information on industry best practices. The Jazz APP is aimed at establishing a direct career path for qualifying graduates including flight simulator evaluations, student scholarships, and the opportunity for CQFA's top-performing flight program graduates to transition to first officer positions at Jazz.

The Jazz Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism

Awarded to a full-time student in his or her final year of the CQFA flight program for outstanding contributions to safety, leadership and professionalism. The Award consists of a $3000 scholarship and an opportunity to participate in the Jazz Aviation Pathway Program selection process. The award recipient is selected by the CQFA program chair or designate in consultation with Jazz to ensure the criteria as outlined are respected. Jazz awarded the inaugural Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism at CQFA to Raphaël Paris-Fontaine from Victoriaville, QC.

"The close relationship between CQFA and Jazz since 2007 is now officially recognized through this agreement. Ongoing integration of CQFA's graduates has been successful from the onset, offering our students with a range of attractive and valuable career opportunities," said Serge Boucher, CQFA's Director. "The agreement also symbolizes the high regard in which the quality of our program, our faculty, and our graduates are held by this prestigious Canadian aviation leader."

Since 2007 Jazz has been actively involved in shaping the curriculum and training of Canada's future professional pilots through active engagement with aviation colleges and universities. In 2015, Jazz rebranded these efforts under the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program banner. To-date, Jazz has announced agreements between the Jazz APP and the following aviation colleges and universities: Algonquin College, Centre québécois de formation aéronautique of Cégep de Chicoutimi, Confederation College, Mount Royal University, Okanagan College, Sault College, Seneca College and Western University.

About Jazz Aviation LP

Jazz Aviation LP has a strong history in Canadian aviation with its roots going back to the 1930s. Jazz is owned by Chorus Aviation Inc. As the largest regional carrier in Canada, Jazz has a proven track record of industry leadership and exceptional customer service, and has leveraged that strength to deliver value to all its stakeholders. Jazz operates more flights and flies to more Canadian destinations than any other airline, and has a workforce of approximately 4,200 professionals, highly experienced in the challenging and complex nature of regional operations.

There are two airline divisions operated by Jazz Aviation LP: Air Canada Express and Jazz.

Air Canada Express: Under a capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada, Jazz provides service to and from lower-density markets as well as higher-density markets at off-peak times throughout North America with a fleet of 111 Canadian-made Bombardier aircraft.

Jazz: Under the Jazz brand, the airline offers charters throughout North America with a dedicated fleet of three Bombardier aircraft for corporate clients, governments, special interest groups and individuals seeking more convenience. Jazz also has the ability to offer airline operators services such as ground handling, dispatching, flight load planning, training and consulting.

For more information, visit www.flyjazz.ca/pathwaysprogram.

About the CQFA

Established in 1968, CQFA is the Cégep de Chicoutimi's School of Aviation; training aviation professional pilots at its campus in St-Honoré, in the beautiful Saguenay region. CQFA offers three career paths, namely turbine helicopter operations, amphibian bush flying, and multi-engine IFR operations. Its glass-cockpit fleet is composed of two Bell 206 helicopters, two Cessna 185 on amphibian floats, 13 Beechcraft BE23 single engine and two PA-31-350 Piper Navajos. CQFA also operates four flight training devices, one of which simulates a large transport jet and is installed at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport campus.

For more information, visit www.cqfa.ca.  

SOURCE Jazz

For further information: Media contacts: Jazz Aviation LP: English: Teri Udle, [phone], Halifax, NS, [e-mail]; French: Manon Stuart, [phone], Halifax, NS, [e-mail]; Centre québécois de formation aéronautique : Eric Émond, [phone], ext. 1279, [e-mail], Director of Corporate Affairs and Communication; Serge Boucher, [phone], ext. 1801, [e-mail], Director of CQFA