Internships and Careers

The faculty and staff in the aviation program take pride in their students and strive to provide them with the skills necessary to succeed in the aviation industry. Through guest speakers in classes and forums, as well as facility tours, our students are able to network with professionals in the aviation industry and build relationships that could lead to possible internships or careers.

As internship opportunities become available, we notify our students through Canvas (USU's learning management system), class announcements, and email. We also encourage students to seek out their own internship opportunities.

Professional Pilot Students

USU pilot students have done internships at the following companies:

  • Envoy Air
  • Skywest Airlines
  • American Airlines
  • Jet Blue Airlines
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Schweitzer Engineering
  • Valero
  • USU Flight Operations

Upon graduating from Utah State, professional pilot students have an average of 200-250 flight hours. Effective summer 2012, newly hired pilots are required to have 1,500 hours of flight experience.* After graduation, USU flight students are building hours by working as flight instructors at various flight training centers across the United States, including USU, flying at Scenic Airlines, and working as Linemen at Jet Centers. After that, our students head to regional airlines. Aggie alumni have been employed by almost every regional airline but the most common are SkyWest, Envoy, and Express Jet.

*Without Restricted Air Transport Pilot license (R-ATP). Utah State graduates qualify for the R-ATP, which requires only 1,000.

Cadet Programs

Utah State University Aviation has two cadet programs; one with Envoy and one with Skywest.

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SkyWest Pilot Pathway Program

SkyWest pilots are the top recruits by every major airline in the industry. And now, through the Utah State University and SkyWest partnership, you have a direct career path to a team of pilots who continually set the standard for excellence in the regional industry.

Qualifying students can receive up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursement from SkyWest Airlines!

By joining the Pilot Pathway Program, you receive:

  • Up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursement - payment is contingent upon successful completion of IOE
  • Guaranteed interview for a first officer position at SkyWest
  • Increased seniority within SkyWest’s ground school class
  • Company seniority for benefits eligibility activates as soon as pilot enrolls
  • Enhanced introduction to SkyWest
  • Access to a SkyWest pilot mentor, including regular visits, mock interviews and ongoing association
  • No contract necessary to join the Pilot Pathway Program

The SkyWest Pilot Pathway Program prepares a clear path for pilots to launch their pilot career at SkyWest Airlines, where you enjoy SkyWest’s strong culture of professionalism, teamwork and success.

SkyWest Airlines has delivered impeccable service for more than 50 years. Today SkyWest’s team of nearly 13,000 aviation professionals operate more than 2,000 daily flights across North America. SkyWest partners with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.


envoy

Envoy Cadet Program

Envoy's Cadet Program is designed to help the most promising future pilots make a smooth transition from the classroom to the cockpit. Envoy will place you as a paid Flight Instructor at one of our numerous affiliate programs and you'll enjoy all the benefits of being an Envoy employee. Envoy offers up to $22,100 in bonuses plus benefits. At select partner schools, employee benefits include travel privileges for you and your immediate family on American Airlines and American Eagle flights, comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) retirement with company match contributions; and paid vacation and sick time accrual.

Additional PartnershipsHorizon Air Logo

envoy signing

Horizon Airlines Partnership

Horizon Airline's partnership with USU Aviation is a new and exciting opportunity for USU flight students working toward their goals.  Students who are offered this award will receive a $12,500 stipend while attending school. This stipend can be used to make purchases that benefit their training including lab fees, fuel, headsets, and other necessary items. This program serves as a pipeline toward working with Horizon Airlines.

envoy signing

 




 

Maintenance Management Students

Internships are highly encouraged in the Aviation Technology Maintenance Management (ATMM) program. Students are usually eligible to apply for internship opportunities after their second year of studies in the ATMM curriculum. Internships give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world professional environment with highly experienced mentors in the aviation maintenance disciplines. Students returning from internship experiences have a noticeable increase in skill, professionalism, and confidence. They also have the benefit of maintenance experience on their resume, and contacts for potential employment upon graduation. Most returning interns report guaranteed interviews with their intern companies, if not employment offers upon graduation.

USU maintenance students have completed internships with the following companies:

  • Utah State University Professional Pilot program - maintaining their fleet of training aircraft
  • Millionaire Aviation – General aviation maintenance technician
  • Erickson Air Crane – Helicopter maintenance technician
  • Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters – Tour helicopter maintenance technician
  • Mission Support – military component and system maintenance technician
  • North Slope Outfitters (AK) – General aviation maintenance technician
  • Leading Edge Aviation – General aviation maintenance technician
  • Duncan Aviation
  • Western Aircraft
  • General Atomics
  • Delta Airlines
  • General and helicopter maintenance in Oahu, Hawaii

Delta Tech Ops

Utah State University has also been successful partnering with Delta Airlines Tech Ops. Through this partnership, Delta provides training equipment, expertise and experience, curriculum guidance, airline maintenance training for instructors and students, internship opportunities, and direct hiring to Delta for select new graduates. Utah State University provides for Delta some of the best trained and brightest new Aviation Maintenance Technicians in the industry.

delta tech ops

Students in our maintenance program graduate with the necessary course work to earn their Airframe and Powerplant License. They are finding success all over the globe. To name a few, ATMM alumni are currently employed by:

  • Cessna, Wichita, KS
  • Erickson Air Crane, Central Point, OR
  • Western Aircraft, Boise, ID
  • Boeing, Everett, WA
  • Teton Aviation, Driggs, ID
  • Huntsman Aviation, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Lone Mountain Aviation, Las Vegas, NV
  • USU Flight Training, Logan, UT
  • FAA Air Traffic Control, Salk Lake City, UT & Reno, NV
  • Bell Boeing, Mesa AZ
  • USAF, US Navy
  • Kihomac Composites, UT
  • Orbital ATK (Northrop Grummen), Ogden,UT
  • SkyWest Airlines
  • Delta Airlines