Jazz Adds Collège Air Richelieu Flight Instructors to its Professional Pilot Career Pathway Program

HALIFAX, May 22, 2018 /CNW/ - Jazz Aviation LP ("Jazz") is pleased to announce a further commitment to Canada's current and future flight instructors with an enhanced agreement between the airline's Jazz Aviation Pathway Program ("Jazz APP") and Collège Air Richelieu of Saint-Hubert, Quebec ("Air Richelieu").

"With an increasing demand for flight instructors, it is important that airlines continue to develop pathways that encourage new pilots to become instructors without affecting their option to pursue a career as an airline pilot" said Steve Linthwaite, Vice President, Flight Operations, Jazz. "Through this new agreement, the Jazz APP will provide an opportunity for top instructors at Air Richelieu to transition to pilot positions with Jazz, enabling them to further their professional pilot careers and help to cultivate strong futures for pilots in the aviation industry."

Jazz APP is a program developed in 2007 to create a streamlined career path for the pilot profession in Canada. Air Richelieu joined the Jazz APP in January 2018. This enhanced agreement with Air Richelieu extends the Jazz APP opportunity to their top flight instructors. In order for these instructors to have an opportunity for employment with Jazz, they must be recommended by Air Richelieu and meet comprehensive experience criteria.

The industry-leading Jazz Aviation Pathways Program 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 top-performing graduates to transition to first officer positions at Jazz.

"The agreement opens many doors for our graduates, and, as a result, we look forward to further building on and solidifying what we believe is already a great relationship between Air Richelieu and Jazz," said Thierry Dugrippe, General Manager and Operations Manager, Air Richelieu.

For the past 11 years, 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 Pathway Program banner. To date, Jazz has announced agreements between the Jazz APP and the following 18 institutions and organizations:

Aviation Colleges, Flight Schools, and Universities:

Algonquin College
Brampton Flight Centre
Centre québécois de formation aéronautique at Cégep de Chicoutimi
Collège Air Richelieu
Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Confederation College
Mount Royal University
Okanagan College
Ottawa Aviation Services
Sault College
Seneca College
University of Waterloo
University of Western Ontario

Industry Organization Agreements exist with:
Air Cadet League of Canada
Air Canada
Bearskin Airlines
Keewatin Air LP
Wasaya Airways

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

About Jazz

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. (TSX: CHR). Chorus's vision is to deliver regional aviation to the world.

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 4,500 professionals, highly experienced in the challenging and complex nature of regional operations.

There are three divisions operated by Jazz Aviation LP: Air Canada Express, Jazz Technical Services and Jazz.

Air Canada Express: Under a capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada, using the Air Canada Express brand, 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 116 Canadian-made Bombardier aircraft.

Jazz Technical Services: Established in May 2016 as a separate division, Jazz Technical Services ('JTS') is dedicated to heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of Bombardier aircraft. JTS provides MRO services to third parties while maintaining the dedication and commitment to its primary customer, Air Canada.

Jazz: Under the Jazz brand, the airline offers charters throughout North America 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.

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SOURCE Chorus Aviation Inc.