42 New Commercial Pilots Graduate from Copa Airlines Academy: 14 of the Pilots are Women
Copa Airlines Pilot Academy celebrated the graduation of 42 new Panamanian commercial pilots this Wednesday, who are preparing to join the airline’s operations. Currently, 191 students are progressing in their training at Alas in different stages of preparation as pilots, Copa Airlines noted.
Of this group of 42 graduates, 14 are women, representing 33% of the graduating class, a fact that “reflects the growing female interest in developing professionally in the aviation industry,” Copa said in a public statement. “Becoming a professional pilot involves a demanding training process that goes far beyond technical study. It requires discipline, constant training, and the ability to make responsible decisions on every flight. At ALAS, we work to develop these skills in our students and prepare them for the demands of commercial aviation,” commented Captain Pedro Herrera, director of ALAS.
Alas offers a specialized training model to prepare future commercial pilots, at a significantly lower cost than the industry average, since it operates as a non-profit institution subsidized by Copa Airlines. Students conduct their practical training with a fleet of 10 Diamond aircraft, consisting of 8 single-engine DA40NGs and 2 twin-engine DA42NGs, equipped with modern technology that strengthens their technical preparation. Copa Airlines’ Vice President of Flight Operations, Captain Bolívar Domínguez González, emphasized that “the training of new pilots is key to supporting the growth of operations” for the Panamanian flag carrier.
Continuing Education
“Copa Airlines has a staff of more than 1,445 pilots and plans to add more than 350 in the next three years, in line with the expansion of our fleet and the strengthening of the ‘Hub’ of the Americas” at Tocumen International Airport, which serves the Panamanian capital and is the country’s main airport, Domínguez added. Currently, 191 students are progressing in their training at Alas in different stages of preparation as commercial pilots, of which 30% are women. The academy’s selection process is open year-round.
Applicants must be 19 years of age or older, Panamanian citizens or naturalized citizens, have completed secondary education, possess advanced English proficiency, and pass the medical and psychological evaluations required by the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC). Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, has one of the newest and most modern fleets in the industry of Boeing 737-800 NG and Boeing 737 MAX9 aircraft, which serves countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean, and offers an on-time performance rate of around 90%, according to company data.
