ATP Flight School Partners with Higher Power Aviation for ATP Certification Training Program & Type Ratings

Dallas, TX — July 14, 2014

ATP Flight School purchased a majority ownership interest in Higher Power Aviation, marking ATP's entry into the transport-category type rating business.

Higher Power Aviation (HPA) is a DFW-based simulator training center offering initial type rating and recurrent training to airline, corporate, military, government and individual aircrew for all models of the Boeing B-727, B-737, B-757, B-767, DC-9, MD-80 and Airbus A320.

ATP and Higher Power Aviation have a combined 50 years of experience training professional pilots in their respective fields. Both share common values in their commitment to helping graduates become successful in professional pilot careers.

HPA President Mark Sterns stated, "HPA is excited for this new opportunity. I have enjoyed working personally and professionally with ATP and its ownership for the last twenty years and look forward to an even brighter future for our companies."

ATP Certification Training Program

The Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program will be the first product jointly developed by the ATP-HPA partnership. Upon FAA program approval, ATP-HPA expects to price the training program competitively for both individual and airline customers.

"ATP has been the largest provider of ATP certification for over 30 years. Partnering with Higher Power Aviation will ensure that ATP is able to continue providing cost-effective ATP Certification under the new FAA regulations that become effective in August," said Derrick Dennis, President of ATP.

Additional training programs marketed by ATP and Higher Power Aviation will include Boeing and Airbus Type Ratings and Aircraft Dispatcher Courses.

ATP alumni will benefit from discounted pricing on type ratings and ATP Certification Training Programs as they advance to the next steps in their careers with leading legacy, major and national airlines.

About ATP & Higher Power Aviation

In 1984, ATP pioneered accelerated, professional multi-engine flight training with an emphasis on pilot career development. Today ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program prepares pilots for airline careers with an airline-sponsored career track from zero time to 1500 hours, with CFI job placement and airline employment. ATP flies over 150,000 flight hours to provide more than 4,000 FAA pilot certificates annually. As America's largest flight school, ATP is the leading supplier of professionally trained pilots to the nation's regional airlines, air charter operators, and corporate flight departments.

Higher Power Aviation was founded in 1994, providing type rating certification for individual pilots seeking to further their aviation careers. Starting from the 737 type rating 20 years ago, HPA has grown to offer training across most of the Boeing and Airbus fleet. Over 2,500 of its B-737 trainees have been hired at Southwest Airlines. In addition to airline-bound pilots, HPA specializes in large jet training for VIPs, sports teams and corporate flight departments.