ATP Flight School Begins Training First Class of American Airlines Cadet Academy Students
Charlotte, NC — September 3, 2025
ATP Flight School began training its inaugural class of four American Airlines cadets at its Charlotte-Concord training center. This milestone marks the first group of cadets to enroll in the American Airlines Cadet Academy pathway through ATP, following ATP's selection as an official partner school earlier this year.
“There's a real sense of momentum as we welcome our first cadets to ATP's Charlotte training center. This moment reflects both their ambition and our commitment to investing in future aviators,” said George Stahle, Managing Director of Regional Planning at American. “Launching this partnership in Charlotte is especially meaningful, and we're excited to see how it opens doors for aspiring pilots in a region that's so important to our company.”
The cadets join 30 fellow students training in ATP's industry-leading Airline Career Pilot Program in Charlotte, alongside more than 2,700 ATP pilots nationwide, to train in pursuit of their commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates. Through the Cadet Academy, cadets benefit from a clear and streamlined pathway to a career as an American pilot, while gaining the ATP advantage with a proven airline-oriented curriculum, a state-of-the-art fleet and a nationwide network of training resources.
After graduating, the cadets will gain additional experience flying as flight instructors, then advance to one of American's wholly owned regional carriers before transitioning to its mainline operations. Along the way, they receive support from ATP's training and career services teams, as well as mentorship and professional development from American.
"ATP's official launch as an American Airlines Cadet Academy partner school is the next evolution of ATP's proven track record of placing more than 1,500 graduates with American's regional carriers," said Michael Arnold, Vice President of Marketing, ATP Flight School. "We are proud to work with American Airlines to develop and foster their next generation of professional pilots, while continuing to provide our students with pathways and partnerships that lead to successful and rewarding airline pilot careers."
ATP's official launch as an American Airlines Cadet Academy partner school is the next evolution of ATP's proven track record of placing more than 1,500 graduates with American's regional carriers.
ATP's collaboration with the Cadet Academy offers aspiring pilots in the Charlotte metro area a direct, accessible path to the flight deck and a career at American—the state's largest carrier.
To celebrate the launch of the partnership, ATP and American are hosting an open house and information session at ATP's Charlotte training center Sept. 24, at Concord Regional Airport (JQF). Starting at 10 a.m., aspiring airline pilots in the area are invited to join, learn more about the Cadet Academy pathway at ATP and speak with pilot recruiters from American and its wholly owned regional carriers: Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines. For more details, visit atpflightschool.com/aaca-event.
