Program provides eligible student pilots a structured route from flight training to a potential First Officer career at Envoy Air, including instructor bonuses and sponsored ATP certification training 

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX — (September 16, 2026)— Spartan Flight Academy, a FAA Part 141 flight training academy operated by Spartan Education Group, LLC, today highlighted its participation in the Envoy Cadet Program, a structured career pathway developed by Envoy Air that helps qualified student pilots progress from flight training toward an opportunity to become an Envoy First Officer. 

Located in Grand Prairie, Texas, in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Spartan Flight Academy offers a full-time professional pilot training path that takes students with no prior flight experience through their Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot certifications, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII) training in approximately 13 months. 

Under the Envoy Cadet Program, eligible Spartan students may apply subject to Envoy's eligibility requirements and interview process. As cadets progress through their certifications, they can pursue Envoy Cadet Instructor status upon earning their CFII certificate, interview for a CFI position at Spartan Flight Academy to build flight experience, and continue working toward the flight hours and qualifications required for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate and Envoy First Officer eligibility. 

"This program gives our students a clear, supported path from their first flight lesson to a career at a regional airline," said Bob Werderich, Executive Vice President of Flight Operations, Spartan Education Group. "We're proud to offer this pathway alongside the structured, career-focused training our students already receive at Spartan Flight Academy." 

With the addition of Spartan Flight Academy to the Envoy Cadet Program, the pathway is officially available to eligible students across all Spartan Education Group flight schools including Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, McAir Aviation, and Illinois Aviation Academy. 

“We’re pleased to welcome Spartan Flight Academy to the Cadet Program,” said Ric Wilson, Envoy Air Vice President of Air Operations. “I look forward to seeing some of their students flying Envoy aircraft in the future.” 

Benefits available to eligible participants in the Envoy Cadet Program currently include: 

• Mentorship and support from Envoy throughout the training pathway 

• Bonuses for eligible Envoy Cadet Instructors 

• Employee travel privileges for eligible Cadet Instructors 

• Progression to the next available Envoy new-hire class for qualified cadets who successfully complete program requirements 

Spartan Flight Academy supports the pathway with a fleet of more than 20 fully owned training aircraft, in-house FAA Part 145 maintenance, and self-examining authority for designated stages of its Part 141 curriculum. 

Acceptance into the Envoy Cadet Program does not guarantee employment as an Envoy First Officer. Cadets must continue to meet applicable FAA requirements, Envoy's program requirements, and minimum flight experience thresholds to advance toward Envoy new-hire training. Program eligibility, benefits, bonuses, and requirements are established by Envoy Air and are subject to change. 

About the Envoy Cadet Program The Envoy Cadet Program is administered by Envoy Air Inc. More information is available at Envoy's official Cadet Program page. 

Program duration is an estimate and is not guaranteed; actual completion time may vary. Envoy Cadet Program eligibility, benefits, bonuses, employment opportunities, and requirements are established by Envoy Air and are subject to change. 

About Spartan Education Group  

 
Spartan Education Group, LLC (SEG) owns and operates Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, an accredited system of schools with campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Broomfield, Colorado; Inglewood, California; and Riverside, California. Spartan College has more than 98 years of history and has trained more than 100,000 pilots and aviation technicians from the United States and over 40 countries. SEG also owns several independent FAA Part 141 flight training operations, including McAir Aviation, Illinois Aviation Academy, and Spartan Flight Academy. These schools provide non-Title IV flight training separate from Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. Federal student aid is not available for these flight training programs, and completion of training does not guarantee certification or employment. Administrative office: Spartan Education Group, LLC, 1 N. Franklin St., Suite 2125, Chicago, IL 60606. 

About Envoy Air Inc. 

Envoy Air Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, operates more than 180 Embraer aircraft on more than 1,000 daily flights to over 165 destinations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and Caribbean. 

More than 22,000 Envoy employees operate regional flights for American Airlines under the American Eagle brand, and provide ground handling services for many American Airlines and American Eagle branded flights at 125 airport locations across North America and the Caribbean. The company was founded in 1998 as American Eagle Airlines, Inc., following the merger of several smaller regional carriers to create one of the largest regional airlines in the world. Envoy is headquartered in Irving, Texas, with hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Miami, with a large ground handling operation in Los Angeles. Connect with Envoy on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.