In an industry that’s dominated by white men, Delta Airlines is aiming to change that by partnering with Hampton University, a Historically Black University .
The airline has added the university to it’s Propel Collegiate Pilot Career Path Program making Hampton the first historically Black university to do so.
Delta launched the program back in 2018 to help develop the next generation of pilots. It’s a critical program considering the aviation industry is on the brink of a pilot shortage.
CNN reports that an estimated 34,000 new pilots are needed by 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics attributes the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or choose to retire.
Hampton University students who join the program and meet Delta’s standards will receive a job offer upon graduation.