Republic Airlines donates $30,000 to Aviation Program

A team from Republic Airways visited Delaware State University on March 16, bringing a $30,000 gift for it Aviation Program.

Funds will be used for mobile flight simulators and to offset fees and book costs for students, said Lt. Col. (ret) Michael Hales, director of the aviation program. “This helps us make it easier for us to get students to a place where the airlines can hire them,” he said.

Col. Hales said the mobile simulators would be used by students, as well as taken to events and shows that he attends to recruit for the Aviation Program.

More than 20 Delaware State aviation graduates are currently pilots at the regional airlines based in Indianapolis, Ind., said Darrell Morton, Senior Manager of Educational Programs for Republic. 

“In an industry dominated by white males, what we want to do is demonstrate that there is a way into this industry and inspire the next generation of pilots,” he said. “We have had a lot of success in getting pilots from Delaware State, so it’s natural to continue to strengthen the partnership.”

Hales said Republic and other regional airlines try to attract graduates and word of mouth among students has led to the high number of graduates going to Republic.

Recent Delaware State graduates Maurice Ellis and Jay Shah, now pilots for Republic attended the check presentation event, held at the Delaware Airpark where the University’s Aviation Program is based. Both of them said they like to keep track of progress of students at their alma mater and come back to speak with them about working as a pilot.

Written by Pati Nash