Horizon Air Pilot Recruitment

01/01/2024

New year, new career?

Have you dreamed of becoming a pilot and are ready to take the leap? Alaska Airlines’ Ascend Pilot Academy is now accepting applicants for a short window: January 1-7,2024. We know the path to becoming a commercial pilot can seem long and challenging and our Ascend program aims to support aspiring pilots through their journey by providing support and easing the cost burden of flight training. Join the team with the best care in the air! https://bit.ly/3v6XCjo

28/07/2023

We are proud to partner with NGPA in offering a $5,000 Alaska Airlines Advanced Flight Scholarship!

Applications are due by July 31st. Learn more and apply now. https://bit.ly/44J3ADH

01/07/2023

Have you dreamed of becoming a pilot and are ready to take the leap? Alaska Airlines’ Ascend Pilot Academy is now accepting applicants for a short window: July 1-7, 2023. We know the path to becoming a commercial pilot can seem long and challenging and our Ascend program aims to support aspiring pilots through their journey by providing support and easing the cost burden of flight training. Join the team with the best care in the air! https://bit.ly/44rmnDi

04/04/2023

Meet Horizon Captain Heather DeRemer!

Growing up in the state of Alaska, Heather knew she wanted to be pilot from a very young age. She was inspired by her dad, who flew A-10 Warthogs in the Air Force. At the age of 10, she began flying glider aircraft. She later joined the Civil Air Patrol and completed all her fixed-wing ratings with her dad as her instructor. After nearly 10 years in the U.S. Army flying UH-60 Blackhawk on multiple deployments as pilot in command, air mission commander, and unit trainer, she went to work for another regional airline for two and a half years.

Heather landed a job with Horizon in January 2022 as a first officer based in Anchorage, which she loves since she’s home-based. Flying from the Anchorage base also means that the unique in-state flying allows her to be home with her family most nights of the month.

When it comes to her favorite place to fly, Heather says Deadhorse, which is located north of the Arctic Circle.

"When fog isn't obscuring the runway, it's a beautiful wide-open space,” she said. “Sometimes, you can see caribou, bears, and other wildlife. It's truly Alaska!"

Heather's advice for future pilots is to find a company that gives you the best quality of life. She stresses the importance of finding a balance between work and family, noting that commuting can be stressful and cause you to miss important events. She also reminds us that the aviation industry is always changing, and it's important not to take things too seriously because by next month, it will all be different.

Interested in a career as a pilot with Horizon? Learn more. https://bit.ly/3MiOdfa

09/03/2023

Wheels up as we take off to Phoenix on March 14h. Join us at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for our Meet Our Chiefs presentation. ✈️

Register now to save your seat. https://bit.ly/3JqoK1q

08/03/2023

Join us on Wednesday, March 22 for the Portland Airport Job Fair. The job fair kicks off at 11 AM and will have positions available for all skill levels in part-time and full-time positions for aviation, airlines, hospitality, retail, restaurants and federal related fields.

Bring your resume or apply online today. https://bit.ly/3ZzMy8y

08/03/2023

In celebration of International Women's Day, we are championing pilots like Callie to show how far the industry has come in recent years and set an example for future generations of women in aviation.

Capt. Callie piloted her last Horizon Air flight, this one with an all-female crew on board, and to make it extra special she also was able to have her mom and grandfather as guests in the main cabin for the first time since becoming a pilot.

“It was great. I’m proud of her. She found what she wanted and stuck to it,” said her grandfather, a Boeing retiree.

Soon, Callie will pilot aircraft for Alaska Airlines, where her mom has been a flight attendant for over 30 years. This transition from Horizon to Alaska is a great example of our Pilot Pathways Program at work and how it creates the most direct flight path for Horizon pilots to make the move from a regional to a major airline, if desired, as simple as possible. https://bit.ly/3YyBYgV

14/02/2023

Horizon Captain Emma Fox’s favorite part of being a pilot isn’t the flying (though she loves that too). Her favorite part is having the opportunity to mentor and support students and new hire pilots as they begin their careers.

“A lot of my favorite moments from instructing were actually successes outside of the actual flying such as teaching a subject in a new way for a student that learned differently than me, helping students with scholarships and funding options, and helping students eventually find flying jobs after they completed their ratings,” Fox said. “I've gotten to see a few students I worked with in summer camps and other events go on to become pilots and even start teaching their own students!”

Fox is one of the co-managers of Horizon’s Mentor Programs.

Pilot Development Mentor Program – Assists Pilot Development and Ascend Academy students as they navigate flight training by connecting them with a current Horizon pilot.

New Hire Mentor Program - Assists every new-hire first officer as they progress through training and start flying on the line. Each class is assigned a class mentor that checks in and helps with assimilation into everyday life. This includes tips for success in training, help with bidding, jumpseating and non-revving, and checking in at each step of the training footprint.

Fox said that the hope is that every future and current Horizon pilot receives great mentoring and support from their peers.

“We all have a unique experience and path in getting to Horizon, and if we can help others navigate their own challenges, it gives us a greater sense of purpose,” shared Fox. “The Mentor Programs are a great way to widen your community. I've gotten to meet first officers and captains from other bases that I might not otherwise fly with, pilots from different schools and backgrounds, and aspiring pilots with questions about how to get involved. Keeping in touch with the pilot development students is easy because we get to share our passion for aviation with each other. If there's one thing pilots can't stop talking about, it's airplanes, so we might as well connect with one another and help each other keep flying!”

Learn more about pilot careers at Horizon and Alaska Airlines! https://bit.ly/3Io7DN0

10/02/2023

Join us in Salt Lake City! ✈️
Register online now: https://bit.ly/3jOUxz3

09/02/2023

We have arrived to our destination, the 2023 NGPA Industry Expo in Palm Springs 😎. Come say hi to our team, we are located in Mesquite C.

09/02/2023

At Alaska, we love seeing women soar. We’re attending the 34th Annual Women in Aviation International Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center on 2/23-2/25. Stop by the Alaska and Horizon booths to meet our amazing team.

08/02/2023

Join us at the 2023 NGPA Industry Expo in Palm Springs on 2/9 & 2/10! As longtime supporters of the LGBTQ community, we’re committed to a more equitable airline industry. Stop by for meet and greets and apply for open Horizon First Officer positions. See you there!

25/01/2023

SAVE THE DATES! ✈

We are coming to a city near you. Our pilot recruitment team will be attending events all over the country, so make sure to mark your calendars.

We will be sharing more information about the individual events over the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

21/12/2022

Looking for a career where you can soar?

Applications are now open for the True North Pilot Development Program, offering BIPOC pilots from Delaware State University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore a flight path to the future.

Apply today and help us build a better, more diverse airline that people love. ✈️ https://bit.ly/3G83DiO

15/12/2022

Some people dream of becoming pilots their entire lives. That wasn’t the case for Horizon Captain Amelia Hilsen. In college, her career aspirations were quite a bit different. She planned to study neurobiology, so she could become a brain surgeon.

Having grown up around the aviation industry, she realized that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents and become a pilot. So that’s what she did!

“My parents emphasized my time being valuable, and if I wanted to pursue flying, I should be spending my time doing that, not sitting through lectures I didn’t care about anymore,” she said. “So, I switched gears and dove headfirst back into pursuing a career in aviation.”

Now, Hilsen has been with Horizon for nearly five years.

“I love working with people who love the Pacific Northwest, and they truly love aviation. Every pilot and flight attendant that I've flown with genuinely wants to be here,” she said.

Hilsen says she couldn’t imagine doing anything else with her life.

13/12/2022

With celebrations today in Seattle and Portland, Horizon employees gave a warm welcome to our newest E175 featuring a retro Horizon livery.

This livery is extra special because it celebrates our past and future! N652MK marks the first of 11 new E175s that we’ll take delivery of over the next 9 months.

The “MK” tail number honors Milt Kuolt who founded Horizon 41 years ago. The "meatball" adorned Horizon aircraft from 1981 through the mid-1990s, and the logo can still be seen on Horizon crew uniforms and service pins.

The design is similar to our Heritage Livery which is painted on a Q400 – N421QX – which will retire at the end of January.

01/12/2022

This week, we’re in flight with Chief Pilot JP Wilson who after 15 years at Alaska and Horizon, knows a thing or two about our culture of care.

When asked, “Why Alaska?” JP shared that our unique culture makes us who we are, and we tend to agree. We’re dedicated to growing and diversifying our team through a number of programs that provide opportunities for future aviation leaders.

Take True North, a recruitment program that focuses on hiring BIPOC pilots, for example. It puts candidates on an accelerated path from opportunities at Horizon Air to mainline flying for Alaska Airlines. From ongoing mentorship by our very own pilots (like JP!) to an apprenticeship that can lead to full-time employment, we cover every step of the journey.

To learn more about True North, click here: https://bit.ly/3O5pV7a

29/11/2022

We’re working to build the next generation of aircraft maintenance technicians. As part of a partnership with Portland Community College, this month, Horizon donated a retired Q400 - N429QX- to the Portland Community College Foundation, a nonprofit that mobilizes private support for student scholarships and educational programs at PCC.

The donated Q400 will give students in the school’s Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Aviation Science (AVS) programs the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working on a commercial aircraft. At many AMT schools, students work on aircraft that are much smaller than what’s used at mainline and regional airlines, so the donated Q400 is a game changer and will better prepare technicians for joining airlines like Horizon and Alaska.

“This Q400 will give students the opportunity to get their hands on a full-size airplane from a real airline and the skills and knowledge they gain will carry them for their entire career,” said Kayler Randall, former PCC student and current aircraft technician for Horizon. “This is a huge asset to the program and I’m really grateful to everyone involved in making this happen.” https://bit.ly/3gIQVNp

To help us build the next generation of aircraft maintenance technicians, Horizon donated a retired Q400 – N429QX- to the Portland Community College Foundation, a non-profit that mobilizes pr…

09/11/2022

See you (virtually) at Girls LAUNCH on Saturday, November 12, from 10 AM - 3 PM EST. This program is free, virtual, and open to girls and young women of all ages. Register now. bit.ly/0770

09/11/2022

The future of flight looks bright! With our partners at OBAP - Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals we're committed to a more equitable aviation industry and can’t wait to watch the next generation of girls soar.

Learn more about our pilot training and development programs and how they can help launch your career. ✈️ https://bit.ly/3tft2Q7

27/10/2022

For Horizon Captain Jesse Asher, becoming a pilot was an unexpected career. That changed the day he went on his first training flight.

He’s been with Horizon for nearly nine years and is one of the first captains to complete transition training from the Q400 to the E175. Asher’s crew base in Medford, Oregon was the first to transition to the jet.

“The jet is so well designed and can do some really cool things,” he said. “I am excited to see a single fleet operation. I believe the jet will open new opportunities for growth and I am excited to see what markets will become available for us to fly.”

One of Asher’s favorite parts of working for Horizon is the quality of life.

“I’m a proud dad and I love that I can be there to coach my daughter’s soccer team and be there for all of life’s big moments,” he said.

“My advice to future pilots don’t forget to have fun and enjoy what you do. We live in an era that has an unprecedented demand for pilots, which creates a focus on getting pilots trained to go to the airlines at a much faster rate than we are used to. That pace or desire to get to the "majors" can sometimes overshadow the enjoyment of learning to fly. We are a small group of fortunate people, who get to fly for a living. How cool is that?!"

If you have an interest in aviation, apply online today and learn how Horizon can take your career to new heights. https://bit.ly/37LF2ls

12/10/2022

This Sunday, October 16, we'll be at Fall Into the Future, a College & Career Fair. This begins at 10 am at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, and will highlight , and future career opportunities. Join us and learn more about our development programs.

07/10/2022

Are you a female pilot pursuing a professional airline pilot career? Alaska Air Group is currently offering one $5,000 scholarship through Women in Aviation.

Applicants must be full-time students at the junior or senior level with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), or interested in our Pilot Development Program.

Applications close on October 12. To learn more about the requirements and applications process, visit https://www.wai.org/scholarship-listings?id=39 and apply today!

30/09/2022

Meet Q400 First Officer Michael Reveles, a proud member of our Latin Culture Resource Group (LCRG) member. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked Michael what impact LCRG has had on him and other Horizon employees.

"The LCRG is helping build ties with Horizon's Pilot Development Program, and it's been fantastic. Future Horizon pilots can now be matched with Latinx pilot mentors, which is awesome. Representation for young pilots at these airlines will hopefully help them feel more comfortable seeking mentorship from pilots with similar backgrounds," Reveles said.

He added: "That mentorship can alleviate many headaches for young pilots navigating training. Having a resource in their corner like this is something I never had as the first pilot in my family. Still, I feel it's so important for the next generation of pilots."

Interesting in becoming the next generation of pilots at Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines? Learn what opportunities are available with our Pilot Development Program. https://bit.ly/3rhNU8w

15/09/2022

The US is currently experiencing a pilot shortage and Alaska and Horizon Air are working to combat this problem by establishing, in partnership with the Hillsboro Aero Academy, the Ascend Pilot Academy.

This program aims to provide aspiring pilots a simpler, more financially accessible path to becoming a student pilot. Enrolled cadets will be eligible for access to financial aid, and a stipend up to $26,463 upon signing on to work for Horizon Air. https://cnb.cx/3BgP0Gb

If you are interested in learning more about pilot training opportunities please visit https://bit.ly/3xoU1eR.

U.S. airlines are facing a severe pilot shortage. Here's what carriers like United, Delta and Alaska are doing to fix the problem.

25/08/2022

Why Alaska? Our pilots and pilots in development have a few thoughts on just that.

Interested in taking your career to new heights and working with an amazing team? Apply online today. ✈️ https://bit.ly/3AMuKgs

17/08/2022

Not everyone can say they achieved their childhood dream, but April Ayers can! At 8 years old she did an elementary school project on Amelia Earhart and knew then she wanted to be a pilot.

After attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and earning a Bachelor’s in Aeronautical Science, she joined Horizon Air. She was hired as a Captain and later became a Base Chief Pilot Director. In 2018, she joined the Alaska Airlines team as a First Officer!

When asked what she loves most about working at Alaska, she said:
"The people! I love the colleagues that I work with and the culture. I also love our route network and the destinations we fly to, and I enjoy the quality of life that Alaska offers, especially living and being based in Seattle. You have a variety of trips you can choose depending on what you enjoy flying."

Find your dream career at Alaska Airlines by applying online today! https://bit.ly/3CdZ9pd

12/08/2022

Horizon First Officer Ryan Schwend always knew he wanted to be a pilot. He was able to make that dream a reality by joining the National Guard and then later getting a job with Horizon.

“As a Horizon pilot, I get to fly into Seattle every day. I love the views of the mountains and Puget Sound and then the views of the busy city on approach into Sea-Tac. I think it’s the most beautiful place to fly in the country. I love my job and appreciate the great opportunities flying at Horizon affords me.”

Earlier this year, Schwend was honored with a Broken Wing Award from the U.S. Army for safely landing a damaged aircraft during an incident in Afghanistan in 2020. The Broken Wing Award is given to crewmembers and pilots who avoid crashes or minimize damage when tragedy strikes mid-flight.

“My advice to future pilots is learn something new every time you fly. I learn so much from the different pilots I fly with. Also, don't be afraid to learn from your mistakes. Failure just gives you a chance to do better next time.”

If you have an interest in aviation, apply online today and learn how Horizon can take your career to new heights. https://bit.ly/37LF2ls

25/07/2022

Come join us in Phoenix, August 10-12, for OBAP - Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals' 46th Annual Conference.

Register online to meet with our recruiting team and see how Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air can bring your career to new heights. https://bit.ly/3v9zREj

21/07/2022

It’s been a big week for Horizon Air!

Earlier this week, Alaska Air Group announced an order of eight additional new E175 aircraft to be operated by Horizon Air. The new aircraft will be flown exclusively for Alaska Airlines by Horizon.

Horizon is transitioning out of flying the Q400 and moving to a single fleet of E175s to be flown to the more than 45 cities Horizon serves throughout the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, California, the Midwest, and British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.

“The E175 is an extremely efficient aircraft,” said Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances for Alaska Airlines. “The jet is the perfect aircraft to serve Horizon’s regional network in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Our guests will enjoy a consistent, three-class cabin experience as they travel from smaller communities to catch flights across Alaska’s larger hubs or on one of our many global airline partners.

Horizon will take delivery of nine E175s over the next year as part of a previous order that also includes three deliveries in 2025. With this order by 2026, if not sooner, Horizon will have a fleet of 50 E175s.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3zo9HAe

Farnborough, United Kingdom, 19 July 2022 – Alaska Air Group announced plans to grow its regional fleet with an order of eight new additional E175 jets and options for 13 more. The E175 a…