Humans of USU: Alumna receives flight training scholarship
Jessica Hines graduated in 2006 from Utah State University in the flight technology program. She now works for Envoy Air as a recruiter. Plus, she is one of two recipients of the Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 Type Rating Certificate Scholarship. Her $35,000 scholarship goes toward flight training for the Boeing 777 jet airliner. Hines was awarded in Nashville, Tennessee at the Women in Aviation conference on March 12.
Utah Statesman: How did you become involved in aviation?
Jessica Hines: I was actually in the 5th grade when I took a personality test and it told me that my personality fit a dentist or an airline pilot. I choose the more fun position.
US: It was that easy to choose a career?
JH: Well, I don’t think I could ever afford training to be an airplane pilot. I thought, “Well okay, maybe I’ll be a dentist.” When I found out about the pilot program at Utah State, they said, “Oh honey, we can get you loans. If you want this, we will make this happen.” And now I’m an airline pilot.
US: How did you afford to pay for flight school?
JH: When I found USU I applied for a scholarship because I had straight A’s in high school. I knew my grades were the only way I could pay for college. They waived my out-of-state tuition. I’ve actually gotten a few scholarships that have gotten me to where I am today. I am really grateful.
US: What have you been up to since you graduated?
JH: I graduated in 2006. During my senior year of college I met a Texan and I fell in love and I got married. We moved to Texas. And then I was a flight instructor in Texas for about a year-and-a-half and then I got the job with Envoy as a recruiter in April of 2008.
US: Tell me about the type rating scholarship.
JH: I just found out that I am one of the two recipients of the Delta Air Lines Boeing 777 Type Rating Certificate Scholarships.
US: What does that include?
JH: They’re going to fly me out to Atlanta, Georgia. I’ll be training on the Boeing 777 for about five weeks, which is the third largest passenger airplane in the world. It is pretty exciting. After I pass my type rating exam I could possibly mean I could be a Delta Airlines pilot next year.
US: That is really exciting. When did you receive the award?
JH: They are officially going to announce it at the Women in Aviation conference on March 12 in Nashville, Tennessee. They are going to have a big banquet, which over 3,000 people are going to attend. From there, we will plan the training dates.
US: Tell me about being a recruiter for Envoy Air.
JH: I am a pilot as well as a full-time recruiter for Envoy Air. I come here to USU to recruit pilots for Envoy and I love coming out here to my alma mater and to see all of these new faces. It is great because I love to inspire these kids in any way I possibly can.
US: How does USU’s flight technician program compare with other programs across the country?
JH: USU has a really great program and they really do a great job of helping students realize what it means to be a professional. We actually get the best applicants from Utah State University. We love coming out here and we love getting these guys.
US: What stands out about Utah State’s flight technicians?
JH: Utah State gets them up to their commercial and then they become certified flight instructors here at Utah State. But the Federal Aviation Administration requires them to go from when they graduate from about 350 hours to 1000 hours to come to a regional airline like Envoy. At Envoy, we can hire them as a pipeline instructor here at Utah State. They get privileges like travel time, 401Ks, sick time. They start gaining that and then they instruct for Envoy here at Utah State. It also means that they can get their hours faster, which means we get them flying quicker. It is a great program.
US: Are there any flight scholarships for having good grades?
JH: If the students have a good GPA here at Utah State and they get their ratings here at USU, they get their ratings and they come to class, they get a $10,000 bonus. It helps take care of those loans.