SALT LAKE CITY — T.J. Bates says he enjoys most of his time at Delta Air Lines' pilot training office, calling it a "top-notch" facility with all the bells and whistles inside; however, getting there can be burdensome, at times.
He and other pilots on the West Coast often have to take an extra day off to fly out a day earlier than others who work for the company to go through a two-day training program and remain certified. Then, they fly back to the West Coast to continue their job, flying passengers all over North America.
It'll likely allow for more available pilots, and allow the company to expand the number of new pilots it can train, as it seeks to keep up with travel demand, Bates says. Salt Lake City and Utah officials joined Delta executives and other employees in a ceremony Thursday to break ground on the project.
"This is a great investment in our growth and operational infrastructure — the biggest investment Delta has made in over decades," Sheehan said, following the ceremony. "It really complements our existing pilot training footprint geographically."