Ascension Academy

with Air Transat

Kickstart your pilot career with the first programme in Canada with a direct pathway to a mainline airline.

CAE and Air Transat have joined forces.

CAE and Air Transat have joined forces to offer a unique pilot training programme for Canadian residents. Designed for those with little or no flight experience, this programme provides airline-oriented flight training and the opportunity for a career at Air Transat.

The programme for you.

The Ascension Academy with Air Transat is based on a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) training programme encompassing a Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating (IR) and Commercial Pilot License with Multi Engine (ME) rating. All ground school, flight hours, simulator training, check rides, written exams and training materials required for successful completion of the programme are included. Learn to fly single and twin engine aircraft in the beautiful southwestern U.S.A. Progress through your first solo flight, your instrument phase and conduct Line-Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) in and around the complex airspace of Phoenix, to prepare you for your future airline career.

Return to Canada upon successful completion of the flight training programme, and convert your license from FAA to Transport Canada, before absolving a bridge course and type rating.

For fees, funding and other programme details, please click here.

Interested?

Welcome to CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy.

Based at the historic Falcon Field Airport, CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy is a world-class training facility with over 75 single and twin engine aircraft operating from two parallel runways. CAE’s Piper fleet is fully air-conditioned and equipped with digital Garmin G1000 avionics.

Start here

Train in beautiful Arizona.

With over 300 days of sunshine, and more than 350 flying days per year, Arizona is a contender for the world’s best place to learn how to fly. The large desert expanses provide excellent training areas to learn flight maneuvers, while the complex and busy Class B, D and E airspace around Phoenix present cadet pilots with plenty of real-world training experiences.

Pilots in training will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful American Southwest. Training flights may take you to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego and more!

When not training or studying, the Phoenix area has many social and outdoor activities on offer, including hiking, mountain biking, skiing, camping, and rafting.

Begin your application

Life at Air Transat

Founded in Montréal 35 years ago, Air Transat has achieved worldwide recognition as a provider of leisure travel. Voted World's Best Leisure Airline by passengers at the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards, Air Transat flies a young and efficient fleet of Airbus A321 and A330 aircraft to 60 destinations in 25 countries across North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Europe.

As a pilot in training at the Ascension Academy, you are on track to join Air Transat’s diverse and professional pilot workforce. You will have the ability to grow your pilot career in a mainline airline, while flying your passengers to exciting destinations from Puerto Vallarta to Porto.

Take the next step

The application process.

Make sure you are eligible: Canadian citizens or permanent residents with little or no previous flight experience are encouraged to apply. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age at the start of training with a completed high school diploma and English proficiency equivalent to ICAO level 4. French proficiency preferred.

Kick off your application by answering a few questions about your candidacy. As you proceed through the process, an assessment (at additional charge) and interviews may be required. If selected, a conditional letter of employment will be provided prior to commencing your training. After enrolling, you will begin your training at the CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy in sunny Arizona, USA.

Ready to apply?

Ascension Academy with Air Transat

Let's get to know you.

Let's start off with a few questions to learn more about you and your eligibility for the programme. Once this step is completed and you qualify for the programme, next steps will be communicated to you. Not ready to move forward? Talk to a training advisor.

The flight academy is located in the United States and training and admissions will be conducted in English. We will do our best to accommodate French submissions, but English is preferred and is the language that will be used from this point forward.

Ready to get started?

Apply Now

Ascension Academy with Air Transat

Questions? Contact a training advisor.

Please email [email protected] your message and a representative will reach out.

Welcome to CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy.

The Ascension Academy with Air Transat programme takes place at CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. CAE Phoenix runs more airline cadet training programmes than any other flight school in the world. You will meet fellow aviators from around the world, and train alongside cadet pilots from more than 10 airlines, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Japan Airlines, Aeromexico and easyJet. Based at the historic Falcon Field Airport, CAE Phoenix Aviation Academy is a world-class training facility with over 75 single and twin engine aircraft operating from two parallel runways. CAE’s Piper fleet is fully air-conditioned and equipped with digital Garmin G1000 avionics.

Supported by CAE

Launch a career supported by CAE, a world-class company, with over 75 years of high-tech leadership in training and simulation. Powered by 10,000 employees and 160 training locations in over 35 countries, CAE offers full pilot life cycle training, professional instructors and exceptional aftercare programmes.

Learn more about CAE