NICHOLAS AIR Sponsors Auburn Business Aviation Days for Pilot Talent
Auburn, Ala. – September 24, 2026 -- NICHOLAS AIR, the largest independently owned Part 135 operator, is sponsoring Auburn University's Business Aviation Days, deploying pilots and a static aircraft display to recruit aspiring aviators and maintenance technicians directly from the school's aviation program.
NICHOLAS AIR ties recruitment to a fast-track jet pilot pipeline
The company's STEEL JET Pathway Program moves low-time pilots from the Cessna Caravan to jet cockpits within two to four years, positioning the sponsorship as a direct talent pipeline rather than a branding exercise.
Longevity incentives include luxury watches and jet cards
NICHOLAS AIR offers a Rolex or Bell & Ross watch to pilots reaching a five-year anniversary and a personal Jet Card at the ten-year mark, part of a home-based pilot model the company says drives retention in a tight aviation labor market.