Delta State aviation partnership offers pathway to Delta Air Lines
Cleveland, MS (10/29/2026) — Contact: Nathan Duff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: (662) 846-4678
Email: nduff@deltastate.edu
Delta State aviation partnership offers pathway to Delta Air Lines
CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University's Commercial Aviation program offers eligible students a pathway from college flight training to a career with Delta Air Lines through the airline's Propel Pilot Career Path Program.
As a Propel collegiate partner, Delta State connects students' education and flight training with opportunities at Endeavor Air, Delta's wholly owned regional airline, and ultimately Delta Air Lines. Participants must meet the program's requirements as they build flight experience and professional qualifications.
Eligible students can apply while working as certified flight instructors. Those selected receive a qualified job offer, subject to meeting the program's progression requirements. The program also streamlines recruiting through a single interview process for Delta and Endeavor.
Joe Saia, Executive Director of Flight Operations at Delta State and a retired Delta Air Lines pilot, said the partnership gives students a clearer route into the profession.
"As a retired Delta Air Lines pilot, I try not to be too biased, but I truly believe the Propel program is one of the finest career development opportunities available to young men and women pursuing their dream of becoming professional airline pilots," Saia said.
Delta State's Commercial Aviation program combines academic instruction, professional flight training and industry partnerships to prepare students for aviation careers. Through Propel, selected participants can build on that foundation as they advance toward airline employment.
"Having spent much of my professional life in the airline industry, I know how challenging the journey to an airline cockpit can be," Saia said. "What makes Propel so special is that it gives our students something incredibly valuable: a clearly defined pathway to their future. They can earn their degree at Delta State, build their experience as flight instructors, progress to Endeavor Air, and ultimately pursue a career flying for Delta Air Lines."
Saia said the partnership reflects the program's broader focus on preparing students for careers beyond graduation.
"To me, that's what makes this partnership so exciting. We're not simply teaching students how to fly airplanes. We're helping prepare them for a lifetime of opportunities in professional aviation," he said. "There's nothing more rewarding than seeing one of our students begin that journey right here at Delta State and knowing where it could take them."
For more information about Delta State's Commercial Aviation program and the Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program, contact the university's Commercial Aviation department.
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About Delta State University: Delta State University is a four-year public institution whose nearly 2,800 students come from most U.S. states and more than 45 countries. Acknowledging its beginning as a teacher's college, the University sustains excellence in teacher education while continuing to expand offerings in traditional as well as unique fields of study. Programs such as those available through the Delta Music Institute, the Commercial Aviation Department, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information highlight the University's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the students it serves with world-leading, industry-acclaimed programs. Situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Delta State offers top-notch academic programs in business, arts, sciences, nursing, education, and more. DSU Athletics has won 15 national championships, 70 conference championships, and 37 regional titles.
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