Pilot helping to steer others to aviation careers

1/29/2008 3:10 p.m.

Lacey Pittman has gone back to school – in a big way. Pittman, a Q200 first officer and pilot services manager for Horizon Air, was recently elected chairwoman of the Industry Advisory Board at the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

"I can't overstate what a huge honor and position of importance this is for Horizon Air, and Lacey in particular," says LaMar Haugaard, Horizon's director of crew services and chief pilot. "Her voice will represent the industry's opinion on curriculum guidance for one of the nation's largest aviation universities."

The board meets every nine months and is composed of representatives from a number of aviation companies and agencies.

Members serve as advisors, providing guidance to the university to ensure that its curriculum fully prepares students for successful careers in the airline industry.

As chairwoman, Pittman reports directly to the deans of the university's two campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz.

Her responsibilities include analyzing the challenges the industry is facing, and organizing the agenda and speakers for upcoming meetings around those challenges.

"With Horizon represented in such a prominent position, we can direct the university's curriculum to reflect the way that we see the industry changing, so we can be sure graduating pilots will be the kind of pilots Horizon is looking for," Pittman says.

Pittman also says the industry is calling for – and thus the board is placing an emphasis on – pilots with a broad perspective.

"We want the university to produce pilots with a more global view of the airline industry, and who have a grasp of the intricacies of an entire airline, not just the skills needed to fly," she says.

Pittman says her role can only enhance Horizon's place in the regional airline industry, especially in the face of the growing concern over a shortage of new pilots.

"Right now, there are more pilots being hired than are being trained and created, and that's going to catch up with the industry pretty quickly," Pittman says. "Our presence on the board can serve as an advertisement for Horizon, letting the students know what Horizon is all about and hopefully getting them excited about us."