Epic Flight Academy Hosts Bridge Air Pipistrel Alpha Trainer at Tucson Campus

Arizona, USA – US flight training group Epic Flight Academy hosted representatives from pilot time-building provider Bridge Air at its Tucson campus on September 23, 2026, providing students and instructors with an opportunity to inspect a Pipistrel Alpha Trainer light sport aircraft and learn about the company's structured flight-hour-building program.

• Bridge Air operates a fleet of more than 25 Pipistrel Alpha Trainer aircraft from Glendale Regional Airport in Arizona. Its time-building program requires participants to purchase a minimum of 200 flight hours, with Epic Flight Academy advertising a rate of US$75 per flight hour, excluding applicable taxes.
• The partnership enables eligible Epic Flight Academy students and graduates to transition into Bridge Air's structured time-building program, which focuses on cross-country flying to help pilots accumulate the flight experience required for airline employment.
• Bridge Air's program provides potential interview opportunities with Mesa Airlines or Republic Airways, subject to participants meeting airline hiring requirements and program conditions. Participation does not guarantee an interview or employment.
• During the Tucson visit, Bridge Air representative De Wuan Roberson met with Epic's students and instructors to discuss the program and demonstrate the Pipistrel Alpha Trainer.
• The Pipistrel Alpha Trainer is a two-seat light sport aircraft powered by an 80-horsepower Rotax 912 engine. The manufacturer's published specifications include a maximum cruise speed of 106 KTAS, a range of 339 nautical miles and a Garmin G3X glass cockpit with integrated autopilot.

About Epic Flight Academy
Epic Flight Academy is an FAA Part 141 flight training organisation founded in 1999 and headquartered in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The academy operates a nationwide network of pilot training campuses, and reported a fleet exceeding 70 training aircraft in July 2026, comprising primarily Cessna 172 Skyhawks alongside multi-engine aircraft.

About Bridge Air
Bridge Air is a US pilot time-building provider based at Glendale Regional Airport in Arizona, operating a fleet of more than 25 Pipistrel Alpha Trainer aircraft. Previously operating as the Mesa Pilot Development Program, it forms part of Republic Airways Holdings following the Republic Airways–Mesa Air Group merger and provides structured flight-hour accumulation opportunities for pilots progressing toward airline qualification requirements.

Source: Haley Konfrst (Epic Flight Academy)