Skyborne Announces Placement of Two Flight Instructor Graduates with Avelo Airlines in November 2026

Florida, USA – International flight training organisation Skyborne Airline Academy has announced the placement of two graduates, Chris Waters and Samuel Howerton, with US carrier Avelo Airlines. Both pilots completed their FAA Part 141 flight training at Skyborne's Vero Beach academy before becoming Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs), progressing towards airline careers through the organisations' established hiring partnership.

• Waters and Howerton followed Skyborne's professional pilot training pathway, initially completing their FAA Part 141 flight training before qualifying as CFIs and building additional flight experience while instructing at the academy.
• Skyborne's US Professional Pilot Pathway provides a structured progression from initial flight training through Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Multi-Engine and Flight Instructor qualifications. Graduates may subsequently obtain instructor positions at Skyborne to accumulate experience towards airline recruitment requirements.
• Skyborne's Preferred Hiring Pathway with Avelo Airlines enables eligible students and flight instructors to pursue airline recruitment opportunities after meeting the required flight experience and qualification criteria.
• AFM previously reported that Skyborne and Avelo Airlines established their Preferred Hiring Pathway in September 2022, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership was designed to support the recruitment of qualified pilots and aviation maintenance personnel from Skyborne's training organisation.
• Skyborne's Vero Beach training operation has a fleet of more than 60 Piper single- and multi-engine aircraft, including Warrior, Arrow, Pilot 100i and Seminole models. Its training infrastructure also includes four Redbird Advanced Aviation Training Devices (AATDs), supported by an in-house FAA Part 145 maintenance operation.

About Skyborne Airline Academy
Skyborne Airline Academy is an international pilot training organisation headquartered at Gloucestershire Airport in the United Kingdom, with additional training facilities in Vero Beach, Florida, and Bournemouth, UK. Established in 2017, the academy provides FAA Part 141, UK CAA and other approved commercial pilot training pathways, including airline-linked programs, flight instructor training and advanced pilot qualifications.

About Avelo Airlines
Avelo Airlines is a US airline headquartered in Houston, Texas, operating scheduled passenger services using Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. The carrier commenced operations in April 2021, serving domestic routes primarily through secondary and regional airports. In its April 2026 fleet disclosure, Avelo reported 15 aircraft, comprising 14 Boeing 737-800s and one Boeing 737-700, with additional aircraft deliveries planned. The airline also maintains pilot recruitment and training pathways to support its flight crew requirements.

Source: Skyborne Airline Academy