About This Role
Sun Country Airlines is recruiting First Officer candidates through its College Bridge Program, run in partnership with South Dakota State University (SDSU). Sun Country flies Boeing 737NG aircraft on scheduled airline service, military/sports/event charters, cargo, and seasonal leisure routes across the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe. The program is a structured pathway: a student enrolls in a designated SDSU major whose flight training leads to Restricted ATP (R-ATP) eligibility under FAR 61.160; applies for a College Bridge Program First Officer position as a junior or senior holding a Commercial certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings; attends an in-person recruiting event and a one-on-one interview to confirm enrollment; secures a flight instructor position at SDSU (CFI/CFII, MEI optional); logs 300 hours of dual flight instruction; then requests and completes a First Officer interview, receives a Contingent Job Offer, graduates, and is hired as a Sun Country First Officer. Rapid workforce growth is expected to shorten upgrade time to Captain to roughly 18-24 months.
Duties & Responsibilities
- As a College Bridge Program participant, the candidate progresses through the defined stages toward the First Officer role: instructing as a certified flight instructor at South Dakota State University to accumulate 300 hours of dual flight instruction, then joining Sun Country as a First Officer flying Boeing 737NG operations across the airline's scheduled, charter, cargo, and leisure network in the US, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe.
- New First Officers complete Sun Country's in-house certified training program, taught by company instructors, before line flying.
What We Offer
Benefits begin on the first day of class as a Sun Country First Officer.Training: pilots receive iPads for all flight manuals and navigational data, and Sun Country runs an in-house certified training program taught by its own instructors, with successful applicants receiving contractual pay, benefits, and single-occupancy hotel accommodation during training.Compensation: starting pay of $83.28 per hour with a 75-hour monthly guarantee in the first year, premium pay available once off reserve starting at 150%, and 100% cancellation and deadhead pay.Career progression: rapid workforce expansion is expected to accelerate upgrade to Captain to 18-24 months.Health and retirement: generous health insurance plans including vision and dental coverage, 100% company-paid life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with matching contributions.
Requirements
- Program pathway requirements: enroll in the designated South Dakota State University major that includes flight training qualifying for Restricted ATP under FAR 61.160
- be at least a junior or senior
- hold a Commercial certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings
- attend one in-person recruiting event and complete the required one-on-one interview for entrance to the program
- secure a flight instructor position with SDSU (CFI and CFII, with MEI optional)
- and complete 300 hours of dual flight instruction in aircraft with SDSU. To be hired, the applicant must receive a Contingent Job Offer after a successful First Officer interview and graduate with the appropriate major (including flight training) to qualify for R-ATP under FAR 61.160.
- Minimum qualifications to start class: legal authorization to work in the United States
- ability to read, write, fluently speak and understand English
- a current FAA First Class Medical Certificate
- an FCC Radio License
- a valid US passport, or a valid passport with Green Card, and the ability to travel to and from all cities and countries served by Sun Country
- and a valid US driver's license. Recent flight experience is preferred. The applicant must be Restricted ATP eligible with an aviation college background and at least 21 years old, meeting a 1,000-hour minimum: 1,000 total hours (up to 100 of which may be simulator time), 250 hours pilot-in-command in an airplane, 200 hours cross-country (100 of which must be PIC cross-country in an airplane), 100 hours night (25 of which must be PIC night in an airplane), 75 hours instrument, and 25 hours multi-engine.