Delta pilots are flying high at the new SLC Flight Training Center
Dec 4, 2024, 1:51 PM
Governor Spencer Cox; Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall; Delta CEO Ed Bastian; DL Chief of Ops, John Laughter, and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson among several dignitaries cutting the ribbon to new Delta flight training Center Dec. 03, 2024 (Heather Kelly)
(Heather Kelly)
SALT LAKE CITY — The new building just west of the Salt Lake International Airport is almost 50,000 square feet. Currently, it houses both an Airbus 350 and Airbus 320 simulator, with plans to add a Boeing 737 next spring.
John Laughter, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations and Chief of Operations for Delta Airlines, said this facility will train pilots based in Salt Lake, Seattle, and Minneapolis. And they have room to expand to add more simulators in the future.
Salt Lake City Mayor, Erin Mendenhall said “Most of us get to make mistakes in our jobs, like forgetting to send a memo; but not pilots.” she continued, ” That’s why this training center means so much.”
Mendenhall also re-stated Laughter’s earlier words that this is the first significant training center for Delta outside of Atlanta. “Salt Lake City is prepared to grow with Delta.” Mendenhall said and that “Delta looks really good on Salt Lake.”
Ed Bastian, the CEO of Delta Airlines returned the compliment stating “Salt Lake City looks good on Delta, too.” Bastian said they are in the business of connecting people and families and that Salt Lake has a world scale airport and a community that can compete.
Having a simulator closer to home brings even more benefits
Pilots who are based in the region say having this new center will be much better for their work and personal lives. Currently, Delta pilots must be recertified every nine months on their aircrafts.
Airbus 350 Simulator at the DL Flight Training Center (Heather Kelly)
27 year veteran Rick Harper, an Airbus 350 Captain based in Boise, said he normally flies to Atlanta every year for a month for training. A trip that takes him further away from his family. The new Salt Lake City facility means it’s a short hop for him.
Along with the simulators, the new flight training center has seven classrooms and ten briefing rooms. Bastian said Delta has 5000 employees here and it’s a “wonderful place to do business.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said “as long as we have Delta, Salt Lake City will be a hub for people to travel here. And for us to visit other places.”
A press release from Delta show the company plans to complete more than 1000 training event during 2025. That equates to 1200 hotel rooms per month. Delta also stated it invested $50 million dollars in the new center.
