American Airlines
Major U.S. airline based in Fort Worth, with a Cadet Academy for new pilots, three wholly owned regional airlines, and a large maintenance base in Tulsa.
Overview
American Airlines is a major U.S. airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, next to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. It owns three regional airlines, Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, and PSA Airlines, which fly as American Eagle and have flow agreements that move their pilots to American. The American Airlines Cadet Academy places new student pilots at partner flight schools and leads toward those regional airlines. American's maintenance base at Tulsa International Airport employs several thousand people, most of them licensed aircraft and engine mechanics.
Student Insights
Cadet Academy in 2026
The Cadet Academy was active in 2026: in April, American announced a third round of its Elise Eberwein Cadet Academy Pilot Scholarship, with recipients training at ATP Flight School and Infinity Flight Group. Cadets train at a partner flight school, earn commercial and flight instructor certificates, build hours (usually as instructors), fly for one of American's wholly owned regionals, and then flow to American. Partner-school requirements include U.S. work authorization, a high school diploma or GED, and the ability to hold an FAA first-class medical.
The regional step
Envoy Air describes a flow-through agreement that moves its pilots to American with no additional interview. Regional first officers need an ATP or restricted ATP: 1,500 hours in general, or 1,250, 1,000, or 750 hours for qualifying associate-degree, bachelor-degree, and military pilots under 14 CFR 61.160.
Maintenance and dispatch
Tulsa is American's largest maintenance site and does heavy overhaul work, so Oklahoma A&P programs are a common feeder. Line maintenance jobs exist at the airline's hubs. An FAA aircraft dispatcher certificate is required. Under 14 CFR 65.53 you can take the knowledge test at 21 but must be 23 to hold the certificate.
AI Outlook
Pilot, dispatcher, and A&P technician jobs are FAA-certificated roles. Data and AI tools support planning and maintenance analysis but do not change the certificate requirements for entry.
Student Hiring
Typical Roles
Notable Programs
- American Airlines Cadet Academy
- Envoy, Piedmont, and PSA pilot flow to American
- Tulsa maintenance base
Career Connections
AeroEd career pathways relevant to American Airlines.