Higher Power Aviation has roots in two FAA training centers where HPA co-founder Mark Sterns served as President and CEO. In 1982, Airline Crew Training (ACT) was formed as the first training center approved by the FAA to offer Boeing 737 type ratings and later provided DC-9, B-727 and B-747 training. ACT’s seven senior examiners went on to serve as instructors and evaluators for HPA.
Jet Crew, another FAA training center began in 1977 as Jet Exam and later offered B-737, DC-9/MD-80, and B-727 type and flight engineer ratings. Mr. Sterns served as President of Jet Crew before purchasing all substantial assets of the company and merging operations into HPA.
Higher Power Aviation was founded in 1994 by Joe Poore and Mark Sterns with assistance from the late Robert Miranda, three experienced aviation professionals with a common vision to train leaders. Mr. Poore, formerly with LTV Corp. and Aerospatiale, served in program management functions.
HPA initially provided type rating certification for individual pilots seeking to further their aviation career and has grown to provide training and flight crew services on most jet transports including Boeing 707, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, Boeing DC-9, MD-80, Airbus A320 along with Eclipse EA-500 aircraft.
HPA has become the leading provider of Part 125 training to corporate flight departments, serving not only the training requirements but also providing consultation to operators and their regulatory agencies for safe, compliant operations. With thousands of individual graduates offered employment at Southwest Airlines, plus those at other carriers, HPA has expanded its reputation of being the top provider of Boeing 737 type rating training to include its B767, B757, B727, DC9, MD80 and A320 programs as well.
The school is approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Administration through the Texas Veterans Commission and has also been approved for Workforce Investment Act funding through numerous agencies of the U.S. Department of Labor. HPA has also gained recognition from the FAA and numerous aviation regulatory authorities in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East and the Western Hemisphere.
