"The initial six recruits [including a supermarket clerk] begin the second phase of training Monday, after three weeks studying meteorology, aerodynamics, aircraft systems and the like. They'll now spend about seven months in Arizona to begin flight training at CAE Oxford Aviation Academy. If successful -- and if they can handle the $125,000 price tag -- they should become first officers at JetBlue Airways Corp. in 2020.
"JetBlue's Gateway Select program is the first of its kind in the US, although similar efforts have been used in Europe and Asia.
"The training program's cost covers lodging and food during certain phases.
"Majoring in commercial aviation at the University of North Dakota, the largest public aviation program in the U.S., can cost more than $150,000 for an out-of-state student when flight-training fees are included.
Note:
(a) summary underneath the title in print: JetBlue welcomes its first pilot trainees without past experience
(b) first officer (aeronautics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_officer_(aeronautics)
(also referred to as the co-pilot)