Brandon Brandt - UVU Alumni and Captain, Delta Air Lines

Career Progression

2003 – Began taking UVU Concurrent Enrollment courses as a junior in HS
2004 – Graduated HS and took a year of college GE courses at UVU
2004-05 – Freshman year at UVU, finishing GE credits
2005-07 – Served LDS Mission
2007 – Started UVU Aviation program
2010 – Graduated from UVU and was hired as a flight instructor
2011-13 – Flew the Embraer 145 for American Eagle (now Envoy), based in Chicago
2013-2017 – Flew the Embraer 120 Brasilia and CRJ for SkyWest, based in SLC
2017 – Hired by Delta Airlines, flying the MD 88/90
2018 – Transitioned to the 737
2022 – Upgraded to 737 Captain at Delta

Captain Brandon Brandt decided as a high school sophomore than he wanted to fly for a living. Fast forward 20 years, now a Captain at Delta Air Lines, we caught up with him to find out what his journey was like.

Brandon’s father, an aviation enthusiast and his younger brother were his early “influencers” who pointed him toward a career as a pilot. His father helped him develop a passion for aviation, including taking him and his siblings plane spotting at various airports in Utah, as well as air shows. “Once he knew I had an interest in flying, he really cultivated that and helped me keep the dream alive”, Brandon explains. A particular WWII airplane display in which they were able to see the aircraft up-close and even walk through, kindled a love for aviation which remains with him 25 years later. Jordan, his younger brother also graduated from UVU and joined Brandon at Delta in 2023.

Another key supporter Brandon praised is his wife Shelly, who he says sacrificed a lot to support him in his schooling and career. “She is a big reason why my aviation goals are now a part of my everyday life. She has been nothing but supportive and encouraging throughout the whole journey.”

The School of Aviation Sciences at Utah Valley University, where Brandon chose to complete his initial pilot training and degree, paid off in a variety of ways. Flight instructors are a critical element in a pilot’s journey, especially in civilian (non-military) flight training. The hours of one-on-one interaction and instruction far exceed those students spend with academic advisors or even faculty. Brandon named a couple of stand-out flight instructors that most influenced him:

“My biggest aviation mentor had to have been one of my longtime flight instructors, Darrell Pugmire at UVU.  Darrell was always so professional, well-prepared, and had a great way of teaching and instructing.  He was there to help me succeed and grow.  He really paved the way for how I wanted to instruct and help others accomplish their goals.  He did a great job of helping me study and giving me the tools I needed to be successful.  Some of those tools I still use in my professional job to this day, such as trying to bring a nice, calm demeanor to the flight deck. I still stay in touch with Darrell.” 

“Evan Hutchins, who helped me with my CFII (Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument) was also a great mentor.  He took instructing seriously, and was very knowledgeable, and wanted me to find success.  He was a tough instructor, but a very fair instructor.  I really appreciate what he did for me during my CFII.”

Brandon chose UVU for several reasons. Provo High, his alma mater, just down the road from the Provo Airport, had regular visits from UVU Aviation recruiters at career fairs. “The hometown school had an aviation program, and that was all I needed.” Also, through UVU’s concurrent enrollment program, he was able to complete college courses during his HS junior and senior years. This allowed him to complete most of his general education requirements for his UVU degree and focus immediately on aviation after high school.

UVU’s aviation program allowed him to pursue his pilot licenses and remaining degree requirements simultaneously. Later, with a Bachelor of Science degree on his resume along with all the necessary FAA pilot licenses, it helped him quickly get hired as a UVU flight instructor, and then eventually his first airline pilot position with American Eagle in 2011.

Economic factors made the early 2010’s a challenging time for airlines and for new airline pilots. American Eagle was in bankruptcy during Brandon’s time there, leading to pilot furloughs, downgrades, and fewer flights. “Career progression came to a halt”, Brandon explained. This, in addition to long commuting flights to Chicago where he was based, led to him applying and getting hired with SkyWest Airlines, seeking a better quality of life for him and his family.

While at SkyWest, he continued to pursue education, build his network, and improve his resume. He earned a master’s degree from Delta State University, leading to a position with the training department at SkyWest. “I also made it a priority to travel around to different job fairs to get face to face time with recruiters at Delta and other legacy airlines. My main goal was Delta Airlines”, Brandon explains.

As it always does, the industry recovered, and despite the setbacks, Brandon achieved his goal. Now at Delta for over 8 years, we asked Brandon what the culture is like:

“Delta has been great for me and my family.  I've learned a lot from the captains that I flew with over the years who were great mentors, and leaders in the flight deck.  Their leadership style, patience, skill, and professionalism helped give me the confidence and tools I needed to be successful in upgrading to captain.  We have a great group of pilots here at Delta, and the next generation of pilots getting hired here continue to impress me with their knowledge, skill and passion for the industry.  I'm truly honored and humbled to be able to work alongside these professional aviators.”