December 19, 2003

Since emigrating from Iran in 1989, Frank Nickman's (formerly Farzin Nikmanesh) American dream was to be a commercial airline pilot. It was an expensive dream. In 2000, he and his wife sold off their insurance business and house in California to pursue it. In January of 2001, he entered Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group's intensive two-year pilot training program, which is at San Juan College in Farmington. By the time he graduated with honors in 2002, he had spent $60,000.

By early 2003, he was the only member of his 29-member graduating class who wasn't offered a first-officer job with Mesa. ... Now, Nickman has sued Mesa to recover his expenses. He can't seek employment elsewhere because other airlines require more flight hours than the Mesa program provides. He also has filed grievances with the EEOC office in Phoenix and the U.S. Department of Education >>> See

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