Press release
United Airlines to Become Only Major U.S. Carrier To Own and Operate a Flight Training Academy Focused on Training and Developing Aspiring Pilots
Enables airline to have more visibility and direction over recruitment, development and training of aspiring pilots in the earliest stages of their careers
About this update from United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Enables airline to have more visibility and direction over recruitment, development and training of aspiring pilots in the earliest stages of their careers\n United will disrupt the current pilot career development model and drive enrollment of women and minorities specifically through scholarships and partnerships with other flight training centers, universities and other air carriers\n\n\nCHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today further expanded its innovative Aviate pilot program by signing a purchase agreement to become the only major U.S. carrier to own a flight training academy. The United Aviate Academy will give the airline more visibility and direction over the recruitment, development and training of future pilots, enabling United to increase the percentage of women and minorities who become pilots. United expects approximately 300 students to graduate from the United Aviate Academy in its first full year of operation. \nThe flight training academy – currently operating as Westwind School of Aeronautics in Phoenix, Arizona – will be an extension of the airline's Aviate program, a pilot development and recruitment program that offers aspiring aviators the most direct path to achieve their dreams of becoming a United pilot. The airline anticipates hiring more than 10,000 pilots by 2029.\n\"We have developed the Aviate program in collaboration with the Air Line Pilots Association, International to have greater influence on the next generation of aviators at United,\" said Captain Bebe O'Neil, United's managing director of Aviate. \"Launching our own academy provides us with the unique opportunity to not only ensure we maintain the ideal number of quality candidates within our pilot pipeline, but also play a significant role in recruiting, developing and welcoming those with diverse backgrounds to the United family.\"\nIn addition to launching the flight academy, United plans to reduce financial barriers to joining the program, making the dream of becoming a United pilot even more accessible to more individuals. The carrier is currently engaging with financial institutions with the goal of making attractive financing terms – such as industry-tailored grace periods and competitive interest rates – available to qualified individuals. Additionally, United plans to launch a scholarship program specifically f...