United Airlines Wants To Train More Female, Minority Pilots

NEWARK, NJ — United Airlines, the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, has kicked off a plan to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 – at least half of them women and people of color.

United, which maintains a hub at Newark Liberty International Airport, released details about its campaign earlier this week.

The company wrote:

“Backed by scholarship commitments from United Airlines and JPMorgan Chase, United Aviate Academy will create opportunities for thousands of students, including women and people of color, to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot, one of the most lucrative careers in the industry. In addition, for those United Aviate Academy students who may need additional financing, United has partnered with Sallie Mae to offer private student loans to ensure that no highly-qualified, highly-motivated, eligible applicants will be turned away solely because they can’t afford to enroll … To break down the financial barriers that limited access to the airline pilot career path for generations of women and people of color, United has committed to fund $1.2 million in scholarships. The airline’s credit card partner, JPMorgan Chase has also committed $1.2 million to support women and people of color who are accepted to United Aviate Academy.”

United Airlines continued:

“United’s innovative Aviate pilot development program provides those who aspire to a career as a United captain with the most direct route to achieving that goal. Aviate is built to accommodate pilots of all experience levels – from those with zero hours to professional pilots already flying for one of our regional partners. For instance, an aspiring aviator who joins the United Aviate Academy in Phoenix with no prior flying experience can become a licensed pilot within two months. Within a year, they can start earning income after receiving their commercial pilot license. Within five years, they can become a United pilot. The United Aviate Academy’s first class of 20 pilots will begin their studies in the third quarter of 2021, with the class graduating in the first half of 2022. Graduates will then have opportunities to further pursue their careers while working specifically within the Aviate ecosystem at partner universities, professional flight training organizations and United Express carriers.”

Here are some of the benefits the program offers, according to United:

• “The most direct path within the industry to a major airline, with an Aviate regional partner minimum requirement of 24 months and 2,000 hours”
• “More options in program entry points throughout a pilot’s career and choice of select United Express carriers”
• “Increased transparency and clarity along the path from program entry to flying for United”
• “Improved career development, mentoring and access to United pilots and learning tools”
• “Immediate inclusion in the United family, with access to senior leadership, site visits and tours, and certain travel privileges”

The academy expects to enroll 100 students in 2021, the company said.

The program will get a boost from several key groups, United said, including the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Sisters of the Skies, the Latino Pilots Association and the Professional Asian Pilots Association to help identify and steer highly qualified, diverse candidates to the United Aviate Academy.

“As key partners, these organizations will select the applicants to receive the scholarships and grants funded by United and JPMorgan Chase,” the company said.

United has also finalized partnerships with three HBCUs, Delaware State University, Elizabeth City State University and Hampton University, to identify top talent and recruit them into the Aviate program. Through the partnership, students will have the opportunity to join Aviate and connect with dedicated ambassadors and coaches who will help guide them on the path to a United flight deck.

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