Forecasting continued growth and mass retirements over the next decade, United Airlines is proactively starting its recruiting effort for new pilots.
On Thursday, United launched Aviate, new pilot recruitment website.
Essentially, United is partnering with select aviation universities or training centers (like Lufthansa Aviation Training in Arizona) to offer a fast-track to becoming a United pilot. The program, which also partners with United Express partners like Air Wisconsin, ExpressJet, Mesa Airlines, and CommutAir, promises a job after 2,000 hours over 24 months at a regional airline.
Bryan Quigley, United’s Chief Pilot and Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, said:
With nearly half of our 12,500 pilots retiring in the next decade, combined with a period of strong growth at our airline, United is uniquely positioned to offer pilots the opportunity to get where they want to go in their careers faster than ever. With the most comprehensive global route network in the industry, and the most widebodies of any North American airline, United offers unparalleled opportunity for an exceptional and exciting career as we begin to welcome hundreds of new pilots every year.
I Want To Be A Pilot!
Sometime I’ll write the story about my Air Force flight training and how my career could have taken a very different path as an Air Force pilot and later commercial pilot. I would have loved the stability and fun of being a pilot and still would…though not as a primary position.
I do think the solution for me is pilot training via private civil aviation…I doubt airlines are looking for pilots to take one trip per month and I’m not about to give up this blog and my other ventures.
But it’s truly a great time to be an aspiring pilot, not just for United, but for airlines across the USA (hint: Delta pays more) and around the world.
CONCLUSION
If my son Augustine was a bit older, I might very well encourage him to take this path. If you’re in the market for not just a job, but a career, it remains a great time to be a pilot.
> Read More: It’s the Golden Age to Become an Airline Pilot
Matthew. This is a BS program that replaces their CPP. This is nothing new at all. United told its regional airlines they were launching a “best in business” program to line pilots up with United then sent out this piece of crap. This path does NOTHING to increase a pilots odds of flying for United. There is NO PILOT SHORTAGE at the major airlines. The pilot shortage is at the regional level, and about 75% of pilots get stuck there (that may get better ). This program is designed to HELP THEIR REGIONALS RECRUIT with false promises. No one is happy about “Aviate”. Bloggers and media are lost in space. United already has 10,000 qualified pilots at their fingertips if they need it.
Also. Where did you read “Promises a job”. Have you read the whole program.
For regional pilots : ALL SICK CALLS COUNT AGAINST the pilot. Yes. Even excused sick calls!!! I can assure you people will be flying with a cold they may have called in for before. There is a final review board and it’s not necessarily skills that get you through the program. Getting accepted to the program requires the same interviews and testing a street applicant goes through. Once in you are watched (probably not coached) . A lot of people on the program didn’t pass final review board for the dumbest reasons(or no reason ) you can ever imagine. I applaud pilots that call in sick , that’s why we are supposed to have ready – reserve to make sure no one ever flies sick or feels bad about calling in sick. Then this program launches …. you have my email. I’ll be happy to share more details if you reach out to me. And even discuss what UA is doing here. This program is 100% recruiting scam. Fill the regionals with hopefuls !
My cousin wants to be a pilot
Great idea, pass on the 9300+ hr/8000 in jets for the flight school students.