Earlier today, Chicago-based United Airlines celebrated the first graduating class of its Aviate Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. Today's graduating class comprises 51 students, helping the airline toward its goal of adding 10,000 pilots by the end of the decade.
First graduating class
The United Aviate Academy is located in Phoenix and is home to almost 240 students, 51 of whom graduated today. It is the only wholly airline-owned flight school in the United States. United proudly announced that women and people of color make up almost 80% of the graduating class. By the decade's end, United hopes to train 5,000 pilots at the academy and add 10,000 to the airline.
"United is leading the industry in the training, recruitment and hiring of the next generation of talented commercial pilots and the progress we've made at United Aviate Academy after just one year is another example of an airline where good leads the way." - Scott Kirby, Chief Executive Officer, United Airlines
Kirby and Toby Enqvist were present at the graduation ceremony at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport. Kirby added,
"I'm so proud of this first class of graduates – they've taken an important first step in their career and they reflect our commitment to hiring people who exceed the highest professional and safety standards. I look forward to eventually welcoming them to our United team and I can't wait to see them flying our new United Next planes in the years to come."
In the first year of operations at Aviate, students have flown more than two million miles, completed more than 68,000 takeoffs and landings, and earned more than 250 aviation certificates. The academy has received more than 22,000 applications thus far.
Through the United Aviate Academy, students who have no flying experience will be able to obtain their private pilot license (PPL) in as little as two months. Once students have their PPL, they are eligible to continue into the Aviate Program, which offers further pilot training, and, ultimately, a pipeline into regional flying in the US. A significant portion of those in the United Aviate program will fly for United Express carriers throughout the country.
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Others will be given the opportunity to take on leadership roles at Aviate Part 135 operators or become Technical Fleet Instructors at United. Those who start training in the United Aviate Academy can expect to be United pilots within six years of graduation.
The future of United
Those in United's Aviate program have a bright future ahead. In recent years, United has grown significantly and made significant investments in its future, including fleet and personnel.
Last month, the airline placed the largest widebody aircraft in history, ordering 200 Boeing 787s, 100 firm orders, and 100 options. This is in addition to the airline's outstanding orders and means that it will receive an average of two aircraft per week in 2023 and three per week next year.