United Aviate Academy Begins Training
United Airlines is now officially in the flight-training business with the first few classes at its Aviate flight academy now going through their training. United launched the school as part of its answer to the continuing pilot shortage. The school is based at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Arizona and puts its candidates through an intense one-year program that can launch them on a career in United flight decks. When they graduate, the students move on to “partner universities, professional flight training organizations and United Express carriers on their way to becoming United pilots.” The airline hopes to put 500 students a year through the academy and Chief Pilot Mary Ann Schaffer says it bodes well for the airline’s future staffing. “The facility ensures we have the resources to expand our training capabilities and that the next generation of aviators will receive industry-leading training toward their goal of becoming a pilot for United Airlines,” she said.
