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United Announces Expansion to Flight Training Center

The is growth part of the carrier's plans to hire 10,000 pilots this decade.

A United Boeing 737 rotating out of Washington Dulles. [Photo: AirlineGeeks | Peter Weiland]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Major airlines, including United, are experiencing record pilot hiring and ongoing retirements, creating a significant demand for new pilots through the end of the decade.
  • In response, United has heavily invested in expanding its Denver Flight Training Center, making it the world's largest with 52 full-motion flight simulators and the capacity to train 860 pilots daily.
  • Despite this expansion, United anticipates needing even more training capacity and plans to build a second pilot training center near Denver International Airport, projected to open in 2028.
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Major carriers across the country have been hiring pilots at a record number since the recovery from the pandemic. Retirements are forecasted to continue with force through the end of the decade as well, begging the question of how carriers are planning to keep up with the pace. United alone says it plans to hire 10,000 new pilots this decade.

To achieve this, the carrier announced a significant expansion to the already large Flight Training Center in Denver. The expansion is a part of the carrier’s United Next Plan to incorporate an additional building to the training complex and create room for 12 additional flight simulators. 

Zach Cooke

Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.

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