United Airlines buys flight school to boost pilot recruitment
United Airlines is opening a new pipeline for pilots, purchasing a flight school to fill out its hiring pool.
The future United Aviate Academy is currently known as the Westwind School of Aeronautics and is located in Phoenix. United will take full control of the school in the coming months, with the airline expecting about 300 pilots to graduate in the first year after that transition.
Ultimately, United said it hopes about 500 students will go through the academy each year. While there, students will accrue about 250 flight hours and will leave the school with flight instructor certification and the qualifications to fly as charter pilots, United said.
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The students at the Aviate Academy also will be part of United's Aviate program, which guarantees a spot as a mainline United pilot once they have the proper qualifications.
Commercial pilots in the U.S. are required to have a minimum of 1,500 flight hours, with a few exceptions for those who participate in certain certified training programs. After graduating from the academy, students will bridge the gap to 1,500 hours by working as flight instructors or at charter outfits. Then, they have to be hired independently by a United Express affiliate. After two years — or about 2,000 more flight hours — at one of the regional carriers, they will be eligible to become a mainline pilot at United "without further interviews," according to Curtis Brunjes, United’s managing director of pilot strategy.
Brunjes said that acquiring a flight school gives United more control over its pilots' early training. As an example, he said, "upset recovery training is a very key interest and focus of ours both in the military and at the airline, and it would be in training too.”
Upset recovery training teaches pilots how to resume normal flight when their plane winds up in a physical position that is not in its normal operating envelope, like a steep bank angle or an unusually sharp ascent or descent.
While other airlines like JetBlue and American have partnerships with flight schools that allow students easier access to their pilot ranks, United is the first major carrier in the U.S. to run its own such facility.
“It’s definitely a bold move, and it’s interesting to see where airlines are looking to invest extra cash," said Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research. “Delta is making investments in airlines, and United is investing in a flight school.”
Related:The 10 longest (and 10 shortest) United Airlines flights
United plans to hire about 1,000 pilots each year in in the 2020s, and Brunjes said that the airline expects its Aviate program to become a primary pipeline for new flight deck employees.
There has been ongoing speculation that airlines are facing a pilot shortage, but Brunjes insisted that it's not a problem for United, and that the airline's purchase of a flight school isn't a move to head off future recruitment troubles.
“We at United Airlines would say that we don’t have a pilot shortage and probably never would, however there is a lot of competition at United Express carriers for talent," he said. “The signing bonuses reflect that the regional carriers are competing over a less-than-robust pool of pilots relative to their needs.”
More: What it’s like flying United’s new CRJ550, possibly the most comfortable regional jet in the US
Bebe O’Neil, United’s managing director of Aviate, said the program and the academy will also help make United's pilot pool more diverse.
“Launching our own academy provides us with the unique opportunity to not only ensure we maintain the ideal number of quality candidates within our pilot pipeline, but also play a significant role in recruiting, developing and welcoming those with diverse backgrounds to the United family," she said in a statement.
The airline is also working with lenders to help provide low-interest loans for students in the academy.
While the aviation industry is currently grappling with coronavirus-related flight cuts — on Tuesday, United announced further cuts to its schedule to Asia — Harteveldt said the airline's investment in its training and recruitment is a positive sign for the industry's long-term outlook.
“This is United saying ‘we are making an investment in our future as an airline,’ so I’m glad to see that they are not postponing the announcement of this just in light of the other actions that are happening.”
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- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.