United Airlines is currently accepting applications for its newly opened pilot flight academy at Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYD) in Arizona.
United becomes the first major American carrier to own a flight school as a result of the transaction.
By 2023, the North American region is expected to have a shortfall of roughly 12,000 commercial airline pilots.
However, Scott Kirby, United Carrier’s chief executive officer, stated to the media on January 28, 2022 that the launch of the United Aviate Academy will help the airline fill the gap.
Over the next eight years, the American carrier plans to hire 10,000 commercial pilots, half of whom will be graduates of its new flight academy.
The flying school, according to the CEO, would be used to ensure that the airline’s flight crews are taught to the exact standards demanded by United Airlines.
By 2030, United plans to train 5,000 new pilots, with an aim of having 50% of those students be women or people of color.
Students will be required to complete a year-long training before joining United Airlines as pilots of larger commercial aircraft. This will allow them to fly for smaller airlines such as Mesa Airlines, Skywest, CommutAir, and GoJet, which operate shorter trips for United.