United has become the first U.S. airline to run its own pilot school, buying an existing flight school in Phoenix and incorporating it into United’s recruitment and hiring stream.
The airline will take control of Westwind School of Aeronautics over the next few months, and will change its name to United Aviate Academy. It will eventually expand to train about 500 pilots a year; this year the total will be about 300.
Pilots completing the program will have at least 250 flight hours, qualifying them for licensing to fly charters and to serve as instructors for small planes. They will also be included in United’s Aviate program, a path to hiring as a United mainline pilot. After gaining an additional 1250 hours as pilot or trainer, they will be eligible for commercial pilot licensing; if they are hired by a United Express carrier and rack up 2,000 more hours, they can be hired by United without further interviews.
While some airlines, including JetBlue and American, have had working partnerships with flight schools, United’s move is the most direct into ensuring a steady supply of pilots, and it’s possible the airline may profit directly from the school operation.
