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United Sets New Diversity Goal: 50% of Students at New Pilot Training Academy To Be Women and People of Color United Airlines is only major U.S. airline to own flight school: United Aviate Academy United Aviate Academy plans to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 - at least 50% women or people of color Scholarship commitments from United and JPMorgan Chase ensure highly qualified, motivated, eligible applicants won't be turned away for financial reasons United Aviate Academy now accepting applications; aims to enroll first 100 students this year CHICAGO, April 6, 2021 United Airlines, the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, will begin accepting applications today as it embarks on an ambitious plan to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030, at least half of them women and people of color. Backed by scholarship commitments from United Airlines and JPMorgan Chase, United Aviate Academy will create opportunities for thousands of students, including women and people of color to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot, one of the most lucrative careers in the industry. In addition, for those United Aviate Academy students who may need additional financing, United has partnered with Sallie Mae to offer private student loans to ensure that no highly-qualified, highly-motivated, eligible applicants will be turned away solely because they can't afford to enroll. United Aviate Academy expects to enroll 100 students in 2021. "Over the next decade, United will train 5,000 pilots who will be guaranteed a job with United, after they complete the requirements of the Aviate program – and our plan is for half of them to be women and people of color," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "We're excited that JPMorgan Chase has agreed to support our work to diversify our pilot ranks and create new opportunities for thousands of women and people of color who want to pursue a career in aviation." To break down the financial barriers that limited access to the airline pilot career path for generations of women and people of color, United has committed to fund $1.2 million in scholarships. The airline's credit card partner, JPMorgan Chase has also committed $1.2 million to support women and people of color who are accepted to United Aviate Academy. "We are proud to partner with United to support the Aviate Academy's mission to enable thousands to pursue their dream as a commercial airline pilot," said Ed Olebe, President of Chase Co-Brand Cards. "Investing in this program directly aligns with our efforts to advance racial equity by expanding career development opportunities and making tangible progress in a field where women and people of color are underrepresented." United will leverage its long-standing relationships with a variety of organizations, including the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Sisters of the Skies, the Latino Pilots Association and the Professional Asian Pilots Association to help identify and steer highly qualified, diverse candidates to the United Aviate Academy. As key partners, these organizations will select the applicants to receive the scholarships and grants funded by United and JPMorgan Chase. HBCU Affiliate Partnerships United has also finalized partnerships with three HBCUs, Delaware State University, Elizabeth City State University and Hampton University, to identify top talent and recruit them into the Aviate program. Through the partnership, students will have the opportunity to join Aviate and connect with dedicated ambassadors and coaches who will help guide them on the path to a United flight deck. Aviate: Love to fly, born to lead United's innovative Aviate pilot development program provides those who aspire to a career as a United captain with the most direct route to achieving that goal. Aviate is built to accommodate pilots of all experience levels – from those with zero hours to professional pilots already flying for one of our regional partners. For instance, an aspiring aviator who joins the United Aviate Academy in Phoenix with no prior flying experience can become a licensed pilot within two months. Within a year, they can start earning income after receiving their commercial pilot license. Within five years, they can become a United pilot. The United Aviate Academy's first class of 20 pilots will begin their studies in the third quarter of 2021, with the class graduating in the first half of 2022. Graduates will then have opportunities to further pursue their careers while working specifically within the Aviate ecosystem at partner universities, professional flight training organizations and United Express carriers. Aviate also provides support and coaching for pilots to develop into leaders who exemplify the professionalism, level of excellence and commitment to providing safe, caring, dependable and efficient service that United expects from its pilots. United's Aviate career path program offers pilots competitive benefits, including:
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It reminds me of the biographical FAA hiring rules:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-air-traffic-controller-hiring-met--20140919-story.html"FAA officials have dismissed suggestions from critics that the new rules lack transparency and are designed primarily to increase diversity within the controller ranks, while risking an erosion of safety. FAA officials said the new process is more streamlined and will reduce testing costs. But the change followed an internal FAA analysis that showed the long-standing recruitment and testing protocols were a "barrier'' for some minorities, particularly African-Americans. Individuals with specialized degrees from aviation schools and military veterans are still able to apply under the new rules. But before taking the traditional skill test examining an individual's aptitude for working in air traffic control, all applicants must now first pass a controversial biographical questionnaire, an online pass/fail test in which the FAA has refused to release the scoring metrics or each applicant's actual score." |
More virtue signaling from UA. Just hire most qualified pilots (or insert any job).
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A good goal---keep up the good work
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A lot of backlash on this, deservedly so.
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The Aviate program got a decent amount of local news time here in Hawaii - and in a racially diverse state plenty of positive comments by the newscasters.
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Originally Posted by cosflyer
(Post 33158825)
i live in an area that most would never understand...very pro military and near the usaf academy......had a great chat with 4...yes 4 AF pilots turned 1 delta 2 united and a southwest guy at our kids baseball game today...what united announced was nothing more than crazy, we all knew scott was a betting man, heck he has been barred from casino's in vegas for card counting...he is even a former airman...but this was nuts....to take aviate and make it 50% women and p.o.c.? all 4 of then brought up the atlas crash in houston as the example, and all of them said that they did not care if the person flying was any color but could fly an airplane.. too many military people are going to be overlooked at united just so scott can say that 50% are other than the white guy, i have been on many flight in the U.A.E. that were flown by british and aussies...very few emiraties.......always felt at ease when i heard their announcements....call it racist but that how i see it from the palmer divide
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Putting aside legality issues, why put quota (e.g. 50% of 5,000) for certain groups based on race and gender? Just hire the most qualified candidate in the pool. Merit > identify.
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Originally Posted by Repooc17
(Post 33159878)
Putting aside legality issues, why put quota (e.g. 50% of 5,000) for certain groups based on race and gender?
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Originally Posted by HNLbasedFlyer
(Post 33159893)
It is a goal. Not a quota.
Nevertheless, it's pandering at its worst. I don't care if 100% of the 5,000 end up being qualified women pilots, all good with me. UA has boxed itself in by stating how many the company plans to hire of one group, and how many of another group. |
Originally Posted by Repooc17
(Post 33159970)
Nevertheless, it's pandering at its worst. I don't care if 100% of the 5,000 end up being qualified women pilots, all good with me. UA has boxed itself in by stating how many the company plans to hire of one group, and how many of another group. Practically every public company nowadays has these types of goals - getting more problematic for those companies if they don't have those goals. Do most companies meet those goals - not from what I can tell. |
Originally Posted by Repooc17
(Post 33159970)
UA has boxed itself in by stating how many the company plans to hire of one group, and how many of another group.
Well that’s their issue to deal with. As a passenger I don‘t care what the diversity pool of their crew members are. |
Originally Posted by TomMM
(Post 33159998)
Well that’s their issue to deal with. As a passenger I don‘t care what the diversity pool of their crew members are.
Originally Posted by Repooc17
(Post 33159970)
Fair enough.
Nevertheless, it's pandering at its worst. I don't care if 100% of the 5,000 end up being qualified women pilots, all good with me. UA has boxed itself in by stating how many the company plans to hire of one group, and how many of another group. |
Delta is also on record to increase diversity and inclusion
Delta Air Lines Inc. CEO announces diversity initiatives - Atlanta Business Chronicle (bizjournals.com) In an attempt to improve its diversity record, Bastian has set new initiatives to be completed by 2025. Bastian said Delta will increase the percentage of Black leaders to "better reflect the total population of our employee base." The company aims to double its percentage of Black officers and directors within the next five years, and it is looking into increasing Black representation on its board of directors. Requiring all hiring slates and interview panels to reflect diversity.Removing qualification barriers for roles that do not require college degrees, allowing equal consideration for experience or certifications, which are more equitably accessible. Expanding our recruiting efforts to include more Historically Black Colleges and Universities, while requiring all schools where we recruit to have strong diversity and inclusion plans. Strengthening our corporate internship, MBA and pipeline-development programs to increase opportunities for future Black professionals Requiring each bidding and request-for-proposal process for new partnerships to include participation from minority-owned businesses, while introducing micro-development programs to identify and grow diverse businesses in underrepresented areas of our supply chain. Evaluating every Delta contract to ensure suppliers are held accountable for anti-racist policies within their organizations. Revamping our inclusion-training strategy to be available in alternative and ongoing virtual forms for all leaders and employees. |
Originally Posted by Repooc17
(Post 33159212)
More virtue signaling from UA. Just hire most qualified pilots (or insert any job).
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