United Aviate Program
Do you envision a career filled with limitless opportunities, where flying the vast sky becomes your livelihood? Are you motivated by the pursuit of thrilling adventures and a stable financial future? If your aspiration is to soar as a pilot for
United Airlines, even without prior flight experience, look no further than the United Aviate program.
Aviate is United Airlines pilot career development program, offering aspiring and established pilots a secure path to the United flight deck. As an Aviate flight school partner, students and instructors at US Aviation can apply to the Aviate program and upon acceptance receive a conditional job offer as a
United First Officer, coaching from a United pilot, travel privileges and more.
United Aviate Program Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements to apply to Aviate include:
- Hold a minimum of a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating from a participating partner flight school
- Must have a legal right to work in the United States without sponsorship
- Must be able to travel freely within the United States and without restriction to all destinations United serves
- Hold a valid FAA medical certificate that was originally issued as a first- or second-class medical certificate
- Have no more than two Certified Regulatory Checkride failures, and no more than three total checkride failures, inclusive of both Primary Training Failures and Certificated Regulatory Checkride failures
- Be in good standing with your participating Aviate professional flight school
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
Application Process
Here are some tips about the Aviate application and interview process, so you’re prepared for what’s next:
- First, submit an Aviate application at united.com/s/aviate
- Your interview will be held in person at our Flight Training Center in Denver, Colorado. It will include behavioral-based questions and a pilot led technical portion tailored to your highest rating held.
- As with any interview, we recommend making a good first impression with professional attire and presentation.
Once you are accepted to the United Airlines Pilot Program, your path to complete the United Aviate program begins.
Step One: Complete Training
Obtain a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating from US Aviation Academy.
Step Two: Build Experience
Build toward your ATP/R-ATP certification as an US Aviation flight instructor, another Aviate partner or in any other manner that you would like.
Step Three: Start flying for an Aviate United Express carrier or a Part 135 operator
Gain outstanding experience flying with one of our Aviate-participating United Express carriers or Part 135 operators and secure your path to a United First Officer position by completing 1,200 PIC (Pilot in Command) hours with an Aviate-participating UAX carrier or Part 135 operator.
Step Four: Transition to Your Career as a Pilot for United Airlines
After fulfilling the minimum transition requirements, you’ll become eligible to transition to United as a First Officer. Upon meeting the required Pilot-in-Command (PIC) hours, you will be assigned a First Officer class date and can expect to start your career at United.