United Selects FlightSafety Academy for Aviate Program

United Airlines announced that it has selected FlightSafety Academy for its Aviate pilot recruitment and development program. Prospective pilots along with current flight instructors can apply for the program’s first round of interviews immediately, and those accepted as student pilots will be integrated into regular FlightSafety Academy classes.

The Aviate program offers a path to possible employment with United for students and pilots who join, with the airline working in concert with the academy to give “clear direction on the qualifications and milestones that must be achieved based on their current experience level,” according to the FlightSafety International press release. The goal is to prepare those pilots for a position with “accelerated flow thru to United Airlines as a first officer.”

Pete Nily, manager of FlightSafety Academy, weighs in on the new program for Flying: “This is a very exciting time for FlightSafety Academy. We are proud to be selected by United Airlines to be part of the Aviate program. This is an excellent opportunity for our cadets and flight instructors. We look forward to seeing them in an United Airlines uniform very soon!”

FlightSafety Academy, in Vero Beach, Florida, hosts a fleet of 65 Piper Aircraft, ranging from Warriors for primary training, Arrows for advanced certificates and ratings, and Seminoles for multiengine training. The campus comprises 30 acres and includes training facilities featuring an FAA testing lab and air traffic control communications lab, in addition to multimedia classrooms and simulation platforms.