United Aviate Academy Sued Over ‘Consumer Fraud’

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, claims that UAA and United misled students about the length and quality of the pilot training program. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege they were promised an intensive one-year program that would prepare them for careers as commercial airline pilots. 

However, the complaint states that many students found themselves unable to complete the program in the advertised time frame due to a lack of resources, including insufficient numbers of flight instructors and aircraft.

Opened in 2022, the 340,000-square-foot Goodyear, Arizona, flight school operates a fleet of Cirrus SR-20 aircraft. According to its mission statement, the academy offers an “accelerated curriculum designed to help students swiftly acquire the necessary licenses and ratings. United Aviate Academy has become a vital initiative within the industry, helping to alleviate pilot shortages while fostering diversity and accessibility in aviation to a broader range of aspiring pilots.”

Per the complaint, UAA and United made representations through their websites, social media channels, emails, and other marketing materials that the program would take approximately 12 months to complete. The plaintiffs claim they relied on these representations when deciding to enroll and take out substantial student loans to cover tuition and other expenses.

The lawsuit details numerous issues experienced by students, including:

The plaintiffs allege that UAA and United continued to make false claims about the program’s duration and quality even after it became clear they could not deliver on their promises. Some students report being in the program for over two years without completing it, while others say they were expelled after voicing concerns.

“Defendants made these representations knowing and/or with reason to know that they did not have the necessary resources to accommodate and graduate within one year the students they intended to enroll and/or did enroll and from whom they accepted payments,” the complaint states. “As time went on, Defendants continued to make the same representations to new students despite knowing the representations were false.”

The lawsuit brings claims under the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act as well as for fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent inducement, negligence, and other counts. The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, though a specific amount has not been determined. 

A jury trial is being requested in this case.