He launched a flight school called United Aviate Academy in order to train 5,000 pilots by 2030. Half of them will be women and men of color.
“I had the pleasure of flying a Boeing 737, a Boeing 777 and now a Boeing 787,” said United Airlines pilot Gabrielle Harding.
Harding said that while growing up in Detroit, he had access to programs that sparked interest in flying, but says many minorities are not exposed to aviation.
“The fact that United has decided to further expand and diversify the booth is wonderful given the cities where United serves,” Harding said. “They are diverse and cosmopolitan urban cities.”
“It was in my blood, there was never a time when I didn’t think I would be a pilot,” said Kevin Mack.
Mack was a regional pilot for Delta Airlines for five years, but changed gears.
“This was the environment after 9/11, when airlines went bankrupt on the left and right, and everyone was shrinking and putting people down,” Mack said.
Mack said that this recruitment effort by United comes at another time of transition for the airline industry, as a large number of pilots are approaching retirement.
That is why United has said it intends to break down barriers and give more aspiring drivers a more direct path to jobs.
Applications are now accepted on United Aviate Academy website.
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