United Airlines has today announced the launch of the Calibrate Technician Pathway Program, giving U.S. Army reservists and select aviation maintenance students a direct pathway to become an Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) wit the carrier.
On Tuesday (October 24, 2023), United Airlines announced the launch of the Calibrate Technician Pathway Program, which creates a direct pathway for U.S. Army reservists and students from three prominent aviation maintenance schools to lucrative careers as United Aviation Maintenance Technicians. The carrier will establish partnerships with the Army Reserve in their Aviation Command Unit, National Aviation Academy, Aviation Institute of Maintenance and Pittsburgh Institute, bringing in up to 300 students annually.
In Tuesday’s announcement, United Airlines’ Managing Director of Calibrate, Simon Drakes, said,
“Investments in new aircraft and facilities require that we also increase our pipeline of maintenance technicians that will ensure our expansive fleet, facilities and equipment are safely and efficiently maintained. Launching this new program alongside highly regarded institutions whose high-quality training and aviation education will help us to reach our United Next and maintenance technician hiring goals.”
The new AMT pathway program will support the carrier’s United Next growth plan, where the airline expects to take delivery of 800 new aircraft between 2023 and 2032. Over the last 18 months, United has hired over 3,200 new technicians, and plans on hiring thousands more by 2026. Once a student is accepted into the Calibrate Technician Pathway Program, they must maintain a high GPA and strong attendance record to remain in the post-graduation hiring pool. United will host interviews, open houses, and career fairs at each of the schools. For U.S. Army reservists, United will hold career fairs within the Aviation Command Unit’s local communities and provide guidance on Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification programs.
After completing all necessary certifications, qualified students and reservists will be invited to apply and interview at the airline’s Tech Operations Recruiting Center in Houston as a final step in the process. The new Technician Pathway Program is separate from United’s current Calibrate Apprenticeship Program and focuses on bringing in fully certified new hires.
At United Airlines, ‘Good Leads the Way.’ The airline operates the most comprehensive network among North American carriers with U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. As measured by available seat miles (ASMs), United is now the world’s largest airline. Shares in the company’s parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., are publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol ‘UAL.’
Source: United Airlines/PRNewswire