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Application
Aviate, which offers multiple entry points, leads to a conditional job offer as a United First Officer, and participants may be eligible to transition to United once they meet the transition requirements. United Aviate Academy applications are currently closed. For experienced pilots who meet mainline hiring requirements with an unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot certificate, you can apply directly as a United First Officer. The United Military Pilot Program is for active-duty military pilots who are more than 12 months from separation.1567
United Aviate: the Aviate programme and United Aviate Academy
Applications for the United Aviate Academy are currently closed, but you can submit a request for information to be notified when the window opens again. Applications for the Aviate programme itself are made after reviewing the requirements and entry points.6
What is the Aviate programme?
Aviate is the pilot career development programme for United Airlines. The programme provides a path to becoming a United First Officer for pilots at various stages of their journey. Aviate and the United Aviate Academy are not the same. Aviate is the career development programme, while the United Aviate Academy is a partner flight school owned by United Airlines. You do not have to attend the United Aviate Academy to join Aviate, as there are many other partner universities, flight schools, Part 135 operators and United Express carriers.1
How does the United Aviate Academy work?
The United Aviate Academy is located at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Goodyear, AZ. It is designed for applicants with little to no piloting experience. Minimum admissions requirements include being at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, having a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and the ability to train in provided aircraft equipment with restricted height of 6'3" and max 250 pounds. The admissions process includes, among other steps, assessments, a virtual interview, proof of funding, background and drug screening, and an enrolment agreement, and a valid, unrestricted first-class medical certificate is required for admission. United Aviate Academy lists the full process on its admissions page.45
How much does training cost?
The Aviate programme itself costs nothing, but participants are responsible for the cost of their own training. For the United Aviate Academy, the 2027 Program Costs total $123,675 if you have zero flight hours, or $121,975 if you already have a Private Pilot License. These totals include a Supplemental Training/Flight Overages Bank of $13,000, which is refunded upon graduation if not used. Flight hours exceeding 10% above the Training Course Outline minimum are billed at $250 per hour for single-engine and $300 per hour for multi-engine aircraft, and retakes and the optional MEI certificate cost extra. Applicants must show a minimum proof of funds of $122,800, or $121,100 for applicants who already have a Private Pilot License. Scholarships totalling $3.45M are available from United, Chase and Boeing through partner organisations, but you must be accepted to the academy before you can apply for them.145
Key requirements listed by United
United lists further requirements.3
About United Airlines
United Airlines is a full-service airline based in the United States. Its airline codes are UA (IATA) and UAL (ICAO). Aircraft types in the fleet include the Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A321XLR, Boeing 737-700 and 15 other types. Its main hubs: Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Guam (GUM), Houston Intercontinental (IAH) and 4 more. United Aviate Academy is part of United Airlines and has its own page here.
United Airlines runs a cadet route for future pilots: the United Aviate Academy / Aviate. As of 28 October 2026, the programme was listed as closed to new applications. United Airlines also recruits licensed pilots as direct-entry first officers. Pilot vacancies are published on a careers portal, linked in the profile on this page. The selection is described stage by stage on this page.
The five phases
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Online assessmentsPractise this phase
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Virtual behavioral interview (MS Teams)Practise this phase
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Conditional acceptance into the academy
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Background check, drug screening and FAA first-class medical
Where to train for United Airlines
15 flight schools have a published link with this airline. Each entry says what the link is and who states it.
United Aviate AcademyGoodyear, United StatesAirline's own academyAccording to the school
Epic Flight AcademyNew Smyrna Beach, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
Hampton UniversityUnited States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
Lewis UniversityRomeoville, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
Middle Georgia State University, School of AviationEastman, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school- MSU DenverDenver, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
Phoenix East Aviation (PEA)Daytona Beach, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
US Aviation AcademySan Marcos, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
Show all 15 flight schools
US Aviation AcademyDenton, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school
Western Michigan University College of AviationBattle Creek, United States · United AviateCadet programme partnerAccording to the school- UNITED AIRLINES INC DBA UNITED AIRLINES CONTRACTDenver, United StatesAirline training centreTraining centre certificate held by the airline
ATP Flight SchoolJacksonville, United States · ATP Career TrackRecruitment partnerAccording to the school
California Aeronautical UniversityBakersfield, United StatesRecruitment partnerAccording to the school
OU School of Aviation (University of Oklahoma)Norman, United StatesRecruitment partnerAccording to the school
UNO Aviation Institute (University of Nebraska at Omaha)Omaha, United StatesRecruitment partnerAccording to the school
United Airlines at a glance
- IATA / ICAO
- UA / UAL8
- Country
- United States
- Hubs
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Guam (GUM), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Washington Dulles (IAD)8
- Fleet
- Airbus A319-100, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A321XLR, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-900, Boeing 737-900ER, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 737 MAX 9, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-300ER, Boeing 767-400ER, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 777-200ER, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 787-109
- Cadet programme
- United Aviate Academy / Aviate (closed as of 28 Oct 2026)74
- Direct entry
- First officers7
GROUP AIRLINES, ACADEMIES AND PROGRAMMESUnited Aviate Academy · selection guide
SALARYFirst officer, first year, smallest aircraft: USD 114,696 per year (estimate by consultant Kit Darby, 2024)Captain, most senior, largest aircraft: USD 424,920 per year (salary reported by the Dallas Morning News, 2024)Captain, Boeing 787 and 777: more than USD 350,000 per year (stated by United, 2023-01)United Airlines pilot salary
What does United Airlines ask of pilots?
- Age
- Be at least 18 years old1
- Licence
- Hold a minimum of a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument Rating1
- Education
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent1
- Medical
- Hold a valid FAA medical certificate that was originally issued as a first- or second-class medical certificate1
- Checkride failures
- 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 failures3
What routes are available for experienced pilots?
For experienced pilots who meet mainline hiring requirements with an unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot certificate, you can apply directly as a United First Officer. This is not an Aviate entry point.72
Is there a route for military pilots?
Active-duty U.S. Armed Forces pilots who want to reach United can apply directly through the United Military Pilot Program. This path is for active-duty military pilots who are more than 12 months from separation, including full-time active-duty members and active reserves currently serving as TAR, FTS or AGR on reserve status. An Airline Transport Pilot certificate is not required to apply, but you must meet transition requirements before starting at United.27
- 1Frequently asked questions | United Aviate · United Airlines (United Aviate) · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 2Career paths | United Aviate program · United Airlines (United Aviate) · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 3Aviate eligibility chart | United Aviate program · United Airlines (United Aviate) · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 4Admissions and program details | United Aviate Academy · United Aviate Academy (United Airlines) · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 5United Aviate Academy | Chart an extraordinary course · United Aviate Academy (United Airlines) · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 6Apply | United Aviate Academy · United Aviate Academy (United Airlines) · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 7United Pilot Careers · United Airlines · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 8United Airlines (Wikipedia) · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 9United Airlines fleet (Wikipedia) · accessed 11 Oct 2026
