United Airlines launches recruitment drive to train women and people of colour as pilots

A US airline has launched a recruitment drive aimed at “diversifying the cockpit” by recruiting and training women and people of colour as pilots.

United Airlines plans to train up 10,000 pilots for 2030, half of which (5,000) will be female and/or people of colour recruits.

The United Aviate Academy is currently accepting applications on its website, which states: “Today, United has one of the most diverse pilot populations of any US carrier with nearly 20 per cent of our pilot group made up of women and people of colour.

“We are working toward raising that number even higher by partnering with diversity-led organisations and continuing to remove gender and racial barriers.

“And we’re going one step further with plans for 50 per cent of United Aviate Academy students being women and people of colour to ensure our students reflect the diversity of the customers and communities we serve.”

The academy has also partnered with JPMorgan Chase to offer $2.4m in financial aid to fund candidates’ scholarships and remove financial barriers to pilot training.

“I’ve had the pleasure of flying the Boeing 737, the Boeing 777 and now the Boeing 787,” said United Airlines pilot Gabrielle Harding, who said her interest in aviation was sparked and encouraged while growing up in Detroit…

Want to know more click here go to source.

From The Independent - April 8, 2021