Delaware State University (DSU) has partnered with United Airlines to offer aviation graduates streamlined job opportunities with the airline.
The partnership reflects United Airlines’ renewed commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. As the only major airline in the U.S. to have an aviation school, United Airlines’ Aviate Academy plans to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with the intent that at least 50% of trainees will be women and/or minorities.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to build our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in 2021 and beyond,” said Brett Hart, President of United Airlines. “Inspired by the Aviate motto ‘Love to fly, born to lead,’ we look forward to working side by side with our partners at Delaware State University, and we welcome the next generation of aviators to the flight deck.”
Most graduates have to work as flight instructors or for smaller airlines to get enough total flight hours to work for a major airline. However, the partnership will streamline that process, making it easier and faster for DSU aviation graduates to become pilots for a major airline.
“It’s a huge incentive for future students to choose Delaware State University and its Aviation Program as their choice for an education,” said Lt. Col. Michael Hales, director of the University’s Aviation Program. “Before this, we could only say that our graduates will step into a career as a Professional Pilot at some airline. Now we can say that our graduates’ career is most likely to be with United Airlines.”
The collaboration between Aviate Academy and DSU is the first of many future relationships the airline hopes to build with HBCUs. United Airlines has also finalized partnerships with two other HBCUs, Elizabeth City State University and Hampton University.
