Are pilots flowing in aviate on the advertised timelines

[Ian_J]

You sounded like an angry crazy ex- with this rant.

Can you show me again on the doll where United hurt you?

Honestly Aviate isn’t that great and those who have experienced the ever changing goal posts have a valid point.

That said, it’s like any other flow or flow-like program. Great as a back up but you should probably aim for a different major seeing as you probably wont get hired off the street at the parent. If you’re dream airline is United maybe go with Envoy or Endeavor.

 

[jhugz]

Honestly Aviate isn’t that great and those who have experienced the ever changing goal posts have a valid point.

That said, it’s like any other flow or flow-like program. Great as a back up but you should probably aim for a different major seeing as you probably wont get hired off the street at the parent.

I agree that the changing goal posts have to be infuriating for someone in the program. However, is that really all that different then a traditional candidate dealing with different competitive minimums based on the current hiring environment? The landscape changes and so does hiring including the Aviate program.

Again though, as of 2/23/25 at 16:28 local DEN time…Aviate/UMPP are the best and quickest option into a United Flight Deck. However, that can all change tomorrow.

 

[derg]

The best too, in the stack. “Hey, is anyone at XXXX altitude? Can’t remember if it was open….”

“Any traffic in the area please advise?”

 

[derg]

You honestly think someone on the hiring team at United needs to “recruit” anyone? They can pick and chose whoever they want from the stack of thousands of resumes they have.

Correct. The market today isn’t the market from this time last year whatsoever.

 

[Kingairer]

Sounds like aviate is just a flow through like other airlines have, but since they dont have WO regionals, they use other regional/135 carriers @Cherokee_Cruiser ? I dont like flow through programs at all, but they are sign of the times for the moment so I dont see how this one is much different. What am I missing?

 

[Hiboglossi]

Sounds like aviate is just a flow through like other airlines have, but since they dont have WO regionals, they use other regional/135 carriers @Cherokee_Cruiser ? I dont like flow through programs at all, but they are sign of the times for the moment so I dont see how this one is much different. What am I missing?

In its current form and most of its past forms, the Aviate program is not actually a flow like the AA wholly owned regionals have, but rather a preferential interview program. Currently how it works is, if you pass the Aviate interview, you are admitted to the program, and will be eligible to flow to United after you accumulate 1,600 hours of PIC time at the United Express partner. However, just because you're eligible doesn't mean you'll be offered a class date any time soon. You can also be removed from the aviate program for training failures or too many sick calls.

One reason why the Aviate program is not worth making a lateral move for, as the OP was considering, is there's no guarantee you will be admitted to the program. I'm not sure what the interview success rate is now but it used to be pretty low when I was at C5. And has been mentioned many people have been removed from the program after being accepted, though i believe most of those were in the brief period when it was a true flow.

 

[MikeD]

In its current form and most of its past forms, the Aviate program is not actually a flow like the AA wholly owned regionals have, but rather a preferential interview program. Currently how it works is, if you pass the Aviate interview, you are admitted to the program, and will be eligible to flow to United after you accumulate 1,600 hours of PIC time at the United Express partner. However, just because you're eligible doesn't mean you'll be offered a class date any time soon. You can also be removed from the aviate program for training failures or too many sick calls.

One reason why the Aviate program is not worth making a lateral move for, as the OP was considering, is there's no guarantee you will be admitted to the program. I'm not sure what the interview success rate is now but it used to be pretty low when I was at C5. And has been mentioned many people have been removed from the program after being accepted, though i believe most of those were in the brief period when it was a true flow.

if someone wanted to apply to UAL off the street and was of high hours and experience, they’d have no real chance versus someone who is in Aviate and who happen to have much less hours and experience?

 

[Ian_J]

if someone wanted to apply to UAL off the street and was of high hours and experience, they’d have no real chance versus someone who is in Aviate and who happen to have much less hours and experience?

Very tiny anecdotal data point, but I’ve never flown with someone from the aviate pipeline. Lots of Spirit, JetBlue, Netjets, military, and non-UA regional Captains.

 

[killbilly]

Very tiny anecdotal data point, but I’ve never flown with someone from the aviate pipeline. Lots of Spirit, JetBlue, Netjets, military, and non-UA regional Captains.

You will.

 

[killbilly]

Very tiny anecdotal data point, but I’ve never flown with someone from the aviate pipeline. Lots of Spirit, JetBlue, Netjets, military, and non-UA regional Captains.

My prior post was short and vague.

I've gotten some (slightly depressing) intel lately that UA isn't looking at OTS hires *at all* unless they meet more traditional requirements to join the company - notes from a contact who attended NGPA - "United - Hiring only Aviate and SkyWest Pathway Pilots, or you need anywhere from 4000-10000TT and TPIC is mandatory(this would be all those that jumped ship to an LCC). 4-yr degree is preferred."

So I expect you'll see more Aviate transitions in your right seat at some point.

Hindsight's a harsh mistress, looking at stuff like that.

 

[derg]

I’m not part of Aviate but we have a similar-ish program at SouthernJets.

Off the street has not ceased, whatsoever, but with everyone hiring reduced numbers of pilots, in total, and some of the hiring commitments coming up, a larger percentage of ground schools may be filled with people coming up on their contractual times to come over.

It does not mean that these program are “sole source”, they are not.

 

[Ian_J]

My prior post was short and vague.

I've gotten some (slightly depressing) intel lately that UA isn't looking at OTS hires *at all* unless they meet more traditional requirements to join the company - notes from a contact who attended NGPA - "United - Hiring only Aviate and SkyWest Pathway Pilots, or you need anywhere from 4000-10000TT and TPIC is mandatory(this would be all those that jumped ship to an LCC). 4-yr degree is preferred."

So I expect you'll see more Aviate transitions in your right seat at some point.

Hindsight's a harsh mistress, looking at stuff like that.

That’s interesting… And I know what you mean about the hindsight. There’s just no way to predict this industry, man.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

or you need anywhere from 4000-10000TT and TPIC is mandatory(this would be all those that jumped ship to an LCC). 4-yr degree is preferred

As it was, is, and mostly shall continue to be, except when it isn't, etc.