UNO Partnership with United Airlines to Provide Career Pathways to the Flight Deck

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and United Airlines announced a new partnership to provide career pathways for aviators through Aviate, United’s industry-leading pilot career development program. As an Aviate university partner, former and current UNO students and instructors who apply and are successful in the Aviate selection process will join the program and benefit from the defined path to a lifelong career at United.

“Through this partnership with Aviate, students who come to UNO’s Aviation Institute have a unique opportunity to secure their career pathway in aviation while they work on their education and flight training,” said Scott Vlasek, Director of UNO’s Aviation Institute. “This is a remarkable opportunity to boost the aviation workforce here in Nebraska and across the industry, and I look forward to seeing our students launch their careers through this program.”

Students and faculty filled the room in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) on Thursday to learn more about the partnership. Interested aviation students had the opportunity to hear from United Airlines pilots, ask questions about the training required, and gain an understanding of what life would be like in a career with United — from travel privileges and work-life balance to what a day in the life looks like for a pilot flying both domestically and internationally.

"When a major airline like United shows up on campus, and to have this kind of [student] turnout, I think it really speaks to how important it is and how excited they are," Vlasek told KETV NewsWatch 7.

UNO is among 14 Aviate university partners nationwide and the only partner in the state of Nebraska. Since its inception in 1990, UNO’s Aviation Institute has offered flight instruction and education in many other facets of aviation with leading experts in the field, cutting-edge facilities, and opportunities for experience and career development.

“We are excited to welcome UNO into the Aviate program,” said Captain Michael Bonner, Managing Director of Aviate and Pilot Strategy at United. “We look forward to the mutual opportunity this partnership brings to current, former and future students as part of our pilot development strategy.”

Applicants selected to join the program will receive a conditional job offer from United which will be fulfilled once participants earn a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot license (rATP), which requires a minimum of 1,000 hours of flight experience at UNO and fly 2,000 hours over 24 months with a United Express partner. Upon completing these requirements, participants will then be eligible to transition to United as First Officers.

"Knowing you have a job at United Airlines after two years at their regional partner? That's pretty phenomenal," Vlasek told 6 News.

Becky Lutte, Ph.D., associate professor within UNO's Aviation Institute, spoke with KMTV 3 News Now about the potential impact this partnership could have on the aviation industry, future pilots, and the university. "It's a great boost and it's really a win-win for the industry and UNO. We know we have a pilot supply issue isn't the industry now so the airlines are coming to us now looking for the top talent and we are happy to provide it," Lutte said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 18,100 openings on average for airline and commercial pilots each year. United currently employs over 14,000 pilots and are on track to hire 10,000 pilots this decade.

Additional information about UNO’s partnership with Aviate including eligibility requirements and application information can be found on the UNO Aviation Institute website.