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Partners in navigating the pilot shortage
Metropolitan State University of Denver is joining forces with Aviate, United Airlines’ pilot career-development program, to combat the nation’s pilot shortage by putting more aspiring aviators in the flight deck.
MSU Denver is the only four-year university in Colorado to partner with Aviate, which offers a secure pathway and a conditional job offer as a United first officer. Former and current MSU Denver students and instructors who meet eligibility requirements are able to apply.
“For me, it was just a very natural fit here in Denver,” said Marc Champion, vice president of Flight Operations for United Airlines and an MSU Denver Aviation alumnus. “We have one of the top aviation schools in the country, co-located with one of our biggest hubs.”
United intends to hire more than 10,000 pilots this decade. Once selected for the Aviate program, MSU Denver participants will continue working toward their commercial pilot’s licenses. Then, participants will fly for an Aviateparticipating United Express carrier or Part 135 operator (non-commercial operating carriers such as a cargo carrier) to continue building flight hours before transitioning to United.
“United Airlines has been a longtime partner of the University, given our program’s history, reputation and accessibility in the heart of Denver,” said Kevin Kuhlmann, MSU Denver Aviation professor. “Hundreds of MSU Denver alumni have successfully navigated the pipeline and moved on as industry leaders for United.”
Morgan Katnik, a senior in MSU Denver’s Aviation and Aerospace Science Department, is one of the University’s first applicants to be accepted into the Aviate program. He’s excited about the direct pathway and seamless transition once he completes the program, as well as the coaching he’ll receive.
The need for new pilots such as Katnik has never been greater. By the end of the decade, as more pilots retire, the shortage could approach 60,000, according to some estimates. That’s why airlines, educators and the federal government are stepping up efforts to shore up the workforce.
