As more Americans feel it is safe to travel again, airlines that previously trimmed their workforces due to the pandemic are scrambling to adjust again. Last year, airlines encouraged buyouts or were forced to lay off employees when passenger numbers plummeted during the height of lockdowns. An aging workforce and early retirements share part of the blame. As a result, airlines rehiring or staffing-up are now facing a shortage of workers, including pilots.

The gap between demand for pilots and the supply is forecast to reach as high as 50,000 globally by 2025, according to one aviation industry study. The study estimates a deficiency of 12,000 pilots in 2023 in North America alone.

United Airlines is the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school—the United Aviate Academy. The pathway to the cockpit through the Aviate program takes about five years—aspiring pilots with no experience can become licensed within two months, can begin earning an income within a year, and become a full United pilot within five years.

In an effort to fill the need and, at the same time, diversify its ranks, United has set a new goal: half of all students to its pilot training academy are to be women and people of color. This equates to 5,000 new pilots by 2023 falling within those demographics. Currently, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 3.4% of aircraft pilots are Black, 2.2% are Asian and 5% are Hispanic; 5.6% are women.

A College Partnership to Create a Diverse Pipeline of Pilots

United is turning to higher education for a hand in solving the twin issues. This summer, the airline launched partnerships with three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to recruit students into the career. Delaware State University, Elizabeth City State University, and Hampton University students will have the opportunity to join Aviate.

Kuldeep Rawat, School of Science, Aviation, Health, and Technology dean (Photo: ECSU)

“Such university-industry partnerships are mutually beneficial to both parties,” says Kuldeep S. Rawat, Ph.D., AvMp, the Thorpe Endowed Professor and Dean of the Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) School of Science, Aviation, Health, and Technology.

“The partnership affords United (industry) the ability to be more hands-on in our aviation degree planning and action and have the opportunity to evaluate a large pool of well-qualified candidates that have learned the skills that they are looking for," says Rawat.

"In turn, by partnering with industry leader such as United, ECSU’s Aviation degree program will have the ability to implement both technical and soft skills training needed at workplace into the curriculum and give our students access to a direct pathway to a major airline. This gives use as an educational institution higher relevance in the marketplace and creates a more substantial return on investment for our students,” he adds.

ECSU’s aviation program started as a minor in Airway Science back in 1989 and became a four-year degree program in 2002—the only one of its kind in North Carolina. It was one of the first to receive an FAA grant to start an aviation program as a way to increase diversity in federal government.

In three years, the program has grown 30% from 68 to 153 students, and through the program students currently operate a training fleet of 12 aircraft. Students earn their bachelor’s degree and private and commercial pilot’s license. Graduates have historically pursued pilot jobs in the military and commercial airlines.

During a FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board meeting, ECSU’s chancellor shared details of the school’s program, which was attended by an Aviate representative, according to Rawat. A subsequent, more detailed presentation ensued, and United and ECSU signed an agreement three weeks later.

“We are pleased to partner with Elizabeth City State University to identify and train the next generation of United pilots,” said Capt.