United Aviate Scholarship

female pilot trainees walking on runway in front of planes 

EAA Aviation Foundation, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc. are jointly funding a scholarship for one qualified and well-deserving candidate to attend United Aviate Academy. By covering all costs associated with attending United Aviate Academy, this scholarship eliminates the financial barrier associated with obtaining a commercial pilot license and earning the ratings and certificates ultimately required to gain employment as a professional pilot.


Eligibility Requirements:

The Scholarship shall be open to all applicants who have:

  • Applied for admission to the United Aviate Academy
  • Completed their video interview and online assessments with the United Aviate Academy
  • Satisfied all conditions for acceptance into the United Aviate Academy, but have not started any flight training at the United Aviate Academy
  • Demonstrated a financial need to assist with the costs that will be incurred from attending the United Aviate Academy and Aviate program.

Preference will be provided to individuals that are also members of EAA.

The following individuals are not eligible for the Scholarship:

  • Individuals who have previously obtained a private pilot license
  • Individuals that have not been accepted into the Academy by the close of the Application Period
  • Individuals that started flight training at the Academy prior to the close of the Application Period.

About United Aviate Academy

Designed for those with little to no flight experience, United Aviate Academy provides aspiring pilots with industry-leading curriculum, equipment and accommodations at the 340,000 square foot facility at Phoenix Goodyear Airport. The facility covers 28 acres including an Administrative and Flight Operations building, cafeteria, five dormitories, two aircraft maintenance hangars, multiple recreational areas and a simulator and facility maintenance building. Not to mention, the year-round blue skies make for perfect training conditions in the brand-new Cirrus SR20s and Piper Seminoles.

Each student will complete a rigorous, year-long training program that prepares them for a career which reflects United’s high standard of professionalism and a deep commitment to delivering a safe, caring, dependable and efficient travel experience. After completing their training at the academy, students will have the opportunity to build flight and leadership experience within the Aviate pilot development ecosystem at partner universities, professional flight training organizations, Part 135 operators and United Express carriers on their way to becoming United pilots.

The academy aims to train 500 students annually, with plans for at least half of those students being women or people of color. Diversifying the flight deck and hiring the best talent remains at the forefront of United’s efforts and the academy will deliver industry-leading training to further United’s goal of hiring more than 10,000 pilots before the end of the decade.

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