Originally Posted by
TwoDaysBehind
It doesn't exist to put bodies in the seats at United. Aviate is a suckers program to keep qualified pilots from leaving UAX carriers. For example the 40 or so people who entered Aviate at Gojet last year, they kept flying for over a year, while those who didn't get accepted into Aviate left for Frontier, Southwest, Delta, AA, Flexjet and similar. Then Aviate opened up without a selection process, so another hundred Gojet pilots are staying around waiting to flow instead of leaving for AA or Delta. Those who applied to majors outside the flow sat in class before those in Aviate, just at different carriers.
That shouldn't stop the kid from using Aviate if it gets him a scholarship from United. But his fastest path is to keep an open mind and apply everywhere until he gets where he wants to retire. If he put United on a pedestal and will settle for nothing else, his fastest path is Envoy, Piedmont or PSA.
It’s my understanding that those people in the Aviate program can also leave for greener pastures if they choose. If they have their heart set on United for some reason they’ll have to wait for their flow date, but we’re just another airline. If a pilot in the Aviate program, got a call from Delta or FedEx, they should go. I met one guy that has a kid at the academy and he seems pleased with the quality of training. His daughter was fresh out of high school. By the time that she’s 23 and can hold an unrestricted ATP she’ll be qualified to come over to UAL. If someone good calls before her flow date she’ll go there.