Aviate Program for current employees
 

Hey guys, I have created a more general previous post about entry into the flying career, but my situation has changed pretty significantly so I figured this warrants a separate item specific to our airline.

I’m a current UA employee, now at DENTK making $102k while maintaining our training devices. Still have the Bachelor’s and remaining $80k in debt from that, but no homeowner’s debt right now. Per the title, I’m curious about our new pilot pathway for internal applicants called “Aviate.” The details are forthcoming - I’ve signed up to be emailed about it in the coming months. But my general idea is that this represents a “flow program” that will be highly selective for both internal and external applicants. My ego of course convinces me that I’m a preferable candidate due to fleet and systems familiarity.

The current job is incredibly low-stress, and every morning at 0800 I can go to sleep in my own bed. I could easily see myself retiring in this role and earning ratings on the side, but the idea of 121 flying still interests me. Is it worth leaving such a laid back career for the chance to fly legacy airliners? I’ve been turning that one over and over in my mind, and literally the only drawback to my current role is working midnight shift for 20+ years.

I’ve discussed the career reality with my wife, a soon-to-be RN that will move here in March. She understands that the downgrade into RJs will likely mean either commuting from, or leaving Denver entirely for several years. She has agreed that if the math works out, she is OK being a breadwinner while the flying career spools up. And she understands the implication of a career comprised of trips that regularly take me away from home for long stretches of time.

Regardless I will still apply to our Aviate program just to talk it out whenever they open up to employees. I plan on visiting a DME at the same time to ensure nothing currently stands in my way besides training and time.

Any input is much appreciated, thanks in advance.

If you’re at TK maybe stop in and talk with the recruitment office. Get to know some of the good folks there. Making the jump can be daunting and there are no guarantees but you dont want to retire someday wondering what could have been. If you really want it go for it. If it doesn’t work out for you, perhaps you can get back into your current job. Good luck and thanks for keeping our sims running.

Hard to predict the ins and outs of how that program may work going forward. Looking at the previous CPP arrangements with some of the regional carriers there was a lot of emphasis on "reliablity" IE attendance. I'd suggest knocking out that 1st trip to the AME as well, make sure there are no surprises medically before making the big commitment. I'm a 73 instructor at TK, PM me if you'd like to discuss more.

Guppy :D
.........

The guys running the program don’t want employees to become pilots because they come in with seniority. Seniority for vacation and bumping them off flights on commutes

Don’t listen to stuff like this ^^^. Talk to the folks at TK.

good luck to you Sir !!

He can talk to them all he wants. They don’t know what United really wants out of Aviate. They are letting the Regionals bleed pilots until they can’t no more and they either close down or merge together to survive. They have said it on press conferences this past month they are reducing regional flying and giving it to mainline.

I am not sure what the he!! Aviate is doing or that it will ever be a viable pilot training facility. In fact it seems to be nothing more than a virtue signaling publicity stunt. But “they” don’t like to hire current employees because of seniority and bumping is a massive stretch/ school boy fantasy.

Not to mention, you don’t carry your seniority with you. Different CBA.

You keep flying seniority and vacation time is company time based.

You keep flying seniority? What does that mean?

Nonrev seniority maybe?

Unless there is some strange offering within the Aviate program that violates our UPA, people hired as a United Pilot who previously worked for United in another capacity have their longevity dates reset.

Company and craft-trade seniority are different.

Company employees keep non rev seniority and will have vacation time based on company time. Bidding for airplane or base will be as if they were a new hire.

Things may have changes in the last 30 years but it used to be that if you left United on a leave of absence, and returned in under 4 years (even if in a different position), you maintained your seniority for pass travel. And you got to bid 1st in your new hire pilot class, regardless of your SS#. If you were gone for over 4 years, you only got your old file# back.

I’m only referring to other positions within the company. Not taking a LOA from let’s say a gate agent to become a pilot later on. Yes, if you take a LOA in accordance with the UPA, which applies only to pilots you retain your seniority. The other poster claiming you keep non-rev seniority and vacation is not correct.

It’s a fact ! People have already transitioned from other positions to pilot and have more weeks of seniority than a new hire F/O

Who cares? They are likely a lot older than many new hire FOs as they wasted years in some mundane job here for lower pay. Let them have some vacation seniority or pass travel seniority. The jumpseat will always go by pilot seniority.

Wow I’d hate to fly with you as my captain. Your probably the guy that thinks his sh don’t stink. I can’t imagine how you treat your FA, gate agents and everyone else that plays a part in a airline.

Sorry man. I know a few people like those that you speak of. It’s not the case. That info is readily available in shares.

Yeah well my son transitioned this year and guess what pal he has 5 weeks of vacation ! He was a flight attendant and was flying at the same time. The time came for him to start flying mainline. He has more vacation and flying seniority than his entire new hire class. I know it hurts to hear this but you’ll get over it.

Look him up in shares. I think you’ll find that you are wrong. New hires don’t have full vacation, BTW, since it is a look back. Look at your CBA. You might want to read it.

Ok mr know it all when in reality you know nothing ! Here is something I copied directly from the United employee website. "If you are eligible to receive credit for past company service, United calculates your adjusted company seniority date based on your prior company service date minus the period of leave. Credit for past company service is applicable only in determining vacation accruals, pass travel and years of service recognition programs".

https://flyingtogether.ual.com/Employee-Services/CareerOpportunities/availableOpportunities/united-aviate-employee-program

Stop saying what you don’t know !

"If you are eligible to receive credit for past company service, United calculates your adjusted company seniority date based on your prior company service date minus the period of leave. Credit for past company service is applicable only in determining vacation accruals, pass travel and years of service recognition programs".

https://flyingtogether.ual.com/Employee-Services/CareerOpportunities/availableOpportunities/united-aviate-employee-program

Did you look it up yet in shares? You are reading that paragraph wrong. That applies if you leave the Aviate program and return back to United or as a pilot.

It’s in black and white bud. So on your computer all you need to do is login to flying together and paste the link. Once you are there scroll down and you’ll see. A 20 year gate agent can go and get his pilot license ,go thru Aviate and then come in with more vacation than you. It’s a fact not a opinion. If you don’t like it talk to the people that started Aviate

That’s incorrect your reading it wrong.

You signed up for an account 3 weeks ago and randomly bash the Aviate program for some reason. Don’t spread bad info. I’ll paste the full paragraph you quoted above. It doesn’t apply to pilots that finish the Aviate program, but those who leave and return in some other non-pilot capacity:

Leaving the Aviate Program while on Aviate Leave and Returning to United

Employees who leave Aviate before completion of the program while on Aviate Leave will not be eligible for the Aviate program in the future, but will have several options on returning to United depending on which stage of the program they were in. The employee should contact Employee Service Center (ESC) for more details on the procedure they should follow.

the employee’s vacated position is no longer available, individuals are encouraged to seek a competitive position for which they are qualified, as long as a vacancy is available. If there are no available openings or the employee has not been selected for another position within 60 days of terminating Aviate Leave, they will be separated from employment at United at that time.

If the employee is eligible to receive credit for past company service, United calculates the employee’s adjusted company seniority date based on the employee’s prior company service date minus the period of leave. Credit for past company service is applicable only in determining vacation accruals, pass travel and years of service recognition programs.

Note: In the event of policy conflicts with any collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the terms of the CBA will take precedence over the published policy.

Your crazy ! 😂 company time is company time. No matter what position you are in the company you will receive company time off based on position. If your a FA and become a gate agent you take your company seniority with you. Any other way dosent even make sense ! Yes AVIATE is a joke and everyone running it !

I’ll break it down further for you. If person has 10 years of service with United and they decide to move around in the company the amount of vacation will change based on title. Pilot let’s say 5 weeks , mechanic 4 weeks , flight attendant 3 weeks or ramp agent 3 weeks.

Flying seniority is the sammmmeee thing ! How ridiculous does it sound that someone that has been with the company 20 years now transitions to a pilot role and he’s getting bumped off a flight by a new hire pilot ???

It may not make sense to you, but it is what it is.

It’s okay everyone here will read this but your attempt to scare away employees didn’t work. They are coming to the flight line and they are bringing every single minute of
seniority they earned.

Doesn’t sound like you will have to worry about that albeit you’d be wrong (very wrong) about what you posted about me. I enjoy interacting with CSR/FA/Ramp/tow team/tech ops etc and have for years. I’m very aware that without EVERYONE working together, this place grinds to a hault. My comment above was directed at any pilot who took offense to any employee who “transferred “ into a pilot seniority slot and kept some longevity for pass travel. You are obviously angry with pilots or “the system” etc and clearly read my comment from a defensive posture. Congratulations on your son’s accomplishment.

Hey, I was also a recent internal transfer. I sent you a PM, I’d like to hear more about your sons transition if you don’t mind.