The barriers to admission to the aviation profession has never been lower so please understand that you will get 0 - nada sympathy over a 6 month “wait” for your CFI.
If impatience and entitlement are character traits of a perspective pilot maybe this isn’t the industry for them.

 

Lol I haven’t touched a piston in 5 years, I have 0 skin in this game aside from who my future coworkers are.

My point is that whether this is “impatience and entitlement” or “a cruel bait and switch” entirely depends on the details. These are industry outsiders. If United said “expect to need to cover your living expenses for a year” and then left out the part that it could be almost double that because they’re over-scheduling people that’s pretty messed up. Are they giving the cadets the non-punitive schedule flexibility required to hold a part time job while at aviate academy or are they getting threatened to have their spot at United taken away if they don’t accept a last minute flight slot that conflicts with their work schedule? United is absolutely hanging a huge financial/career axe over their necks, maybe they’re bullying people and maybe they’re being completely reasonable. They could totally be inpatient and entitled students or the company could be absolutely screwing people.

As someone who had it easier than some and significantly harder than many I have sympathy for some 20 something non-aviation background cadet getting screwed by mismanagement, if that is in fact what is happening. If they were well warned and have the flexibility to work while at aviate academy then yeah, I have no sympathy.

There just isn’t enough info out there either way. I’ve run into plenty of entitled idiots but I’ve also seen some impressive flight school mismanagement and word from all the aviate coaches I’ve talked to is that the program is a mess.

 

I have the perfect solution! We have a bunch of pilots close to the retirement age that want to keep flying because, you know, experience matters! I can’t think of a better place to put that experience than our Aviate Academy. Pay protect them for 12 months after retirement then offer them a salary that is competitive and lodging for a 7 on 7 off schedule passing on all that knowledge to aspiring UAL pilots.

 

Genius. They can fly every day for the love of the job, and be home every night.

 

Perfect! They can mentor to their heart’s content. What could be more core4?

 

United would never pay for experienced instructors when cheap new instructors are available.

 

I think that’s pretty obvious, nor would retired pilots want to move to PHX and flight instruct in an AZ summer. It’s still a pretty funny concept though.

 

Keep in mind we are dealing with the Meme Generation, I mean the ME ME Generation

 

“kids today won’t be homeless to go to United, what is the world coming to”.

 

That's probably a good thing. Might as well get them acclimated to airline life sooner rather than later.