National Aviation Academy and United Airlines Initiate Career Pathway Program for Aviation Maintenance Technicians
Students Training at NAA's Aviation Maintenance Hangar (Photo Credit: National Aviation Academy)
TAMPA, Fla., October 25, 2023 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - National Aviation Academy (NAA) and United Airlines have entered into a partnership to provide a structured career pathway for aspiring aviation maintenance technicians. This collaboration will be part of United's new Calibrate Technician Pathway Program, making NAA one of the inaugural Part 147 schools certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to participate.
Simone Drakes, Managing Director of Calibrate, stated, “Launching this new program alongside highly regarded institutions whose high-quality training and aviation education will help us to reach our United Next and maintenance technician hiring goals.” As part of the program, students are required to maintain a high GPA and strong attendance record to qualify for hiring opportunities post-graduation. United Airlines will organize interviews, open houses, and career fairs at NAA campuses.
The pathway doesn't end at graduation. In conjunction with United’s talent acquisition team, students will be invited for interviews at the airline’s Tech Ops Recruiting Center in Houston after fulfilling all necessary certifications. Priority screening, mentorship opportunities with experienced maintenance technicians, and access to United’s 42 domestic Technical Operations stations are additional benefits of the program. United also intends to extend the program to include its United Express carriers and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul partners in the future.
Pam Van Sant, President of NAA, emphasized the program's importance: “Industry demand directly reflects the vital importance of aviation maintenance technicians and their work, and the need to establish pathways connecting quality training to these in-demand careers is critical. It’s an honor to partner with United knowing the impact the Calibrate Pathway will have for National Aviation Academy students.”
The Technician Pathway Program is separate from United’s existing Calibrate Apprenticeship Program, launched last November in collaboration with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the FAA. Boeing’s 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook forecasts a need for approximately 690,000 new aviation maintenance technicians over the next two decades, underlining the importance of such career pathways.
For more information, please visit www.NAA.edu/United.
Source: National Aviation Academy (NAA) via Newswire
