Market Intelligence: North America

23 New Pilots Transition to Airline Flight Decks via Aviate Career Pathway Program

USA – United Airlines has welcomed 23 new pilots to its flight deck in July, all graduates of the airline’s Aviate program. The milestone highlights the airline’s ongoing investment in securing its pilot pipeline and supporting the next generation of aviators.

  • Aviate is United Airlines’ flagship pilot career development program, offering aspiring aviators structured pathways from flight schools, universities, and partner training organizations to the right seat of a United jet.

  • The program is a core part of United’s broader strategy to address pilot supply challenges while creating long-term career opportunities within the airline.

  • Partner include:

    • GoJet Airlines

    • California Aeronautical University

    • US Aviation

    • Western Michigan University

    • Southern Illinois University

    • Purdue University

    • Lewis University

    • UND Aerospace Foundation

    • Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

    • Numerous flight training organisations

Source: United Aviate

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Atlas Air Reaffirms Partnership with University of Alaska Anchorage to Support Pilot and Maintenance Training

USA –Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Atlas) has reaffirmed its partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), announcing the renewal of its scholarship program to support aviation students pursuing pilot and maintenance careers. The announcement was made at Merrill Field in Anchorage, attended by Atlas and UAA leaders, faculty, students, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

  • Atlas confirmed its continued funding of scholarships for UAA aviation students, building on its 2024 program which provided:

    • Four scholarships for maintenance technician students.

    • Three scholarships for aspiring pilots.

  • The renewed initiative supports UAA’s top-ranked aerospace program, helping to train pilots, controllers, and maintenance professionals vital to Alaska’s aviation workforce.

Statements

  • U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy: “President Trump and I are on a mission to make our airspace the envy of the world. We will build a brand-new air traffic control system and address a chronic shortage of controllers and pilots… I applaud Atlas Air Worldwide for doing their part to contribute to this mission.”

  • Michael Steen, CEO, Atlas Air Worldwide: “By investing in workforce development locally, we are advancing our commitment to aviation in Alaska, and to the resilience of the broader aerospace industry. We are fully dedicated to supporting the efforts led by President Trump and Secretary Duffy to make our airspace the global gold standard.”

  • Ray Weber, Dean of UAA’s Community & Technical College: “This generous donation is transformative, helping us build a more qualified workforce that is vital to Alaska’s economic future and the broader industry. Thanks to Atlas, our students are gaining the training and credentials needed to pursue fulfilling careers.”

About Atlas Air Worldwide
Atlas Air Worldwide is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. It is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc., Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc., and Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Our companies operate the world’s largest fleet of 747 freighter aircraft and provide customers the broadest array of Boeing 747, 777, and 767 aircraft for domestic, regional and international cargo and passenger operations.

About The University of Alaska Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage is Alaska’s largest university, educating nearly 12,000 students annually. UAA transforms lives through teaching, research, community engagement and creative expression in a diverse and inclusive environment. As the state’s largest university, UAA is a driving force in Alaska’s economy, producing over 1,600 graduates each year, with a large percentage entering the Alaska workforce. UAA has programs in professional piloting, aviation management, aviation maintenance technology and air traffic control. In 2022, UAA graduated 273 students to the aviation sector. 

Source: Atlas Air

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US FFS Training Center AeroStar Training Services Launches Crew and Group Promotions for ATP-CTP in Fall of 2025

Florida, USA – Pilot training organisation and full flight simulator training center (FAA Part 142) Aerostar Training Services, has announced its Fall 2025 promotional rates for the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP), offering cost savings for crews and larger groups enrolling together. The course is designed to prepare aspiring airline pilots for the ATM (ATP Multi-Engine) knowledge test and is now available with VA funding, multiple pricing tiers, and a fast-track 5-day format.

  • ATP-CTP Crew Rate: USD 3,300 per person.

  • ATP-CTP Group Rate: USD 3,180 per person, applicable to groups of six or more joining on the same date.

Course Structure

  • 32 hours of ground school (3–4 days), taught by experienced airline pilots

  • 4 hours in a Level D Flight Training Device (as a crew)

  • 6 hours in a Level D Full Flight Simulator (A320 or B737NG, as a crew)

Source: AeroStar Training Services

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US Regional Airline Association Advocates for Professional Degree Status for Flight Programs

Washington, D.C., USA – The Regional Airline Association (RAA) has formally urged the U.S. Department of Education to classify accredited flight training programs as professional degrees. This designation would significantly expand financial aid eligibility for aspiring pilots and help address a deepening workforce crisis in regional aviation.

  • RAA President and CEO Faye Malarkey Black testified at a Department of Education public hearing, advocating for access to graduate-level financial aid for students enrolled in accredited Part 141 university flight training programs.

  • The proposed reclassification would align flight training with other professional degree programs (e.g., medicine, law, pharmacy), making substantial student financing options available for costly FAA-required flight hours and certifications.

  • According to Black, the current cost burden—an additional $90,000 on top of a four-year degree—is the “highest barrier to entry” in pilot careers, particularly impacting working-class families.

  • With nearly 50% of the current pilot workforce approaching mandatory retirement and wages having increased, demand for pilots remains high. Yet persistent training affordability issues continue to constrain talent pipelines, especially in smaller communities.

  • Black emphasized that pilot jobs drive local economies through discretionary income and spending, creating a wider economic ripple effect.

Read the full statement below:

“Good Morning. I’m Faye Malarkey Black, CEO of the Regional Airline Association. I represent fifteen U.S. regional airlines employing more than 71,000 Americans. Our members flew 121 million passengers last year.

Regional airlines partner with major airlines to bring air service to every corner of the country. Most airports do not have enough passengers to fill large mainline aircraft, so two-thirds of our nation relies on regional airlines and smaller aircraft for flights.

Unfortunately, a growing pilot shortage has forced regional airlines to park aircraft and cut these flights – a crisis for smaller communities. Hundreds of airports lost air service and some went dark permanently. Half of today’s airports have far less service than they had a decade ago.

Worse, within fifteen years, half of our workforce will reach their federally mandated retirement age. Wages have climbed and career interest is high, but barriers to entry are higher. The highest of all is the cost of flight training – and the inability to finance it. These barriers put pilot careers squarely out of reach for working families.

Accredited, Part 141 flight training programs—often embedded within university programs— add around $90,000 in additional costs to a four-year degree. These are not optional extras; they are federally required flight hours, certifications, licenses, and safety benchmarks.

Yet, students in these programs are limited to standard undergraduate federal loan caps. They cannot access the higher loan limits available to graduate professional students—even though pilot training meets every test of a professional degree. These students earn a professional license, complete skill-intensive training beyond a bachelor’s degree, and enter a high-wage field where starting salaries are six figures, senior pilots make more than 500,000 dollars per year, and career earnings can reach ten million dollars. Airline pilots have this high disposable income on day one, with ample discretionary income after loan repayment. Pilots not only connect smaller communities, their high wage jobs drive a ripple effect for economic growth.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act positions the Department to act. The law defines “professional students” by referencing 34 CFR §668.2, defining a professional degree as requiring advanced skill and professional licensure. Flight training already meets this standard. These students need the same access to the same financial tools their peers in law, medicine, and pharmacy already have.

To remedy this discrepancy and help resolve the pilot shortage, we urge the Department to issue clear guidance recognizing accredited undergraduate Part 141 flight training programs as professional degree programs. This small but powerful change would unlock federal resources for students, advance aviation workforce growth, and support the economic health of smaller communities and our nation overall.

Thank you.”

About Regional Airline Association (RAA)
The Regional Airline Association (RAA) provides a unified voice of advocacy for North American regional airlines aimed at promoting a safe, reliable, and strong regional airline industry. RAA serves as an important support network connecting regional airlines and industry business partners. Regional airlines operate 35% of U.S. scheduled passenger flights and provide the only source of scheduled air service to 64% of the nation’s airports. Regional airlines provide more than 70% of the air service in Alabama (72%), Alaska (88%), Arkansas (75%), Maine (72%), North Dakota (87%), South Dakota (75%), Vermont (77%), West Virginia (92%) and Wyoming (73%). Regional airlines provide more than half of the air service in Idaho (70%), Indiana (56%), Iowa (63%), Kansas (69%), Kentucky (58%), Mississippi (68%), Montana (65%), Nebraska (53%), New Hampshire (58%), and Rhode Island (58%). 

Source: Regional Airline Association

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