PIA, United Airlines Partner on Aviation Maintenance Program

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and United Airlines are partnering to provide eligible PIA students with a direct path to employment at United as aviation maintenance technicians.

United’s new Calibrate Technician Pathway Program has established partnerships with the Aviation Command Unit of the U.S. Army Reserve, as well as three aviation maintenance schools: PIA, the National Aviation Academy and the Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 

The program’s goal is to enroll up to 300 eligible students per year, a news release states.

The program will be available to current PIA students who meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Participants must maintain a high GPA and strong attendance to remain in the hiring pool after graduation. Participants will have priority screening consideration and access to mentorship opportunities with employees from United’s 42 domestic Technical Operations stations. As part of the program, United will also participate in various open houses and career fairs at PIA. 

“Being selected for this partnership gives us great pride and enhances our confidence that our graduates stand among the best entry-level A&P technicians in the country,” said Suzanne Markle, president of PIA. “We are excited to facilitate United’s Calibrate Technician Pathway Program and its opportunities for students at all four PIA campuses.”

With United expected to take delivery of 800 new aircraft between 2023 and 2032, the airline plans to hire thousands of new technicians by 2026 to support all the new planes entering its fleet. United has already hired more than 3,200 technicians domestically in the past 18 months, the release states.

“We are excited to welcome PIA to the Calibrate Technician Pathway Program and look forward to the mutually beneficial partnership current and future students will enjoy as a result of this new venture,” said Simone Drakes, managing director of the program. “PIA’s commitment to student success, coupled with their values, make them an ideal partner to help build United’s pipeline of aviation technicians.”

Pictured at top: Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.