PHOENIX (Oct. 25, 2023) – Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is thrilled to announce its partnership with United Airlines and its new Calibrate Technician Pathway Program. This collaboration provides students with a unique opportunity to apply and interview at United’s Tech Ops Recruiting Center (TORC), with the airline’s talent acquisition team.
With fifteen campuses nationwide, Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is known for providing hands-on training for maintenance, repair, and operations of aircraft. Certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), AIM teaches an Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program that typically takes 21-months to complete and includes a 5-week block geared toward FAA certification exam preparation, with the cost of the exams rolled into tuition & fees. As of September 2023, there are over 4,400 students enrolled in AIM’s aviation maintenance program.
“Over the past two years, United Airlines has hired more of our graduates than any other airline,” stated Dr. Joel English, Executive Vice President of Aviation Institute of Maintenance. “United gets to know our students and develops relationships with them while they are in school, and they have become true members of our academic community in Newark, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Houston, and all the markets we serve together. The Calibrate Technician Pathway Program will help United and AIM further develop this relationship as we solve the workforce shortage together.”
The Technician Pathway Program is separate from the current Calibrate Apprenticeship Program and focuses on bringing in fully certified new hires. In November of last year, United Airlines, in partnership with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Federal Aviation Administration, launched Calibrate, an in-house apprenticeship program designed to enhance its pipeline of maintenance technicians. Starting in 2024, United will begin accepting external applications, extending the program to its global employee base and external candidates, thereby increasing access to aviation careers.
“We are excited to welcome AIM to the Calibrate Technician Pathway Program as their history developing skilled aviation technicians incorporates well into our hiring strategy,” said Simone Drakes, Managing Director of Calibrate at United Airlines. “We look forward to the mutual opportunity this partnership will afford current and future students.”
Students accepted into the Calibrate Technician Pathway Program must maintain a high GPA and a strong attendance record. United will facilitate interviews, open houses, and career fairs to support the growth of this program. Upon completing all necessary certifications, AIM students will have the advantage of priority screening consideration and access to United’s extensive ecosystem. This includes mentorship opportunities with experienced maintenance technicians and the ability to work at any of United’s 42 domestic Technical Operations stations.
In early November, AIM and United leadership will meet in Phoenix at AIM’s newest campus, slated to open in early 2024 to formally celebrate the partnership.