Maintaining the Pilot Pipeline

Tradewind Aviation, the American charter airline and aircraft management provider headquartered at Connecticut’s Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OCX), has partnered with United Airlines’s Goodyear, Arizona-based Aviate Academy.

As an Aviate-participating Part 135 operator, Tradewind will provide a pathway by which qualified candidates either already employed by or having accepted offers from Tradewind may apply to Aviate and, upon acceptance, receive conditional job offers as United Airlines First Officers.

Tradewind’s partnership with Aviate will benefit the air-carrier’s flight operations by providing a steady flow of qualified pilot applicants seeking career advancement. Moreover, the partnership will afford pilots already in Tradewind’s employ direct conduits to flight-deck positions with a major Part 121 airline. Finally, the agreement stands to attract street pilots seeking to fly for Tradewind in hopes of securing opportunities to apply to the Aviate program and transition to the airline later in their careers.

Tradewind continues to experience increased post-COVID demand for private aviation; the carrier’s new partnership with Aviate Academy is intended to occasion pilot recruitment in the face of a pilot-shortage reportedly affecting Part 121 regional carriers.

By dint of the nascent partnership, aspiring United Airlines aviators will receive high-quality training while piloting Tradewind’s fleet of Pilatus PC-12 and Citation CJ3 Jet aircraft in support of the air-carrier’s private and scheduled operations throughout North America and the Caribbean.

Tradewind Aviation co-founder and CEO Eric Zipkin stated: “At Tradewind, we pride ourselves on our team and reputation of fostering top talent in the aviation industry. This partnership presents an incredible opportunity for our team to continue to grow and master their skills as pilots while also creating meaningful long-term career pathways for our current pilots and others, including flight students, to work with Tradewind and transition to United in as little as two-years. It’s a very efficient and strategic way to join a major airline, and we encourage pilots that aspire to the commercial airline segment to consider the many benefits our new partnership can bring.”

Captain Michael Bonner, managing director of Aviate and pilot strategy at United remarked: “We are delighted to welcome Tradewind to the Aviate program as part of our larger pilot development strategy. Tradewind has a strong track record of preparing leaders in the flight deck, and we are proud this partnership will help advance the careers of aspiring and experienced pilots alike.”

FMI: www.flytradewind.com