All 12,000 Pilots To Participate In Day-Long Sessions

Pilots flying for United Continental Holdings will get some specialized training designed to boost safety and improve communications. And while the airline says the program is "forward-looking", it does follow a strongly-worded letter sent to to pilots last year concerning "major safety events and near misses."

Bloomberg Business relays a report from The Wall Street Journal which indicates that the program was developed with the participation of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and individual pilots.

The airline says it's goal is to improve inter-generational communication as younger pilots come online and graduate into the role of captain. Another goal is to encourage mentoring of younger pilot by veteran aviators.

United spokesman Charlie Hobart said that a pilot in his or her 20s may rely more heavily on mobile devices that an older pilot, but did not specifically mention any particular communications issues that have arisen in the cockpit.

The day-long training will consist of five modules; two focusing on operational issues and three looking at cultural and generational differences.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.unitedcontinental.com