United Airlines launches in-house apprenticeship program for aircraft maintenance technicians

United Airlines Kate Gebo, United Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations; Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States; and Heather Behrent, United Aircraft Maintenance Technician. (United Airlines/United Airlines)

By Jackie Cardentey

ORLANDO, Fla. — United Airlines has announced that its launch of Calibrate, an in-house apprenticeship program that will help grow and diversify its pipeline of aircraft maintenance technicians.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The airline said it plans to train more than 1,000 people by 2026, with a goal that at least half its trainees will be women or people of color.

Participants will complete a 36-month “earn and learn” program, getting paid while completing the full-time certification and training process. They will save as much as $50,000 in tuition.

The program will focus on helping apprentices gain the skills and knowledge required to test for and obtain their airframe and powerplant certificate, including hands-on and classroom training, United Airlines said.

Read: Florida bans medical care for transgender children

Calibrate will hold its inaugural class in Houston with plans to expand to more than a dozen locations including Orlando by next year.

United Airlines will start accepting external applications in early 2023 at https://careers.united.com/us/en/calibrate.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

This browser does not support the video element.