United Airlines has expanded what it claims to be the world’s largest flight training center by about 150,000 square feet, according to a statement issued Thursday. Per that statement, United has already hired more than 300 pilots this year and is on track to keep pace with the 2,300 pilots the airline added in 2023.
The expansion to United’s training complex in Central Park, Denver, consists of a brand-new building that is currently being used to house six full-flight simulators. The addition allows for a total of 52 full-flight simulators.
The new building, already in operation, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An opening ceremony was held for the new building and was attended by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
We’re growing faster than any airline in the industry and our investments in our pilots and their training are critical to support the unprecedented number of new aircraft United will add to our fleet in the decades ahead,” said Kirby. “United pilots are the best aviators in the world and the way we recruit, hire, and train directly supports that high standard of excellence.”
Provided by Canada-based CAE, the full-flight simulators can recreate aircraft in the United Airlines fleet and allow the airline’s pilots to practice maneuvers such as engine outs that would otherwise be unsafe in a real-world environment.
In 2010, a full-motion, A330 flight simulator was valued at around C$50 million, according to a CAE release. But United Airlines has also looked at acquiring its own flight schools and SR20 aircraft for training purposes.
United’s Aviate Academy had its first class of 51 graduating students in January 2023. The airline had previously set a goal of adding 10,000 pilots by the end of the decade, half of which would be trained by the airline itself.
Fleet-wise, the carrier is expected to grow by more than 700 aircraft, split mostly between the Boeing 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, and Airbus A321neo. United Airlines, for its part, has hired more than 6,000 pilots in the last three years.
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The carrier currently operates a fleet of at least 948 aircraft. These consist predominantly of Boeing-manufactured aircraft, including almost 500 737s, 95 777s and about 70 787s. United Airlines itself was the 777’s launch customer. Boeing is also the leading source to forecast the pilot shortage.
It is unclear how much CAE will charge for the additional six units of simulator equipment. Due to the multiple aircraft in the fleet, is is also unclear as of present which simulators will be equipped in the building.
Meanwhile, United has faced setbacks, including the recent grounding of the 737 MAX 9 fleet and further Pratt & Whitney engine difficulties with its new A321 aircraft.
The airline had previously invited Simple Flying’s Lukas Souza to the debut of its new A321neo aircraft, which would later suffer from engine issues.
Denver, however, is the airline’s fastest-growing hub, and United indicated that it has invested billions in the expansion there, including hiring more than 2,500 individuals, with plans to hire 1,000 in 2024.
United has also purchased undeveloped land near Denver International Airport (DEN), which it hopes to become the airline’s Flight Training Center expansion by 2028.