United Express (UAX) Aviate participant transition timeframe FAQs

Per the APG, Aviate participants transition to United after they meet all transition requirements and reach the top of their carrier-specific Aviate list. Transition is contingent upon approval by United’s Transition Board of Review (TBOR). The transition timeframe is when United projects an Aviate participant will complete their requirements and reach the top of the list of transition-eligible Aviate participants at their carrier.

Everyone’s pathway to United is unique, so it is difficult to forecast exactly when each participant will be transition-ready. The transition timeframe was calculated using a few key assumptions. In an effort to be transparent, Aviate is sharing the assumptions used below:

• First Officers with less than 1,500 flight hours will upgrade to Captain after reaching 1,000 hours to satisfy their flight-hour requirement more quickly.
• First Officers will upgrade to Captain in order to accrue Pilot in Command (PIC) hours if they:
  • Did not indicate they had a degree (or are pursuing one), or
  • Did not complete the survey(s) that asked whether they had received a degree
• Participants will accrue hours at the average monthly rate for their carrier.
  • Please note: Leaves of absence, changing UAX carriers or other factors could impact when a participant meets their flight-hours requirement.
• Participants will meet and maintain the general performance standards as defined in Chapter 4 of the Chapter 4 of the APG.
• Participants will meet all job requirements for a First Officer position at United (i.e., current passport, legal right to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, etc.) which can be found here.

Participants who do not meet transition requirements before the end of their transition timeframe will not be assigned a class date until they have met all their transition requirements. Participants who meet requirements after their transition timeframe will be placed into the first available class upon approval by the Transition Board of Review.

Upon submission, the Transition Board of Review will review the provided information to ensure the participant meets all hiring requirements. Once approved, participants will be assigned a class date within their estimated transition timeframe or within 1-4 months of meeting the new program PIC transition requirements (see Chapter 5 Section B of the APG for full details on the PIC transition requirements).

Because Aviate participants will likely meet their transition requirements at a different date than originally forecasted and their position on their new carrier-specific Aviate list may also be different, their original transition timeframe will no longer be valid.

As of June 30, 2023, any participants who join a UAX carrier will not receive an estimated transition timeframe. All participants after that date are only eligible to transition to United via the program requirements outlined in Chapter 5 Section B of the APG.

The process outlined above can vary in length, especially if additional information from a participant is needed, but it typically takes 6-8 weeks after submission.

A participant’s projected transition timeframe is when they are expected to meet all requirements and reach the top of the Aviate list. Participants should continue to fly and maintain compliance with the APG if they meet both of these criteria before their transition timeframe.