DOVER, Del. – Delaware State University has signed an agreement with United Airlines to provide its Aviation students an opportunity to enter United Aviate – a pilot career development program that provides a secure path to its flight deck.
University President Tony Allen and Capt. Mike Bonner, Managing Director of Aviate and Pilot Strategy, signed the agreement during a Nov. 16 signing ceremony on the DSU campus.
“Under Lt. Col. Michael Hales’ leadership, our Aviation program has grown threefold and is not just the largest in the HBCU Community, but the high quality, low-cost provider among all aviation programs east of the Mississippi,” said Dr. Allen.
“Our partnership with United Airlines and their Aviate program has been several years in the making and includes a deep, longstanding partnership with JPMorgan Chase and Regional Market President Tom Horne,” the DSU President said. “Between the three of us, there is an unwavering commitment to build a substantive, inclusive talent pipeline of pilots and Aviation management professionals for many years to come.”
“We are proud to partner with DSU as their longstanding history of attracting and developing skilled aviators incorporates well into our pilot recruitment strategy,” said Capt. Bonner. “Current and future DSU aviation students will benefit from this partnership in their journeys to becoming professional pilots.”
Lt. Col. Hales said becoming a full-fledged partner within United Airlines’ Aviate ecosystem is a tremendous development for the DSU Aviation Program and its professional pilot students.
