United’s training program helps women break barriers

Women, particularly women of color, who are part of the first class at United Airlines’ pilot training school aim to break barriers in a profession where they have been historically underrepresented. “It seemed so unlikely and impossible because I didn’t see any woman who looked like me being a pilot,” said Ricki Foster, one of the 30 students at United’s Aviate Academy flight school. Now as Foster conducts her flight school training, she aims to set a meaningful example. “Every day I think about what it means to (my children) because, for one, the fact that I’m making these strides and I’m doing this, they know it is possible,” she said. Numerous US airlines have also established partnerships with colleges, universities and professional organizations to develop a pipeline to aviation careers for diverse candidates.