Cirrus Aircraft Equips United Aviate Academy with a Fleet of TRAC SR20 for Ab-Initio Pilot Training

Cirrus Aircraft today announced that United Aviate Academy (UAA) has purchased a fleet of twenty-five TRAC SR20 aircraft for its program. These advanced, high-performance airplanes will be used for initial pilot training at the only ab-initio flight academy operated by a major U.S.-based airline. United Aviate Academy has the option and purchase rights to fifty more TRAC SR20 aircraft as the Aviate Academy expands. The agreement between Cirrus Aircraft and UAA is a testament to the shared pursuit to provide airline training opportunities in response to the global pilot shortage.  

“United is thrilled to have chosen the Cirrus TRAC SR20 as the single-engine training aircraft for our United Aviate Academy. It reflects our commitment to preparing our future Captains using cutting-edge technology and safety systems,” said Curtis Brunjes, United’s Managing Director for Aviate and Pilot Strategy. “Cirrus Aircraft has been an innovative force in general aviation and we are proud to partner as we lead our industry developing the next generation of pilots.” 

United Aviate Academy’s (Westwind School of Aeronautics Phoenix, LLC) year-long training program at Phoenix Goodyear Airport sets up students for a career that reflects United’s high standard of professionalism and commitment to delivering a safe, caring, dependable and efficient travel experience. The Academy is part of United’s industry-leading pilot career development program, which offers aspiring and established pilots the most direct path to a United flight deck. Within the next decade, United aims to hire more than 10,000 pilots and introduce aviation to about 5,000 new pilots through the Academy. 

Designed to be the ultimate training platform, the technologically-advanced TRAC Series boasts an impressive list of features and capabilities that complement the SR20 aircraft’s stable flight characteristics. The integrated Garmin® Perspective+ flight deck includes two large flight displays, a Flight Management System (FMS) keypad controller, an Electronic Stability and Protection system as well as integrated engine indication and crew alerting/warning systems – all features found on today’s advanced airliners. 

“The TRAC SR20 is the preferred aircraft for ab-initio airline pilot training, with its advanced flight management system and hazard avoidance features, the aircraft offers a training platform with capabilities that prepare students for the transport category jets that United Aviate students will fly during their airline careers,” said David Moser, Vice President of Fleet and Special Mission Sales for Cirrus Aircraft. 

The interior was designed to meet the unique needs of a high-utilization training environment, replacing the luxury materials found in the SR Series with a durable all-weather floor liner and easy to clean wear-resistant seats. The spacious cabin provides an optimal workspace to learn and train, with more space than typical training aircraft, rear seats for additional students or observers and optional air conditioning for comfort in all seasons. The TRAC Series includes the TRAC20, TRAC22, and TRAC22T. 

Additionally, the TRAC Series features a durable all-composite airframe structure with the signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), making the TRAC Series one of the safest and most versatile training airplanes available today. The TRAC Series is further enhanced by a wide array of interactive, tailored flight training content through Cirrus Approach™, including online courses, engaging videos and the award-winning iFOM (interactive Flight Operations Manual) for convenient learning anywhere in the world. 

Cirrus Aircraft is also developing a digital fleet management solution leveraging the onboard Cirrus IQ™ system to provide UAA with deeper insight into their flight data for safety and operational efficiency. 

About Cirrus Aircraft 

Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet, as well as the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined performance, comfort and safety in aviation with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 13 million hours and 220 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company now has seven locations in Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; and Benton Harbor, Michigan. Learn more at cirrusaircraft.com.