United flooded with pilot applicantions

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines received about 1,000 applicants for just 100 openings for new pilots.

Interviews are expected to start Aug. 6 at its Elk Grove Township operational center.

"We're very pleased with the number of applicants we received and especially the caliber of those pilots," said United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy. "We also received a good cross section from different areas of aviation -- from the military, regional airlines and other airlines."

United established a new Web site July 16 for pilots to apply online and it was flooded with applications in the first 10 days, the company said.

This is the first time United has hired outside pilots since the terrorist attacks in Sept. 11, 2001, which led to the airline's bankruptcy. The airline then was forced to furlough 2,172 pilots. It emerged from bankruptcy in February 2006 and has been expanding routes into international markets, including China.

Since then, all of the furloughed pilots have been offered the opportunity to return. About 20 percent of the furloughed pilots didn't return because many had accepted other jobs during the interim, said Capt. Steve Derebey, a 33-year veteran and spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association.

United has about 6,400 pilots.

The union will be "deeply involved" in the interviewing and hiring process, he said.

"We welcome the prospect of hiring new pilots," said Derebey. "We were pushing for the return of our furloughees and now that they've all been called back, we're glad that the company has stepped forward to hire new pilots. They're sorely needed."

After the new pilots are hired, training will begin at United's Denver hub. They'll start flying various routes by the end of this year, said McCarthy.

Those pilots not selected are encouraged to keep their information updated at www.united.com/pilot.