- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Exclusive: How United's Aviate Academy First Class Is Helping Women and BIPOC Soar https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/376661?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/376661?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/376661?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Exclusive: How United's Aviate Academy First Class Is Helping Women and BIPOC Soar&body=ESG News from United Airlines Inc. https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/376661?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Diversity & Inclusion](/CSR-News/diversity-inclusion) # Exclusive: How United's Aviate Academy First Class Is Helping Women and BIPOC Soar ##### In an exclusive interview with People Chica, pilot Natalie Villalpando dishes on what she hopes the future of aviation will look like. Jul 20, 2022 3:30 PM ET Campaign: [Every Action Counts: Breaking Down Barriers and Promoting Inclusion](/news/campaign/every-action-counts-breaking-down-barriers-and-promoting-inclusion) ![Natalie Villalpando, in sunglasses, stands on the wing of a small plane](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh.jpeg "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") ![Students at Aviate Academy pose for a class photo](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh_2.jpeg "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") ![Students in class at Aviate Academy](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh_3.jpeg "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") ![Natalie Villalpando, front, and others around a small aircraft](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh_4.jpeg "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") ![Natalie Villalpando, in sunglasses, stands on the wing of a small plane](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh.jpeg?h=7f71917e "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") ![Students at Aviate Academy pose for a class photo](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh_2.jpeg?h=1c9b88c9 "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") ![Students in class at Aviate Academy](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh_3.jpeg?h=1c9b88c9 "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") ![Natalie Villalpando, front, and others around a small aircraft](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_thumbnail_x2/public/images/united_aviate_5-4-22_kh_4.jpeg?h=29234840 "CREDIT: COURTESY OF UNITED AVIATE") [Originally published by People Chica](https://peopleenespanol.com/chica/united-airlines-aviate-academy-natalie-villalpando/) Natalie Villalpando is soaring to new heights. The aspiring pilot grew up in an aviation-focused family of pilots and aerospace engineers and is hoping to continue her family's legacy as part of the United Aviate Academy's first class, which is made up of 80% women or BIPOC. "I thought for a while I was only going to be a passenger my whole life," she tells People Chica. "Then, when United opened this academy, it was a once in a lifetime chance that I had to take." In December 2021, she flew for the first time and felt like flying was her destiny, despite thinking that this career would not be possible for her. "I didn't see any pilots who looked like me, I saw very few women pilots. I didn't see any Latina pilots," she says. "It is right now amazing to consider that I am the first in a new class of pilots, a new program, but also that going forward, the idea that I had for what a pilot could or couldn't be when I was growing up isn't going to be the norm anymore. It feels amazing to be part of that change." In an exclusive interview with *People Chica*, Villalpando dishes in on how United Aviate Academy has made her dream career possible and how other women of color can make their dreams come true. [Continue reading here](https://peopleenespanol.com/chica/united-airlines-aviate-academy-natalie-villalpando/) [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/united_4p_h_rgb_r_V2.jpg)](/profiles/united-airlines-inc) ### More from United Airlines Inc. ###### [United Pledges $1.25 Million in Support of Aviation and STEM Projects Across the Country This Back-to-School Season](/news/united-pledges-125-million-support-aviation-and-stem-projects-across-country-back-school) Aug 18, 2023 11:40 AM ET ###### [United's Sustainable Flight Fund Grows to Nearly $200 Million and Adds Strategic Partners](/news/uniteds-sustainable-flight-fund-grows-nearly-200-million-and-adds-strategic-partners) Aug 10, 2023 11:20 AM ET ###### [United Becomes First U.S. Airline To Add Braille to Aircraft Cabin Interiors](/news/united-becomes-first-us-airline-add-braille-aircraft-cabin-interiors) Aug 8, 2023 1:35 PM ET ###### [United to Triple SAF Use in 2023, Adds SAF on Flights at San Francisco Airport](/news/united-triple-saf-use-2023-adds-saf-flights-san-francisco-airport) May 5, 2023 12:30 PM ET ###### [United Hosts Cleantech Startups To Pitch Electric Ground Service Equipment Solutions](/news/united-hosts-cleantech-startups-pitch-electric-ground-service-equipment-solutions) Apr 14, 2023 12:40 PM ET ###### [United Announces $15 Million Investment in Carbon Capture Company Svante](/news/united-announces-15-million-investment-carbon-capture-company-svante) Apr 13, 2023 3:00 PM ET ###### [From the Sea to the Sky: United Invests $5 Million in Algae-Based Fuel Producer Viridos](/news/sea-sky-united-invests-5-million-algae-based-fuel-producer-viridos) Apr 12, 2023 11:45 AM ET ###### [United Celebrates Historic First Graduating Class of Flight Academy Pilots](/news/united-celebrates-historic-first-graduating-class-flight-academy-pilots) Mar 6, 2023 11:35 AM ET