ATP Alumni Case Study
Why They Chose ATP: ATP is the only flight school partnered with American, Delta, and United. 39 exclusive airline-backed Career Tracks™.
Program
Enrolled
January 7, 2019
Completed
September 20, 2019
First Placement
FlyExclusive
Major Airline
Role
First Officer
Career Change
A turnkey, end-to-end airline pilot career pathway from zero time through airline placement.
For Hannah Hawks, aviation was always close to home.
Her father was a United Airlines pilot, and her grandfather also built a career in aviation. Growing up, Hannah knew the airline industry was part of her family's legacy. But before she found her own place in the flight deck, she took a different path.
Hannah earned a degree in journalism and began working as a morning show news producer in California. She enjoyed the experience and the fast-paced environment, but over time, she realized something was missing. She found herself feeling like she was "living for the weekend" and longing for the opportunity to see more of the world. The pull toward aviation became harder to ignore. Hannah also understood something important about an airline career: seniority matters. She knew where she ultimately wanted to be and was determined to get there as quickly as possible.
"I wanted to get to United Airlines as quickly as possible."
What Hannah needed was more than a way to earn her certificates and ratings. She was looking for a structured training program that could help her turn a career change into a long-term path toward the airlines.
Choosing ATP
A Clear Path to a Professional Pilot Career
A family friend who had made a similar career transition introduced Hannah to ATP Flight School. As she explored her options, ATP stood out as a program that aligned with what she was looking for. Hannah enrolled in ATP's Airline Career Pilot Program on January 7, 2019.
The accelerated program gave her a defined path through flight training, helping her focus on building the skills and experience needed for a professional aviation career. She completed the program on September 20, 2019, less than nine months after enrolling.
From there, Hannah continued building the experience necessary to advance her career. In November 2020, she reached her first professional placement with FlyExclusive, marking another important step toward her long-term goal of flying for a major airline.
Rather than simply completing flight school and figuring out the next step on her own, Hannah had a clear direction for what came next.
Reaching the Airlines
A career with United Airlines
Hannah's determination ultimately brought her back to the airline that had been part of her family's story from the beginning.
In 2023, she joined United Airlines, where she now flies the Boeing 737 as a First Officer.
Her journey from journalism to the flight deck wasn't an overnight transformation. It was a progression, from making the decision to change careers, to completing accelerated flight training, to gaining professional experience, and ultimately reaching the major airline she'd been working toward. Today, Hannah is not only continuing her family's aviation legacy, she is building one of her own.
She remains "forever grateful to ATP" for the role played in helping her pursue her goals and reach the flight deck.
Watch Hannah's Experience
Hear Hannah share her journey from ATP Flight School to the flight deck at United Airlines.
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