United and CAE celebrated the first phase of expansion at the world’s largest pilot training facility in Denver, adding 40 new CAE training devices (a combination of full-motion and fixed simulators) since 2022.
Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok
United’s Flight Training Center in Denver now has 8 buildings, nearly 700,000 square feet of training space, the equivalent of 12 football fields, and a total of 86 CAE training devices: 52 state-of-the-art full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices.
The airline now can train up to 860 pilots per day and with nearly 18,000 current pilots and continued growth ahead, United already has plans on adding to the training facility.
Phase two of the expansion project is expected to break ground next year and be operational before 2030. United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby was joined by CAE’s President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Bromberg, along with other United and CAE leaders, to celebrate the completion of phase one.
Located in the Central Park neighborhood of Denver, the facility spans 22-acres and is the sole training facility for the airline’s nearly 18,000 active pilots and all newly hired pilots.
All United pilots complete intensive simulator training with pilot instructors and evaluators during the initial qualification process and every nine months thereafter to maintain their certifications at United’s Flight Training Center in Denver.
– United’s Flight Training Center has 52 full-motion flight simulators and 34 fixed training devices.
– The Flight Training Center can conduct more than 32,000 training events annually and train up to 860 pilots per day.
– The facility is in operation 24 hours a day for 362 days a year.
In July 2026, the Denver City Council approved United’s rezoning request for two parcels of undeveloped land United purchased in 2023 near Denver International Airport (DEN). United has begun formal site building plans and anticipates groundbreaking on the next phase of the Flight Training Center expansion to begin on the new land in 2027, with the facility expected to be operational around 2030. The airline will operate the additional Flight Training Center in conjunction with its current facility.