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Christian Colón, a young pilot with Mesa Airlines, was first introduced to aviation during his time at Sterling Aviation High School in Houston. He completed his first solo flight at Pearland Regional Airport while still a senior. Now 21 years old, Colón is one of the youngest pilots for Mesa Airlines and aims to become the youngest Latino pilot for United Airlines. United has supported Colón's high school financially since 2021 and provides mentors for students interested in aviation careers. Reflecting on perceptions of his age, Colón shared, “People give me weird looks when they see me in the cockpit.”
Michael Mainiero began his journey in aviation as a high school freshman in California. He received his initial training at San Carlos Flight Center before transitioning to a private instructor. Mainiero quickly progressed from flying solo on his 16th birthday to earning his Private Pilot License at 17. After gaining experience as a corporate pilot, he joined Kalitta Air in 2019 and became one of the youngest captains on the Boeing 777.
Jordan Wright, now among United Airlines' youngest captains, discovered his passion for flying during a discovery flight at Red Arrow Flight School. Wright's career path included stints with Sierra West Airlines and ATI Jet before joining Spirit Airlines. Speaking about being hired as a captain at United, Wright emphasized the importance of ensuring flight safety and compliance.
