United Flight Systems

Take off on one of the greatest adventures of a lifetime. Learn to Fly with United Flight Systems! United Flight Systems ("UFS") opened its doors January 21, 1989 at Hooks Airport with 2 aircraft (one of them being N95153) and 3 flight instructors. Bob Watts was practicing law at the time and was "persuaded" by three friends to purchase Merriworth Aviation (the old Mort Hall Aviation flight school).

UFS moved to its present location in July 1992, which at the time was the old Mort Hall Avionics shop. Its 15,000 square foot hanger and large tarmac was ideal for what was to become a large flight school. The building was originally built back in the 1960s as a millwork shop, and you can still see evidence today of how the machinery was laid out on the hangar floor. By 1995, UFS began training military veterans under the GI Bill, which continues today.

By 1994, Bob - tired of solving others peoples' problems - retired from the practice of law, bought out his remaining partners at UFS and actively began to run United Flight Systems full-time. UFS went on an expansion spree, bought new aircraft and geared up for future growth.

In June 1996, United Flight Systems opened its College Station facility at Easterwood Airport and expanded its fleet of aircraft to 23 ( including one hot air ballon). By that time UFS was conducting over 15,000 operational flight hours per year. As a Cessna Pilot Center, UFS began participating in the SLM Financial loan program for flight training. To date United Flight Systems has participated inthe grant of over $1,200,000.00 in flight training loans for prospective pilots.

United Flight Systems is a family business. Laura (Bob's daughter) came on board as the Business Manager and later became a full-fledged CFI. Now working for ExpressJet as a first Officer, Laura still enjoys being a part of the UFS family as she continues her duties here. Jeanne, Bob's wife, actively began working at the school in 1998, insuring that our pilots supplies are well stocked and well rounded. She has the motto "if don't have it, I can get it."

In August 2003, Bob purchased UFS's building and land (about 3 acres) and began an ambitious $120,000 modernization of the facility. New classrooms and offices were added and artwork portraying the development of the aircraft industry began to hang on the walls. In continuing to excel in flight training, United Flight System purchased its first "glass cockpit" G1000 Cessna Skyhawk in December 2005.

Over 90 certified flight instructors have called United Flight Systems "home" since 1989. Happily, most have gone on to successful careers with the airlines. But they all manage, from time to time, to come back and say "HI." We hope you do, too. Bob Watts