Little
United Airlines
Flight Attendant Training Facility
Chantilly, Virginia
Project Type
Interiors
Size
20,000 Square Feet
Design Services
Architecture, Interior Architecture
Result
Provides instruction for up to 650 flight attendants every month.
United Airlines unveils a $16 million, state-of-the-art flight attendant training facility in Chantilly, VA.
The 20,000-square-foot training center includes full-scale aircraft simulators for hands-on safety and service instruction, an equipment training room, and dedicated instructional classrooms. Despite a constrained footprint, the design preserves full functionality through strategic space planning and close coordination with key stakeholders and engineering partners.
As the only United facility of its kind in the D.C. region, it serves flight attendants based out of Dulles International, Reagan National, and Baltimore-Washington International airports, establishing a key hub for operational growth.
PROJECT GOALS
The cutting-edge, FAA-compliant training facility was built to meet United Airlines’ growing workforce training needs, offering a convenient, local solution for D.C.-based flight attendants.
Design Objectives
- Combine classroom instruction with immersive, full-scale simulator training
- Design for safety, code compliance, and flexible occupancy limits
- Use United’s standard finishes to reinforce brand identity
- Include administrative, breakroom, utility, and multi-use support areas
SOLUTION
Little worked closely with United Airlines’, end-users, and a multidisciplinary team of consultants to deliver a training facility that’s both highly functional and visually cohesive. The layout supports smooth transitions between classrooms, equipment training areas, and simulators, creating a seamless, intuitive experience for both trainees and instructors.
Designed with safety, efficiency, and brand consistency in mind, the facility supports FAA certification, ongoing professional development, and United’s mission to “Connect People. Unite the World.”
REAL-WORLD SIMULATION
Immersive training for high-stakes emergencies
Equipped with full-scale simulators for various aircraft models, the facility prepares flight attendants to respond to emergencies like evacuations, smoke-filled cabins, and water landings. Immersive, scenario-based training builds critical skills and the confidence to act decisively under pressure.
HANDS-ON EQUIPMENT TRAINING
Mastering tools in a purpose-built practice environment
The equipment training room features rotating breakout stations where trainees engage with essential safety gear—CPR mannequins, oxygen masks, inflatable rafts, emergency ramps, life vests, and fire extinguishers. This focused, interactive environment reinforces muscle memory and strengthens real-time response capabilities.
SMART SPACE PLANNING
Maximized function within a constrained footprint
To meet leasable space limitations, the facility was thoughtfully designed within a reduced 19,644-square-foot footprint. Careful reallocation of square footage and code-compliant room sizing ensured every space supported its function without compromising safety, usability, or training quality.
Results
United’s new facility establishes a premier training hub in the D.C. region. No longer needing to travel out of state for recertification, crews can now train closer to home—saving time, reducing costs, and making room for continued growth. The center also reflects United’s broader commitment to safety, employee support, and long-term investment in its people.
