Cathay Pacific Partners PolyU on New Cadet Pilot Training Course

(07 September 2022, 11:35 +07)  Cathay Pacific has signed a three-year agreement with Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to collaborate on a new integrated Cadet Pilot training course designed to cultivate local aviation industry talent and further develop Hong Kong as a hub for aviation training.

The Cadet Pilot training programme wil not only groom more pilots for Hong Kong, but will also be the first time that aviation theory courses are taught by a local institution, writing a new chapter in Hong Kong's aviation history.

“As Hong Kong’s home airline, we are committed to continuing to invest in young local talent and the long-term development of the Hong Kong international aviation hub,” said Augustus Tang, Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to welcoming candidates who will be starting the new cadet courses and becoming part of the Cathay Pacific team upon graduation. As we get ready to meet the rising global demand for travel, we have already started a comprehensive plan to hire 4,000 front-line employees to meet our operational needs over the next 18-24 months. This includes over 700 pilots, of which 400 are cadet graduates joining as Second Officers by the end of 2023. Overall, we aim to train more than 1,000 cadet pilots by 2025.”

Lam Sai-hung (left), Secretary for Transport and Logistics, in a flight simulator with Augustus Tang, Cathay Pacific's CEO.

The new 55-60 week integrated course comprises three stages: theory, simulator training and flight training.

Under the newly signed agreement, PolyU will provide a 150-working-day Theoretical Ground Training course that includes a minimum of 750 hours of instruction and examination in areas including principles of flight, meteorology, human performance, general navigation, instrumentation, radio navigation, air law and more.

Successful candidates will then commence flight training overseas before returning to Cathay City for multi-crew simulator training.

“The civil aviation industry has been the backbone of Hong Kong's development. PolyU and Boeing co-founded the first Aviation Services Research Centre (ASRC) in Hong Kong ten years ago and the centre has since become a successful exemplar of research and innovation collaboration between academia and industry,” said PolyU Deputy President and Provost Professor Wing-tak Wong. “The University later established the Department of Aeronautical and Civil Aviation Engineering to provide undergraduate, master and doctoral degree programmes to nurture talents in the industry and strengthen scientific research in the field of civil aviation and aeronautical engineering.”

The first batch of 24 candidates started the integrated course at PolyU in March and are scheduled to commence flight training in October after they have completed the ground theory portion of the programme.

In parallel with the new integrated course, Cathay Pacific is also conducting cadet pilot training courses based upon the original programme module in Adelaide.

Conducting the majority of cadet-training activities in Hong Kong will ensure that the training regime is specifically suited to meet the needs of Cathay Pacific.

Cadet pilots will be familiarised with aviation facilities and relevant organisations in Hong Kong, such as the CAD, Hong Kong Air Traffic Control, the Hong Kong Airport Fire Contingent, Cathay Pacific maintenance providers such as HAECO, and specifically the expertise of PolyU and the Cathay Pacific Training Centre.

Enrolment for the Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot programme is open.

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