(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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