Cathay Pacific marks first pilot training class at Cathay Academy

Key Takeaways

• On May 19, 2025, 34 pilots graduated from Cathay Academy’s first in-house pilot training program.
• Cathay Pacific’s new program blends local classroom training, overseas flight experience, and advanced simulators.
• By late 2024, about 50% of Cathay Pacific pilots were graduates of its cadet pilot program.

Cathay Pacific Marks a New Era in Pilot Training With First Graduates From Cathay Academy

Cathay Pacific has reached an important moment in its history. On May 19, 2025, the company celebrated the first group of pilots who completed training entirely through its own program at the Cathay Academy in Hong Kong. This marks a big change for the airline, showing how much it values teaching and training people itself. It also points to a shift in the way airlines in the Asia-Pacific region grow and find skilled pilots for their future flights.

A New Approach to Building Pilots

The Cathay Academy represents a major investment by Cathay Pacific into education and training within the airline. Before this program started, new pilots were usually trained by partner schools and organizations in other countries. Now, with Cathay Academy, a large part of the training happens in Hong Kong, under Cathay Pacific’s own control.

The first group of cadet pilots graduated on May 19, 2025. There were 34 of them, and they finished a program that blended learning in a classroom, real flights in the United States, and sessions in modern flight simulators. Now, all these graduates join Cathay Pacific as Second Officers. This is the first main step for anyone starting their journey as a professional pilot with the airline.

Inside the Pilot Training Program

The main pathway for people who want to become Cathay Pacific pilots is called the Cadet Pilot Programme. This program is designed so that anyone who dreams of flying gets the chance to train, no matter if they already have flying experience or not. It is made up of several parts that help someone move step by step from learning the basics to taking control of a large jet with a crew.

Here’s how the program works:

• The whole course takes about 80 weeks, or a bit more than a year and a half.
  – Training starts with “ground school” at the Cathay Academy in Hong Kong or with teachers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). This part covers everything a pilot needs to know about planes, weather, safety, and the rules of flying.
• After that, the trainees fly small single- and twin-engine planes at places like AeroGuard Flight Training Center in Arizona, USA, or Flight Training Adelaide in Australia. This gives them hands-on practice and flight experience.
• The last important part is learning to work with a team using flight simulators—machines that act like real airplane cockpits—which is done at Cathay City in Hong Kong.
• Once they finish all the parts, the trainees become Second Officers. This is the first job title in the Cathay Pacific flight crew, with more chances for promotion later.

Open for Applications and Growth

One special thing about Cathay Pacific’s program is that it takes applications all year long. If someone is passionate about flying and meets the basic requirements, they can apply at any time. As of now, more than 500 cadet pilots are in training or going through different stages of the journey.

Anyone interested in learning more or applying can visit the official Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme page. This openness helps Cathay Pacific find talent from many different backgrounds and supports its aim to build a diverse team for the future.

Mixing Old Partnerships With New Direction

Cathay Pacific has a long record of working with other schools and institutions to train pilots. For decades, it has partnered with Hong Kong Polytechnic University, AeroGuard Flight Training Center in Arizona, and Flight Training Adelaide in Australia. With the opening of the Cathay Academy, the airline is taking a larger part in the actual teaching, focusing on the early and final steps of the training process.

However, some parts of the training, like flying small planes for many hours, still need to happen overseas. This is because certain places in Australia and the United States have more open airspace and different rules, making it easier for new pilots to get experience. Still, Cathay Pacific now controls much more of the overall process.

Setting a New Standard in the Region

Cathay Pacific’s CEO, Ronald Lam, commented on this change: “We are extremely excited to welcome our first group of cadet pilots to graduate from the integrated programme… There is huge potential for Hong Kong to become an international hub for aviation training.” This statement shows the airline’s hope that the Cathay Academy will make Hong Kong a key place for learning about flying—not just for one company, but for the whole region.

Looking at the Numbers

Numbers help explain how major this shift is for Cathay Pacific and the wider flying industry. Since the very beginning of its training efforts, Cathay Pacific has helped more than 1,000 people become skilled pilots. The last few years have seen even faster growth, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, when airlines needed to quickly add staff as more people started flying again.

For example:
– Over 800 new cadet pilots were expected to join the program in 2023 and 2024 alone.
– By late 2024, about half of all Cathay Pacific’s pilots were graduates of the cadet program.

This growth shows how the company is getting ready for the future. By running more of its own teaching, Cathay Pacific can respond quickly if there are sudden changes in the number of pilots needed.

Cathay Academy: Why In-House Training Matters

Many airlines rely on outside organizations and schools for training their pilots. Cathay Pacific’s move to bring more of this work inside the company means it can keep a closer watch on the quality of its training. It can make sure every new pilot learns exactly what is needed for safety and for the way Cathay Pacific operates.

Here are some key areas where in-house training at the Cathay Academy makes a difference:
– The company can match what it teaches directly to what it needs in its own flight operations.
– It can bring in experienced Cathay Pacific pilots and teachers to lead classes, so real-world airline knowledge is part of the course.
– It keeps the whole process close to home, which can make it easier for trainees from Hong Kong and the surrounding region.

How the In-House System Compares to the Old Model

To make things clear, here’s a simple comparison table based on information given by Cathay Pacific:

This table shows that while some elements still take place outside Hong Kong, much more of the teaching and learning now happens directly under Cathay Pacific’s own roof at the Cathay Academy.

Global Influence and Opportunities

The Cathay Pacific pilot training program is recognized by airlines and aviation groups across the world. It’s known for being both tough and comprehensive, which means those who graduate are very well prepared for the demands of commercial flying. This kind of reputation not only helps Cathay Pacific hire talented people but may also help attract trainees from other countries who want high-quality instruction.

The program’s structure, which mixes in-house work with overseas experience, gives new pilots a unique mix of global and local practice. They finish the course having trained in different countries, climates, and types of airspace, which prepares them for almost any route or condition.

Building for the Future

There are several reasons why Cathay Pacific’s move to train more pilots itself will have positive results:
1. It gives the company more control over who it hires and how those people are taught.
2. It allows Cathay Pacific to react fast if industry changes mean more pilots are needed.
3. It supports the development of Hong Kong as a global center for high-level aviation learning.
4. It may create new paths for other airlines in the region to follow.

There is another valuable factor to this approach: company loyalty. By taking trainees from their early days and seeing them through each stage, Cathay Pacific can build a team of pilots who know and trust the company’s culture and standards. This can lead to better teamwork and higher safety standards in the long run.

Impact for Immigrants, Students, and Employers

The expansion of the Cathay Academy and the growth in pilot training mean more opportunities for people who want to enter the aviation field. For those living in Hong Kong or thinking of moving there, the Academy creates new jobs both in teaching and support roles.

For students from neighboring countries, the success of the Cathay Pacific program shows that Hong Kong is a good place to get world-class training in flying. This might attract more foreign students, creating a more diverse community at the Academy.

For employers in the aviation industry, having a strong talent pipeline from places like Cathay Academy means better chances to find skilled, well-prepared pilots, even as travel and demand keep growing.

Possible Concerns and Differing Views

There are some areas where people might see things differently:
– Some believe that training only in one country might limit exposure to different flying settings, though Cathay Pacific still sends trainees abroad for real flight hours.
– Others argue that working closely with outside schools brings new ideas and skills, and hope the Academy keeps up partnerships as it grows.
– Local pilots’ groups may want to see even more focus on giving Hong Kong residents the first chance at training places, especially as the program expands.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these kinds of conversations are common when companies change how they teach and hire, especially in key industries like aviation.

Continuing the Journey

Cathay Pacific’s pilot training program at the Cathay Academy sits at the center of its long-term plan to grow its own skilled teams. With more than 1,000 graduates so far and hundreds more in training, the Academy is already making an impact on both the company and the wider industry.

Looking ahead, as passenger numbers rise and airlines need even more pilots, programs like these will become even more important. The company is committed to keeping applications open and developing the next generation of pilots—with teaching that starts and finishes close to home but includes experience from across the world.

For anyone considering a career in aviation or employers seeking well-trained pilots, this new chapter at Cathay Pacific is worth keeping an eye on. To explore further details on pilot career paths and airport regulations, you can visit the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department website. The future of aviation training in Asia is already being shaped by what’s happening at the Cathay Academy in Hong Kong.

Learn Today

Cadet Pilot Programme → A structured training course designed by Cathay Pacific to prepare aspiring pilots for commercial aviation careers from the ground up.
Second Officer → The entry-level pilot rank in Cathay Pacific’s flight crew, the starting position after graduation from the training program.
In-house Training → Pilot instruction delivered within the airline’s own facilities, offering direct control over curriculum, quality, and standards.
Simulator Training → Hands-on practice using advanced machines that replicate real aircraft cockpits and procedures for safe, realistic pilot training.
AeroGuard Flight Training Center → A partnered flight school in Arizona, USA, where Cathay Pacific trainees accumulate actual flight hours during their program.

This Article in a Nutshell

Cathay Pacific’s Cathay Academy has redefined pilot training in Hong Kong. Its first 34 pilot graduates, completing a rigorous in-house program in May 2025, reflect a regional shift. Combining local and overseas expertise, the initiative ensures high safety standards, faster response to demand, and supports Hong Kong’s aviation hub aspirations.
— By VisaVerge.com

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