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SCMP Reporter

Arenowned airline that aims to be the most admired in the world is gearing up its programme devoted to getting fledgling pilots in the air.
Although Cathay Pacific Airways' goals range from ensuring that safety comes first to delivering superior financial returns, the provision of rewarding career opportunities is also at the heart of its business.
As a result, according to Carol de la Harpe, flight crew recruitment manager at Cathay Pacific, the company's annual cadet pilot programme is a long-term institution. 'As there [is] no air force or related course available in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways instituted the Cadet Pilot Programme in 1988 to recruit talented individuals,' she said.
The number of pilots recruited annually is rising steadily and the target is 39 cadets to fill three courses next year.
But some changes are afoot, with the requirement having been shifted from purely Hong Kong permanent residents to include non-permanent residents, to benefit more potential applicants.
Above all, 'This is a quality-driven programme,' Ms de la Harpe said. 'In 2007, there were 2,000 applications and we recruited 23 cadets.'
Ms de la Harpe added that the airline had specific requirements in terms of the kind of person it would like to recruit. 'The company is looking for individuals with sharp judgment and problem-solving skills,' she said. 'They should also have the ability to communicate well and multitask.'
The recruitment process includes interviews and assessments on aptitude, English ability, mathematics, technical subjects, personality and a thorough medical examination. Finally, while candidates for this prestigious programme need not have flying experience, they should be ambitious and display an enthusiasm to fly.
Candidates who score well are offered an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia for flight grading, where their flying potential is assessed during a two-week period.
The individuals who are lucky enough to make the grade as new Cathay Pacific Airways cadets are promised a programme that is 'the perfect way to begin full-time flying and a chance to join Cathay Pacific', according to Simon McGlynn, now a captain of Boeing 747-200s.
'I'd always been interested in flying and aviation ... [and] was fortunate enough to hear about [the cadet programme] from a friend who started the year before me,' Captain McGlynn said.
Candidates who are cherry-picked as cadets are sent to Australia for a 60-week residential course at Flight Training Adelaide. After the training course has been completed, cadets gain the required flying licence to join Cathay Pacific as a second officer. Once this intensive training period is under their belts, they are offered well-structured career prospects.
Depending on individual performance and company expansion, cadets can expect to move from the rank of second officer to junior first officer after two to three years.
After this stage, pilots may progress through the ranks of first officer, senior first officer and captain.
'It normally takes about 10 years of flying experience to be considered for a command position,' Ms de la Harpe said.
Captain McGlynn's career with the airline began with the post of second officer on board a B747-400 in January 1998. He upgraded to the role of junior first officer on an Airbus A330 in 2001, later being promoted to the post of first officer and gaining experience of the A340-300 and A340-600.
'In late 2005, I changed to the B747-200F as a first officer and then upgraded to captain,' he said.
To date, career highlights include the chance to fly the 747 'Classic', an aircraft once flown by his father. 'It's very rewarding as it's 'steam-driven', as they say, not a glass cockpit [a cockpit that features electronic instrument displays] like the rest of the Cathay Pacific fleet.'
Top Guns
Cathay Pacific Airways aims to select and train 39 cadet pilots next year
Candidates need to be ambitious and display enthusiasm to fly
After initial screening, potential cadets are assessed during a two-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Australia
Successful applicants take part in a 60-week Australia-based residential flying course
Promotion prospects are good, with a very clearly-structured career path



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