Cebu Pacific opens cadet pilot program

CEBU PACIFIC (CEB) has opened applications for aspiring Filipino pilots for it the fourth batch of Cadet Pilot Program.

Launched in October 2017, the program offers “study now, pay later” scheme for college graduate holding a passport valid for at least two years prior to the start of the program. CEB said successful applicants will undergo a rigorous screening process - a 52-week integrated flying program, flight theory, and education course at the Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) in Australia.

FTA provides customized aviation training solutions for the fixed wing and rotary wing industry. It’s goal is not just to train cadets for them to obtain a license, but to produce future airline and helicopter captains. After 52 weeks in FTA, trainees would return to Manila for another four-week training to be able to get a pilot license from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The program's batch 1 has 16 cadet pilots, while batch 2 has 17. Those in the batch 3 are still awaiting visa approvals, and CEB is yet to confirm the number of those with released visas.ceb has allotted $25 million for this program, which it plans to run for at least five years.samuel Avila, CEB Flight Operations vice president, said the training starts in Clark before the trainees would leave for Australia. “It (training) takes them a year. The first batch left last June. But they have already done their first solo flight -- which is the first milestone for every pilot, when you fly without anyone beside you,” he said.

Avila said they aim to get 16-20 trainees per batch, and they would be all guaranteed an employment if they pass and qualify. “We just ask them for their commitment, to work with us. It's a good deal,” he said, citing the high cost of pilot training.

In terms of getting back the investment, Avila said the airline management is confident that all the program's trainees would pass since the screening process is very robust.