Eligibility and Application — Cathay Cadet Pilot Programme
Primary source: Cadet Pilot Programme — Cathay careers and FAQ — interview process.
Who can apply (cadet)
| Item |
Detail |
| Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card |
The Cadet Pilot Programme has been advertised for holders of a Hong Kong permanent ID. Applicants without permanent ID are often directed to Advanced Entry or Transition programmes instead — read the live job post. |
| Right to work |
Related FAQ: living/working in HK without permanent ID may affect eligibility — confirm with careers team. |
| Age |
18 years or above |
| Education / background |
No flying hours required for cadet; strong academic and personal record expected |
Programme overview (study context)
| Topic |
Typical information (verify when you apply) |
| Duration |
Often cited ~80 weeks sponsored pathway to CPL and airline training |
| Outcome |
Second Officer pathway with Cathay Pacific |
| Training |
Ground school (HK and partner institutions) + flight training with approved organisations (candidates report providers such as FTA and Aeroguard — confirm current contract partners) |
| Bond / costs |
Sponsored training with service obligation; exact bond and cost offset are application-specific — prepare to discuss in initial interview |
| Re-application |
If unsuccessful, check careers FAQ for waiting period before re-applying |
English proficiency (pre-ICAO test)
One of the following (validity must cover your recruitment timeline):
| Test |
Requirement (summary) |
| IELTS |
Overall 6.0+ |
| TOEIC (public) |
800+ (Listening 400+, Speaking 160+) |
| TOEFL iBT (after 21 Jan 2026) |
Total 4.5+ (Listening 4.5+, Speaking 4.5+) |
| TOEFL iBT (before 21 Jan 2026) |
Total 80+ (Listening 21+, Speaking 21+) |
You must also achieve ICAO English Level 4+ in the airline’s LPT — see ICAO English.
Physical requirements (summary)
| Item |
Detail |
| HKCAD Class 1 medical |
Required for airline operations — see medical |
| Pre-employment drug test |
Safety-sensitive role; HKCAD CAD373 psychoactive substance guidance |
| Flight deck reach |
Static reach test and possible simulator reach assessment — know your aircraft-type reach standards when invited |
| Spectacles |
See Cathay FAQ: I wear spectacles, is that okay? |
Application package (high impact)
| Asset |
Why it matters |
| CV |
Gaps and timeline will be challenged in interview (“why X not Y?”). |
| Cover letter |
Recent candidates report detailed questions on the cover letter — proofread grammar and claims. |
| Consistency |
Initial and final interviews may repeat motivation questions to test consistent answers. |
Application checklist
PPL before applying?
Cathay FAQ: flying experience is not required for cadet. A PPL can show motivation but is not mandatory. If you hold a PPL, do not confuse CASA exam prep (PPL notes) with cadet interview technical prep (technical, study map).
IMPORTANT: Always verify with current official publications.
prepared by Raptor K, a guy learning to fly (feel free to contact me via IG: @raptorkwok or
Email)