Air Macau to train ten more local Cadet Pilots

Air Macau has opened its local Cadet Pilot Program for another round.

Following the program’s debut last year, the company has moved to the second edition of the program, which aims to train an additional 10 cadet pilots.

According to an Air Macau representative, the program has not undergone any significant changes from last year’s edition, which also recruited 10 cadets to be trained at France’s Civil Aviation University (ENAC, École nationale de l’aviation civile).

The program began in September last year and is expected to take 30 months.

This year, eligible applicants must hold a Macau Permanent ID with a valid passport, as in the previous year’s amended criteria.

The program initially required applicants to hold a Macau SAR passport. This excluded residents not of Chinese nationality, even though the program has been primarily advertised in the Chinese language.

The company also claims to be investing around MOP20 million in the program to address the airline’s future needs.

Chen Hong, President of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Air Macau, previously stated that he expects Air Macau to expand from the current 17 aircraft to a total of 25 after 2020, a prediction that “justifies a significant expansion in the training of new pilots to take part in the company’s plans for growth.”

During last year’s departure ceremony for the program’s first 10 cadets, Chen also stated that “Air Macau will continue to recruit more local pilots for training in Macau. The program is expected to be held once a year. At the same time, Air Macau will also provide diversified development opportunities to the ambitious young men who want to join the aviation industry.”

An Air Macau spokesperson added that they expect this year’s program to be more efficient and comprehensive than last year.