HK Express Airways (HK Express) and The International Aviation Academy (HKIAA) proudly announced the recruitment of 11 graduates from HKIAA’s first intake of Cadet Pilot Programme as HK Express’s Second Officers. It is also the first airline to employ cadet pilots from HKIAA. An epaulette presentation ceremony was held on the 19th of November to celebrate this milestone event of pilot training in Hong Kong.
The milestone partnership between HK Express and HKIAA will help nurture the next generation of high-quality airline pilots and shape the future of aviation in Hong Kong
Jeanette Mao, CEO of HK Express, said that one of the company's key missions is to nurture local aviation talent and contribute to the city’s long-term growth as an international aviation hub, based on its role as Hong Kong’s only low-cost carrier. HK Express is proud to welcome these cadet graduates to the company and looks forward to watching them take flight – both literally and in their careers. The milestone partnership with HKIAA will help to deepen the mutual collaboration of the two sides and reinforce each other's shared belief in creating opportunities for passionate young people to pursue their flying ambitions. By cultivating local pilot talent, HK Express is also supporting its ongoing route and fleet expansion, as well as its broader people development strategy, and building the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable aviation future for Hong Kong.
Simon Li, President of HKIAA, noted that the academy is committed to nurturing and empowering aviation enthusiasts to drive the sustainable development of the aviation industry in Hong Kong and across the region. HKIAA launched the first Cadet Pilot Programme two years ago to provide aspiring talents with the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming civil pilots. He was quite proud to celebrate the success of the graduates as they took on the role of Second Officer at Hong Kong Express. He greatly values the shared commitment with Hong Kong Express and believes their partnership will help nurture the next generation of high-quality airline pilots and shape the future of aviation.
This initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between HKIAA and its partnering airlines, including HK Express, in September 2023, which provides cadets with preliminary interviews and subsequent interviews for Second Officer positions for the graduates. Since the launch, the HKIAA Cadet Pilot Programme has successfully completed eight intakes, helping to shape the next generation of Hong Kong pilots.
HKIAA provides students from the Cadet Pilot Programme with the opportunity to undergo flight training in Chengdu, China, or in California, USA. Recently, an A320 flight simulator was introduced to facilitate realistic training scenarios, enhance safety protocols, and prepare students for the demands of modern aviation. The new facility also enables students to complete the multi-crew cooperation course, a mandatory requirement before obtaining a commercial pilot license issued by the Civil Aviation Department.
HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao (front row, third from left), HKIAA President Simon Li (front row, third from right), HK Express Training General Manager Captain Andy Chow (front row, second from left), and HKIAA Flight Training and Engineering Director Jack Ip (front row, second from right) and the eight newly appointed HK Express Second Officers
